Canady sworn in as Florida’s chief justice
Canady sworn in as Florida’s chief justice
Mark D. Killian
Editor
Justice Charles T. Canady was sworn in as the state’s next chief justice June 20 at a brief, low-key ceremony in the Supreme Court attended only by courthouse staff.
Canady, who has served in all three branches of state government, will preside over Florida’s state courts system for a term officially starting July 1 and lasting through June 30, 2020.
Canady thanked his colleagues on the court for giving him the privilege of serving “the court, the state’s judiciary, and the people of Florida again as chief justice.”
“I am deeply grateful and will do my very best to bring credit to the court and to strengthen our system of justice in this state,” Canady said.
Canady, 63, becomes the 11th person in state history to serve two nonconsecutive terms as chief justice and the first to do so since 1973. From 2010 to 2012, Canady became Florida’s 54th chief justice since statehood in his first term as head of the Supreme Court and the state judiciary. He succeeds Justice Jorge Labarga, who will remain on the court as a justice.
Canady expressed his “deep gratitude” to Chief Justice Labarga for the “outstanding job” he has done over the past four years as chief.
“There are many things that we were able to accomplish as a branch during that period of time, that I’m absolutely convinced we could never have accomplished without the leadership of Chief Justice Labarga,” Canady said. “He was the right person to accomplish those things, and there are many things that we avoided — many problems we were able to steer past — that we were only able to manage because of the leadership of Chief Justice Labarga. He worked tirelessly in the job, he worked enthusiastically in the job, and was fully committed to it. He really poured his heart and soul into it.”
He also praised the leadership of State Courts Administrator PK Jameson and the OSCA staff for all they do “every day to help our justice system keep moving forward.”
Canady said he was proud of the judges across the state.
“They have a big task, and they go about it with diligence and dedication, so I count it as a great privilege to be the new chief administrative officer of the state court system,” said Canady, who also thanked court Marshal Sylvester Dawson and Clerk of the Court John Tomasino and their staffs for their service.
“I think we have a strong team and I look forward to working with everyone on the team,” he said. “We are always looking for ways to improve what we do. We can do better in some respects and we are going to strive to do that every day to serve the people of Florida better than we have in the past.”
A 1976 graduate of Haverford College, Canady went on to attend Yale Law School and received his degree there in 1979. He was in private practice from 1979 through 1992.
In November 1984, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving three terms through November 1990. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 1993 through January 2001. His assignments there included membership on the House Judiciary Committee and chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.
After leaving Congress, Canady became general counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush, who later appointed him to Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal in November 2002.
On August 28, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Canady to the Florida Supreme Court, where he took office on September 8, 2008. Canady is married to Jennifer Houghton and is the father of two children, Julia and Anna.
“It is a great privilege for all of us that play a part in this system of justice and give life to the rule of law,” Canady said. “I’m enthusiastic about the work that goes on and being able to play the role of chief justice in our system.”
