Chief Justice readies for merit retention vote

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga filed paperwork this week as he prepares for a merit-retention vote in November. The paperwork, posted on the state Division of Elections website, includes a financial disclosure that showed Labarga's net worth at $752,572 as of Dec. 31. His largest financial asset was a $300,000 home, and he had a mortgage and two car loans. The documents also included a list of gifts Labarga received last year, including books, a framed U.S. Constitution from the Seminole County Bar Association and a "necktie from University of Florida Blue Key." Labarga noted that all of the items were valued at under $100, but he was listing them in an "abundance of caution." Labarga was appointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist to the Supreme Court in January 2009 and became chief justice in 2014. Labarga was up for merit retention in 2010 and received support from 59 percent of voters.