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Commentary: Pity poor Renatha Francis and her terrible burden of always knowing what's best
Orlando Sentinel - Gift LinkThere is a scene in the movie “Broadcast News” in which a fed-up executive confronts a producer who is constantly inserting herself into other people’s lives with unwanted and wrong-headed guidance.
“It must be nice to always believe you know better,” he says, dripping sarcasm.
“No,” she sniffs, tearfully, “it’s awful.”
Such is the burden of Renatha Francis.
Picked from judicial obscurity by Gov. Ron DeSantis to sit on the Florida Supreme Court for no obvious reason at all, Francis’ lack of experience alone should have been disqualifying.
A graduate of a for-profit law school that was eventually shuttered amid criticism of academic standards and federal loan management, Francis spent most of the next several years as a law clerk and appeals court staff attorney when Gov. Rick Scott appointed her to a Miami-Dade County judgeship in 2017. She served only about one year on the county bench before Scott elevated her to a Miami Dade Circuit Court judgeship. She spent just one year there before Gov. Ron DeSantis made her a Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge. She had been a judge for a total of roughly four years when DeSantis first decided she had the experience and intellect to hold a state Supreme Court seat. Because she had not been a Florida Bar member for 10 years, as required, the nomination failed. DeSantis successfully renominated her in 2022.
But it’s the kids at the swimming pool, not her lack of bench experience, that should give voters pause when they decide whether to keep Francis on the Florida Supreme Court in this November’s election.
“It must be nice to always believe you know better,” he says, dripping sarcasm.
“No,” she sniffs, tearfully, “it’s awful.”
Such is the burden of Renatha Francis.
Picked from judicial obscurity by Gov. Ron DeSantis to sit on the Florida Supreme Court for no obvious reason at all, Francis’ lack of experience alone should have been disqualifying.
A graduate of a for-profit law school that was eventually shuttered amid criticism of academic standards and federal loan management, Francis spent most of the next several years as a law clerk and appeals court staff attorney when Gov. Rick Scott appointed her to a Miami-Dade County judgeship in 2017. She served only about one year on the county bench before Scott elevated her to a Miami Dade Circuit Court judgeship. She spent just one year there before Gov. Ron DeSantis made her a Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge. She had been a judge for a total of roughly four years when DeSantis first decided she had the experience and intellect to hold a state Supreme Court seat. Because she had not been a Florida Bar member for 10 years, as required, the nomination failed. DeSantis successfully renominated her in 2022.
But it’s the kids at the swimming pool, not her lack of bench experience, that should give voters pause when they decide whether to keep Francis on the Florida Supreme Court in this November’s election.
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