Applications due for 4th Fla. high court opening

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Applications are due for a fourth Florida Supreme Court vacancy in the past year.

Less than seven hours before Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, only six applications had been submitted to the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission. The vacancy will result from Justice Charles Wells’ retirement in March.

Candidates must be from the 5th appellate district. It covers parts of north and central Florida including Daytona Beach, Melbourne and Orlando.

One of the first applications was submitted by 5th District Court of Appeal Judge Alan Lawson. He was a finalist for the last vacancy. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Justice Jorge Labarga of West Palm Beach to that at-large seat last month.