Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) on Tuesday slammed the Florida Supreme Court justices for allowing a six-week abortion ban to take effect May 1, but noted new judges can be voted out.
“Obviously, we're stuck in this moment, but also the concern about where this court is going, should another justice retire and the governor get another appointment, So, I think that bears notice. It also bears notice that those justices are also on the ballot for retainment,” Moskowitz said at a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hearing in Broward County, Florida. “So, if the voters also want to show their displeasure to those justices for their vote, they could also weigh in, in November.”'
The congressman emphasized that the court has shifted to the right after the appointment of three justices by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and warned that the decision signaled how the state Supreme Court would rule on future decisions.
“One of the things that I find fascinating but also very telling of the Florida Supreme Court is that the three newest justices — the three newest people onto the court, three women appointed by the governor — all voted for the six-week abortion ban, but then voted against letting the voters decide. So, they voted to negate what voters in 1980 did. They said those voters were wrong and then wanted to deny today's voters the ability to weigh in,” Moskowitz said. “And that's not just telling on this issue; it's telling for where the Supreme Court is going.
“That the Florida Supreme Court now has a tilt to the right, a more extremist view, with the three newest people, in a 4-3 decision — that's how close the decision was to allow voters to decide.”
