Scott Appointed Judge Blocks DeSantis’ map

It appears there’s trouble in paradise for the DeSantis administration as a Florida state trial judge has blocked the DeSantis map in North Florida for 2022. Judge Layne Smith has ordered a restored FL-05 be used for this year.

It should be noted that Judge Smith was appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott’s (R) administration. Governor Scott appointed Smith to the county bench, and Smith was then elevated to the 2^nd circuit by Governor Ron DeSantis (R).

In a statement, Smith criticized the map, saying that it “is unconstitutional under the Fair District Amendment, because it diminishes African Americans’ ability to elect the representative of their choice.”

The proposed map Governor DeSantis provided drew the ire of Democrats, but judge Smith’s decision to block the map in North Florida is now drawing praise from Democrats.

State Senator Annette Taddeo (D), a vocal critic of DeSantis and a gubernatorial hopeful, took to Twitter to praise the decision and knock on the map.

“The message Governor DeSantis is sending is that his culture war agenda comes before the needs of working Floridians that are struggling,” said Taddeo.

She provided more information on Instagram regarding her opposition, writing, “I boycotted the special session because I couldn’t be part of something so blatantly unconstitutional.”

“A judge appointed by Rick Scott just confirmed that,” she noted, adding that “Ron DeSantis wasted taxpayer dollars at the expense of his political grandstanding.”

At the time the Special Session was called, Taddeo called for her Democratic colleagues to not attend.

“I’ll be damned if I’m showing up to kiss his ring and waste taxpayer money for an unconstituted map that erases Black and Brown voices from the electoral process,” shared Taddeo on social media in early April.

Governor DeSantis has not commented on judge Smith blocking his map in North Florida.