Judge judges by how they judge<\/p>\n
This November, Floridians will decide whether to retain Supreme Court Justice Carlos Mu\u00f1iz. It is tempting to answer by pointing to a single ruling, the case each of us cares about most. That is the wrong test.<\/p>\n
Florida voters adopted merit retention in the 1970s to evaluate appellate judges on qualifications, conduct, and fidelity to the law, not popularity. Judges cannot campaign or answer political attacks, so I write for him.<\/p>\n
I have worked with hundreds of judges and, as a member of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, reviewed complaints about many others. Justice Mu\u00f1iz keeps an open mind, listens to every party, and treats people with professionalism and kindness. I doubt he and I share many political beliefs. But he is smart, honest, and consistent, and his ethics are beyond reproach.<\/p>\n
His record shows independence. In 2020, he wrote the unanimous opinion holding that the governor who appointed him had exceeded his authority in making a judicial appointment. In 2024, over the attorney general\u2019s objection, he joined the 4\u20133 majority that allowed an abortion amendment onto the ballot, and months later wrote the opinion rejecting its sponsors\u2019 challenge to the financial impact statement. He has ruled for and against the government, and for and against advocates on both sides of Florida\u2019s most contentious issues.<\/p>\n
A judge who fears that one controversial ruling will cost him his seat cannot deliver the impartial justice the Constitution promises. Merit retention works only when voters weigh the whole record.<\/p>\n
Vote yes on retention.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mayanne Downs, Orlando<\/p>\n
Orlando attorney Mayanne Downs serves on the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigates and adjudicates allegations of judicial misconduct.<\/p>\n
Nixon will protect abuse survivors<\/p>\n
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, my support for Angie Nixon is deeply personal.<\/p>\n
I reported the abuse I experienced as a child to law enforcement in Seminole County in 2021. Coming forward was difficult enough. What I wasn\u2019t prepared for was how difficult navigating the justice system afterward could be.<\/p>\n
During that process, I experienced interactions with law enforcement that I felt lacked the sensitivity appropriate for someone reporting childhood sexual abuse. It made me realize that telling survivors to come forward isn\u2019t enough. We also need laws and institutions capable of supporting them when they do.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s one reason Angie Nixon\u2019s legislative record caught my attention.<\/p>\n
In 2022, Nixon co-introduced Florida House Bill 913, legislation that sought to eliminate the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Its Senate companion ultimately passed and became Florida law.<\/p>\n
For someone who knows how many years it can take before a survivor is ready to speak about childhood abuse, that matters to me.<\/p>\n
My experience has shaped what I want from elected officials.\u00a0No politician can change what happened to me, and I don\u2019t pretend that my experience represents every survivor. But it has changed the way I evaluate the people asking to represent Florida.<\/p>\n
I want a senator who will listen to survivors and continue working to strengthen protections for children and the people who come forward years later.<\/p>\n
Angie Nixon\u2019s record on this issue is one reason I support her for the United States Senate.<\/p>\n
\u2014Sarah El Mountassir, Oviedo<\/p>\n
Sarah El Mountassir is a public policy coordinator with Asian Americans Coming Together, working in voter engagement and election integrity.<\/p>\n
Candidates beholden to big business<\/p>\n
More deceiving than betting app commercials and lawyer commercials are campaign commercials. I believe they offer up empty campaign promises, half-truths and total distortions of the truths (known as lies to us). As an example, Florida doesn\u2019t even have a state income tax codified in the Constitution, so how could a candidate raise income taxes?<\/p>\n
There is one thing you can glean from these campaign commercials: Since most of the money for these commercials come from big business, I believe the candidate with the most commercials will be the most beholden to big business. Big business will claim they are supporting their candidate for altruistic reasons. But notice the biggest donors are the one with the most to gain from political influence: insurance companies, utilities and developers.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Ben Humphries, Orlando<\/p>\n