Tallahassee Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at the Investiture Ceremony for Justice Barbara Lagoa, the Governor’s first appointee and first Cuban American woman to appointed the Florida Supreme Court. He was joined at the ceremony by First Lady Casey DeSantis, along with all seven Justices of the Florida Supreme Court.
“I appointed Justice Lagoa to the Florida Supreme Court because I knew she would exercise judicial restraint and interpret the law as written in each and every case,” said Governor DeSantis. “She has shown that and more during her short tenure on the Court and I was honored to take part in her Investiture Ceremony today. Justice Lagoa is committed to our state and country, understands the role of the judiciary and her responsibility as a Supreme Court Justice. I have no doubt that she will continue to uphold the rule of law and Constitution for decades to come.”
Governor DeSantis appointed Justice Lagoa to the Florida Supreme Court at the Freedom Tower in Miami on his first full day as Governor, replacing retired Justice R. Fred Lewis. She previously served on the Third District Court of Appeal, appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2006, and was the first Cuban American woman to do so. Throughout her distinctive legal career, Justice Lagoa has heard more than 11,000 cases and issued more than 470 written opinions.