Crist facing suit to fill court vacancy

A former appellate judge is asking the Florida Supreme Court to order Gov. Charlie Crist to appoint his replacement from a list of nominees, even though it includes no black candidates.

Retired 5th District Court of Appeal Judge Robert J. Pleus on Monday said he feels he has no alternative.

Crist has refused to make the appointment because the list of finalists does not include any black nominees. The appellate court in Daytona Beach has no full-time black judges.

The governor asked a nominating commission to send him a more diverse slate but the panel has refused. Crist has stressed diversity in recent court appointments. Crist named a Hispanic justice and a black justice to fill the last two
vacancies on the Supreme Court.