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Florida Gov. wants Supreme Court justice off crucial case

Image: Florida Supreme Court building in Tallahassee
Image: Florida Supreme Court building in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants a sitting state Supreme Court justice disqualified from a pending case that could affect the future of the high court.
Scott on Monday filed a motion that contends Justice Barbara Pariente may be biased against the Republican governor. The motion is based on comments made by Pariente, including one caught on a microphone following a recent hearing in a case over Scott's appointment power. A coalition of groups has filed a lawsuit that contends that Scott is not allowed to appoint three new justices on his final day in office in 2019. McKinley Lewis, a spokesman for Scott, said Pariente's "past remarks cast grave doubt on her ability to take an objective and unbiased position." Craig Waters, a spokesman for the court, said the court could not comment on a pending motion.