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On the eve of Florida’s sixty-day legislative session, House Speaker Dean Cannon has unveiled a proposal to split the State Supreme Court in two, add three justices, and curtail some of the court’s authority. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Cannon says the measure is not payback for the three legislative amendments the court threw off the ballot last year.

This past summer, House Speaker Dean Cannon personally argued before the Florida Supreme Court, arguing the legislature’s amendment on redistricting should be left on the ballot.

Cannon lost; the court found the measure vague. Now, on the eve of one of the most controversial legislative sessions in history, Cannon is upping the ante with major court reform.

“Currently there are seven justices on the Florida Supreme Court,” Cannon said. “The proposed legislation provides that there would be five justices sitting on the Supreme Court of criminal appeals, and five justices on the Supreme Court of civil appeals.”

He wants to split the Florida Supreme Court into two courts, changing how judges are retained, and in a yet-to-be-discussed plan, he wants to add language to let lawmakers avoid court review of their amendments.

Going after the court is a big deal, so we asked the Speaker if this was retribution for their refusal to let amendment seven stay on the ballot.

“…because it’s not,” Cannon said. “It basically addresses the proposals, the things that they have identified. The court said we have crowded dockets”

And while the session is yet to start, the only substantive bills mentioned by leaders of the House and Senate all revolve around controversial issues, and not creating jobs.

The senate president says changing the courts is not on his agenda, but he says if it’s important to the House Speaker the Senate will consider it.