The Florida Senate

Executive Suspensions

The Suspension Process

Article IV, section 7(a), of the State Constitution authorizes the Governor to suspend any state officer not subject to impeachment or any county officer on any of the following grounds: malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent inability to perform official duties, or commission of a felony.

The Florida Senate has the exclusive responsibility to sit in judgment of the merits of a suspension. The Senate may remove from office or reinstate the suspended official. Senate Rule 12 outlines the process adopted by the Senate.

Executive Suspensions Received

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• Susan Bucher, Supervisor of Elections, Palm Beach County

  • 1/18/2019 Executive Order 19-19 (PDF) -SJ 166 (PDF)
  • 1/22/2019 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 1/25/2019 Letter of Resignation (PDF)

• Nicole Cummings, Putnam County School Board

  • 7/13/2018 Executive Order 18-203 (PDF) -SJ 161 (PDF)
  • Nicole Cummings, failing to be reelected during the 2018 General Election resolved this matter.

• Kyle Martin Hudson, Holmes County Clerk of Court and Comptroller

  • 3/20/2019 Executive Order 19-83 (PDF)
  • 3/22/2019 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 3/22/2019 Referral to Special Master (PDF)
  • 1/27/2020 Memorandum from President to Secretary Brown – Closes Matter (PDF)

• Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward County

  • 1/11/2019 Executive Order 19-14 (PDF) -SJ 164 (PDF)
  • 1/14/2019 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 1/24/2019 Referral to Special Master (PDF)
  • 1/29/2019 Request for Hearing (PDF)
  • 2/25/2019 Governor DeSantis' Bill of Particulars (PDF)
  • 2/25/2019 Governor DeSantis' Witness and Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 3/08/2019 Letter from Special Master to Parties Re: Senate Rule 12.9(2) (PDF)
  • 3/10/2019 Response from Mr. Israel to Special Master Re: Senate Rule 12.9(2) (PDF)
  • 3/11/2019 Response from Governor DeSantis to Special Master Re: Senate Rule 12.9(2) (PDF)
  • 3/12/2019 Letter from Special Master to President Galvano with Recommendation Re: Senate Rule 12.9(2) (PDF)
  • 3/12/2019 Memorandum from President Galvano Re: EO 19-14 Abeyance Pursuant to Senate Rule 12.9(2) (PDF)
  • 4/23/2019 Memo from President Galvano Re: Update on Executive Suspensions (PDF)
  • 4/23/2019 Special Master Goodlette’s Letter Re: Proceedings Post Litigation (PDF)
  • 4/26/2019 Letter from Governor Re: Parties’ Proposed Schedule (PDF)
  • 4/29/2019 Notice of Deadlines and Telephonic Case Management Conference (PDF)
  • 5/02/2019 Notice of Prehearing, Final Hearing, and Relevant Deadlines (PDF)
  • 5/03/2019 Mr. Israel's Response and Defenses to Governor's Bill of Particulars (PDF)
  • 5/10/2019 Mr. Israel’s Witness List & Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 5/15/2019 Mr. Israel’s List of Witnesses for Suggested Subpoenas (PDF)
  • 5/21/2019 Special Master’s Response Re: Witnesses and Potential Subpoenas (PDF)
  • 5/24/2019 Mr. Israel’s List of Suggested Subpoenas (PDF)
  • 6/03/2019 Governor's Bench Memorandum (PDF)
  • 6/03/2019 Mr. Israel's Bench Memorandum (PDF)
  • 6/03/2019 Governor's Annotated Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 6/03/2019 Joint Stipulations (PDF)
  • 6/03/2019 Mr. Israel's Updated Witness Subpoena Requests (PDF)
  • 6/04/2019 Mr. Israel's Notice of Depositions (PDF)
  • 6/07/2019 Mr. Israel's Exhibit List and Exhibits (PDF)
  • 6/10/2019 Mr. Israel's Request for Consideration of Scot Peterson Arrest and Prosecution (PDF)
  • 6/10/2019 Mr. Israel's Trial Witnesses for Subpoena Issuance Clarification of Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 6/11/2019 Mr. Israel's Internet Link to Israel Exhibits 25 and 27 (PDF)
  • 6/11/2019 Mr. Israel's Memorandum Concerning Impact of Scot Peterson Arrest and Prosecution on Senate Suspension Review (PDF)
  • 6/12/2019 Governor DeSantis' Memorandum (PDF)
  • 6/14/2019 Mr. Israel's Updated Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 8/12/2019 Governor’s Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (PDF)
  • 8/20/2019 Mr. Israel's Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (PDF)
  • 9/24/19 Report and Recommendation of the Special Master (PDF)
  • 9/25/19 Memorandum from President Galvano to Senators (PDF)
  • 9/25/19 Proclamation for Senate Special Session I (PDF)
  • 9/25/19 Memorandum from President Galvano referring the Report and Recommendation of the Special Master to the Senate Committee on Rules (PDF)
  • 9/25/19 Memorandum from Rules Chair Benacquisto to the Senate Committee on Rules (PDF)
  • 9/25/19 Memorandum from Rules Chair Benacquisto to Counsel (PDF)
  • 10/16/19 Danielle Terrell Affidavit and Accompanying Documents (PDF)

  Meeting Details	Meeting Records
  2/19/2019 1:00 PM Special Master Case Management Conference 401 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Video
  3/20/2019 10:00 AM Special Master Prehearing Conference 301 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Meeting cancelled
  5/01/2019 1:30 PM Telephonic Case Management Conference 301 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Video
  6/05/2019 10:00 AM Prehearing Conference 401 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Meeting cancelled
  6/10/2019 10:00 AM Prehearing Conference 401 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Video
  6/18, 6/19, and 6/20/2019 9:00 AM Final Hearing 110 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Updated Meeting Notice (PDF) Governor's Final Exhibits (302 MB PDF; 3,729 Pages) Mr. Israel's Exhibits (169 MB PDF; 2,930 Pages) Depositions (1.4 MB PDF; 678 Pages) 6/18 Video - Part 1 - Transcript (PDF) 6/18 Video - Part 2 - Transcript (PDF) 6/19 Video - Part 1 - Transcript (PDF) 6/19 Video - Part 2 - Transcript (PDF)
  10/21/2019 9:00 AM Senate Sitting Senate Chamber	Proclamation (PDF)
  10/21/2019 10:30 AM Committee on Rules 412 Knott Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Meeting Packet (PDF) Final Report (PDF) Video - Part 1 Video - Part 2
  10/23/2019 2:00 PM Senate Sitting Senate Chamber	Vote (PDF) Report and Order (PDF)

• Mary Beth Jackson, Superintendent of Schools, Okaloosa County

  • 1/11/2019 Executive Order 19-13 (PDF)-SJ 163 (PDF)
  • 1/14/2019 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 1/16/2019 Request for Hearing (PDF)
  • 1/24/2019 Referral to Special Master (PDF)
  • 2/15/2019 Governor DeSantis' Bill of Particulars (PDF)
  • 3/01/2019 Superintendent Jackson’s Response to Governor DeSantis’ Bill of Particulars (PDF)
  • 3/04/2019 Memo from President Galvano Re: Abeyance Pursuant to Senate Rule 12.9(2) (PDF)
  • 4/16/2019 Memo from President Galvano Re: Update on Executive Suspensions (PDF)
  • 4/16/2019 Special Master Goodlette’s Letter Re: Proceedings Post Litigation (PDF)
  • 4/18/2019 Governor Desantis' Witness and Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 4/19/2019 Governor Desantis' Annotated Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 4/22/2019 Superintendent Jackson’s Witness and Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 4/22/2019 Superintendent Jackson’s Witness and Exhibit List - Exhibit A (PDF)
  • 4/23/2019 Special Master Letter Re: Post Prehearing Deadlines and Notice of Final Hearing (PDF)
  • 4/26/2019 Governor’s Bench Memorandum (PDF)
  • 5/03/2019 Superintendent Jackson's Bench Memorandum (PDF)
  • 5/07/2019 Governor’s Rebuttal Bench Memorandum (PDF)
  • 5/21/2019 Superintendent Jackson’s Joint Stipulated Facts (PDF)
  • 5/21/2019 Superintendent Jackson’s Joint Annotated Exhibit List (PDF)
  • 5/24/2019 Superintendent Jackson’s Amended Joint Stipulated Facts (PDF)
  • 7/17/2019 Executive Order 19-166 (PDF)
  • 7/17/2019 Resignation of Mary Beth Jackson (PDF)
  • 7/17/2019 Memo from President Galvano Re: Executive Suspension (PDF)

  Meeting Details	Meeting Records
  2/4/2019 11:00 AM Special Master Case Management Conference 401 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Video
  3/11/2019 10:00 AM Special Master Prehearing Conference 401 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Meeting cancelled
  4/23/2019 1:00 PM Special Master Prehearing Conference 301 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) Video
  5/28/2019 and 5/29/2019 10:00 AM Special Master Final Hearing 401 Senate Building	Meeting Notice (PDF) 5/28 Video - Part 1 5/28 Video - Part 2 5/29 Video - Part 1 5/29 Video - Part 2 5/29 Video - Part 3

• Nicholas Nicholson, County Commissioner, District 1, Hernando Board of County Commissioners

  • 4/26/2018 Executive Order 18-121 (PDF)-SJ 161 (PDF)
  • 12/21/2018 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 1/24/2019 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 2/01/2019 Correspondence to Governor DeSantis (PDF)
  • 2/04/2019 Referral to Rules Committee (PDF)
  • 3/04/2019 Memorandum from President to Secretary Brown – Closes Matter (PDF)

• Kirk Reams, Clerk of Court, Jefferson County

  • 10/18/2017 Executive Order 17-273 (PDF) -SJ 160 (PDF)
  • 11/30/2018 Executive Order 18-341 (PDF) -SJ 160 (PDF)

• Brenda Snipes, Supervisor of Elections, Broward County

  • 11/18/2018 Letter of Resignation (PDF)
  • 11/30/2018 Executive Order 18-342 (PDF) -SJ 162 (PDF)
  • 12/13/2018 Letter from the Secretary of the Senate (PDF)
  • 1/18/2019 Executive Order 19-18 (PDF) -SJ 163 (PDF)