BREAKING -- Charles Canady Newest Florida Supreme Court Justice

Charles T. Canady gets the nod:

Canady, 54, is Crist’s first appointment to the state’s high court. He will fill the vacancy left by Justice Raoul G. Cantero III, who resigned earlier this year.

“I consider this to be one of the most important decisions I will make as governor, because the Supreme Court justices make precedent-setting decisions that affect the lives of all Floridians for generations to come,” Crist said.

Canady has served on the 2nd District Court of Appeal since 2002. He also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1984 to 1990. He was general counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush from 2001 to 2002.

“It is an honor to be appointed to such an important post,” Canady said. “I am grateful to have the confidence and support of Gov. Crist, and I will work to uphold the Florida Constitution and our justice system.”

Let's look at some of the highlights. He helped lead the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton. He voted yes to ban gay adoptions in DC. He voted against implementing the Kyoto greenhouse gas environmental accords. Here's his record on crime:

• Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
• Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
• Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994)
• Life imprisonment for repeat sexual predators. (Mar 1994)
• More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty. (Sep 1994)

He voted no on banning soft money and issue ads. He voted to decrease the gun waiting period from three days to one. Significantly for us lawyers, he voted to limit "excessive" punitive damages and to institute "loser pay" legal reforms.

Umm, congratulations Florida?