Name: Former chief justice to Moody: Your election challenge was meritless, unethical | Commentary
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Former chief justice to Moody: Your election challenge was meritless, unethical | Commentary

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AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelDec 26, 2020 at 5:15 amWe’re neck-deep in lawyers as today’s column is an all-attorney affair, featuring praise for a local legal legend and comeuppance for a lawyer and legislator who can’t seem to control his temper or tongue.But let’s start by looking at Florida’s top prosecutor, who is still taking flak for trying to drag Florida into the ridiculous Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory.AdvertisementI that Attorney General Ashley Moody forever tarnished her reputation by joining this joke of a lawsuit — which the U.S. Supreme Court couldn’t dismiss fast enough.Well, I wasn’t alone in those thoughts.AdvertisementCharles T. Wells, the former chief justice of Florida’s Supreme Court, was so taken aback by Moody trying to meddle in the election results from other states that he penned a letter to Moody telling her that her actions were both meritless and unethical and that the Supreme Court’s dismissal could’ve been predicted by “any competent lawyer.”Wells knows a thing or two about election challenges, seeing as how he presided over Florida’s 2000 recount.Wells, who lives in Windermere, said he has yet to receive a response from Moody. But I thought I’d share his letter with you.Attorney General Moody,I write to express my extreme disappointment at your decision to join in the meritless attack on our country’s constitution and democracy filed in the U.S. Supreme Court by the Attorney General of Texas. Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court has quickly and summarily rejected this attack. Any competent lawyer knew that this had to be the result.I recognize that the office of Florida’s Attorney General is a political office, and that there are many political influences upon the Florida Attorney General. However, the first and ultimate duty of Florida’s Attorney General is to provide competent legal advice and performance. From my experience on the Florida Supreme Court, I personally know that the administration of justice in Florida is dependent on the legal competence and integrity of the office of the Attorney General.Joining in the patently meritless case brought by the Texas Attorney General brought discredit to your office, and results in the loss of confidence of citizens of our state and nation in the fair and competent administration of justice in Florida.It is grave mark against your service as Attorney General which I urge you to acknowledge, and work to repair the damage you have caused. You should do that not only because you are Attorney General. You should do that because you are a member of the Florida Bar who has an ethical obligation not to join in frivolous, meritless litigation.AdvertisementCharles T. WellsThe legal King of Fair DistrictsFlorida lost a legal legend this past week when Winter Park attorney .You may not personally know King, who was also a Marine, husband, father and grandfather. But he probably fought for you anyway — to make sure your vote counted.King was the lead attorney in the fight for Fair Districts — the 2010 effort to end Florida’s wicked history of gerrymandering.Nearly two-thirds of Floridians — Democrats, Republicans and independents — united to demand that Florida politicians stop drawing snake-like districts that rig elections in favor of incumbent politicians and their cronies.But Florida legislators spent millions of your tax dollars trying to thwart your vote and continue their district-packing ways.AdvertisementKing persuaded the Supreme Court to stop them, making dozens of trips to Tallahassee to ensure a fairer version of democracy for Florida.That’s a legacy worth honoring … and worth continuing to fight for next year, when legislators will almost certainly try to resume their gerrymandering habit on the heels of the 2020 Census.Of course they know they shouldn’t. They simply can’t help themselves. As King once said: Florida politicians “will grasp at any excuse to keep the citizens of Florida from having legitimate representation.”WeeklyGet latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. &gt; So be on guard. Be ready to fight again for your vote. Not just to honor King, but to honor democracy.Sabatini sulksState Rep. Anthony Sabatini appears to be learning a lesson many wee ones learn in preschool: Actions have consequences.After Sabatini tweeted a string of extremist comments — including calling George W. Bush and his family “complete trash,” calling Joe Biden a “” (piece of sh**) and saying he wanted a 17-year-old accused murderer to serve in Congress — it seems fewer of Sabatini’s Republican colleagues want to have much to do with him.AdvertisementTheir reaction seemed to surprise Sabatini, who is now , complaining that GOP House Speaker him leadership posts and assigned him to fewer legislative committees than even some Democratic members.The Bushes are complete trash — Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini)It’s possible Sprowls could cave to Sabatini’s protestations (though that would make the new speaker look awfully weak). And frankly, Sabatini should probably consider himself grateful that Sprowls let him serve on the few committees he did, including the influential ways and means committee. (Maybe Sprowls didn’t want to completely tick off Sabatini’s easily excitable base.)But for now, Sabatini isn’t happy. So he’s continuing to complain about Republican leaders not giving him the respect he thinks he deserves — while also tweeting things like: “The Bushes are complete trash” — and presumably seeing no correlation. Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelDec 26, 2020 at 5:15 amWe’re neck-deep in lawyers as today’s column is an all-attorney affair, featuring praise for a local legal legend and comeuppance for a lawyer and legislator who can’t seem to control his temper or tongue.But let’s start by looking at Florida’s top prosecutor, who is still taking flak for trying to drag Florida into the ridiculous Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory.AdvertisementI that Attorney General Ashley Moody forever tarnished her reputation by joining this joke of a lawsuit — which the U.S. Supreme...

Former chief justice to Moody: Your election challenge was meritless, unethical | Commentary

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