(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) The Florida Supreme Court is sticking with its hotly debated plan to impose eight year term limits on its chief justice and chief judges of lower courts.
The justices, though, delayed the term limits for trial courts until 2015 and slightly modified another new rule limiting judges' public comments about court matters.
The changes ordered in February drew opposition from judges and lawyers, but the seven justices agreed to a rehearing.
Justice R. Fred Lewis again dissented, calling the new rules "whimsical" and predicting term limits will cause turmoil and political maneuvering in the courts.
Justice Charles Canady also dissented from the term limits but not the public comment rule.
It was changed to permit such comments if judges clearly state they are not speaking for the court system.
