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Canady Smart Pick For High Court

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

When Charlie Crist appointed Second District Court of Appeal Judge Charles Canady of Lakeland to the Florida Supreme Court late last month, critics attacked his choice as political and ideological.

The reason? As a U.S. representative he served as a manager during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, and after he kept his promise to serve no more than three terms in Congress, he went to work as general counsel for then-Gov. Jeb Bush.

The St. Petersburg Times called him "the most partisan candidate available." The Miami Herald said "his political bona fides are far more extensive than his judicial credentials."

But we know Canady to be an honest and fair judge. No one can accuse him of acting in a partisan manner while serving on the court of appeal the last five years. The Yale Law School graduate has one of the finest legal minds around. He may have once written laws, but he understands his current job is to interpret them.

Much has also been made of the fact that Crist, who will make three more appointments to the Supreme Court, had to choose from a list of candidates that included no women or blacks. Critics deplored the lack of diversity.

While it's true many people would like to see a Supreme Court that reflects the population of the state, we have a court today with two women, one of whom is black and the chief justice. And at any rate, the job of the commission is to send to the governor the names of the best qualified nominees, not candidates who appeal to special interests.

There's no doubt Canady is a conservative. But if one believes honorable judges set their politics aside, then Canady's political background should not have disqualified him from continuing his public service from the bench.

Crist made an outstanding choice.

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