The Florida Supreme Court has named Justice Charles T. Canady of Lakeland, who has served in all three branches of state government, as its next Chief Justice. He will preside over Florida’s state courts system for a term starting July 1 and lasting through June 30, 2020.
“I look forward to continuing to serve the people and the judicial branch,” said Canady. “I have worked with so many outstanding Florida public servants for many years now, including my fellow Justices. I thank them for their trust in me and look forward to the work ahead.”
Canady, 63, becomes the 11th person in state history to serve two nonconsecutive terms as Chief Justice and the first to do so since 1973. Under Florida’s constitution, the Chief Justice is elected by the other members of the Supreme Court.
Court rules adopted in 2012 also established that selection of the chief justice should be based on managerial, administrative, and leadership abilities rather than being strictly based on seniority.
From 2010 to 2012, Canady became Florida’s 54th Chief Justice since statehood in his first term as head of the Supreme Court and the state judiciary. This July, he will succeed Justice Jorge Labarga, who will remain on the Court as a Justice
A 1976 graduate of Haverford College, Canady went on to attend Yale Law School and received his degree there in 1979. He was in private practice from 1979 through 1992.
In November 1984, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving three terms through November 1990. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 1993 through January 2001. His assignments there included membership on the House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.
After leaving Congress, Canady became General Counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush, who later appointed him to Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal in November 2002.
On August 28, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Canady to the Florida Supreme Court, where he took office on September 8, 2008. Canady is married to Jennifer Houghton and is the father of two children.
His web biography can found here.
