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Investiture of Justice Renatha Francis as the 92nd Justice

By Bailey Howard

Caribbean-American pride was on display as judges, lawyers, and distinguished guests from all corners of the State gathered in Tallahassee on October 18 to celebrate the investiture of Justice Renatha Francis as the ninety-second Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida.

Justice Francis is the first Jamaican-American to serve on the Court’s bench. She is also the sixth female — and second Black female — Justice. She was raised by her mother, a single parent, in Kingston, Jamaica, before later immigrating to the United States. She began her legal career with a 6 1/2-year stint of clerking at Florida’s First District Court of Appeal under Judges Peter Webster and Scott Makar before entering private practice. Then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed her to the county and then circuit bench in Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit, and Gov. DeSantis appointed her to the circuit bench of Florida’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Gov. DeSantis also selected Justice Francis for elevation to the Supreme Court of Florida in 2020, but following a legal challenge to the constitutional validity of the appointment, Gov. DeSantis appointed Justice Jamie R. Grosshans to fill that vacancy. Justice Francis thus gains the distinction of being the only Justice appointed twice by the same governor — a palpable sign of DeSantis’s confidence in his choice.

This confidence was evident from Gov. DeSantis’s remarks at Justice Francis’s investiture, where the governor spoke of Justice Francis’s personal experience and qualifications to serve the people of Florida on the Court.

Judge Makar opened the proceedings with glowing praise of his former law clerk. F. Scott Westheimer, President of The Florida Bar, tendered the Bar’s compliments and good wishes for what Justice Francis’s service on the Court will bring. And, continuing the tradition of presenting each new Justice with a suitable inscribed text, Westheimer gifted Justice Francis with an elegant Bible on behalf of The Florida Bar and its members. Rosalie Destinie Baker Sutton, the President of the Sheree D. Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association — which had many members in attendance, and Grasford W. Smith, a Jamaican-American and President of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, were among the multiple voluntary bar associations presenting congratulatory remarks to Justice Francis. Pastor Dan Plourde from Justice Francis’s church in Jupiter, Florida, delivered the Invocation, and Jason Gonzalez of Tallahassee gave the Benediction.

Justice Francis delivered her remarks after a warm collegial welcome from Chief Justice Muñiz. She told the assembled guests and dignitaries about how her mother, who sometimes struggled as a single parent, always made sure Justice Francis and her siblings knew they were loved and always took time to show them this was so. She spoke about the Court’s role in Florida’s government and America’s founding principles, emphasizing the separation of powers.

Justice Francis also spoke of her husband, Phillip Fender, who unexpectedly passed away shortly after the governor appointed her to the Court. Justice Francis described her late husband as her “biggest supporter” and constant booster, whose certainty that she could do anything pushed her to work as though nothing was impossible.

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