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Barbara Lagoa
2019 - Present
5
Barbara Lagoa is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. On October 15, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Lagoa to a seat on this court. The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on November 20, 2019, by an 80-15 vote.[1] She received commission on December 6, 2019.[2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the 11th Circuit Court, click here.
Lagoa was an associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court in 2019. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Lagoa to the court on January 9, 2019.[3] To learn more about this vacancy, click here. Lagoa left the Florida Supreme Court in December 2019. To learn more about this vacancy, click here.
Lagoa was previously a judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal from 2006 to 2019. She was appointed to the appellate court by Governor Jeb Bush (R) in June 2006.[4][5]
Lagoa was included on President Donald Trump’s (R) list of 20 potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees released on September 9, 2020.[6] President Trump (R) nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the seat on September 26, 2020. For more information on the 2020 Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, 2020, click here.
Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections
United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit (2019-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On October 15, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Lagoa to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on November 20, 2019, by an 80-15 vote.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Barbara Lagoa |
| Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 36 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: October 15, 2019
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: October 16, 2019
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: November 7, 2019
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| Confirmed: November 20, 2019
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| Vote: 80-15
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Lagoa on November 20, 2019, on a vote of 80-15.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Lagoa confirmation vote (November 20, 2019) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
26 | 15 | 4 | ||||||
 Republican |
53 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
 Independent |
1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 80 | 15 | 5 | ||||||
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Barbara Lagoa's nomination on October 16, 2019.[7] The committee voted 18-4 on November 7 to advance the nomination to the full Senate.[8]
Nomination
On September 12, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Lagoa to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.[9] The nomination was officially received in the U.S. Senate on October 15, 2019.[1]
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Barbara Lagoa well qualified.[10] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Florida Supreme Court (2019)
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Lagoa to the court on January 9, 2019.[3] She left office after joining the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Florida Third District Court of Appeal (2006-2019)
Gov. Jeb Bush (R) appointed Lagoa to the Florida Third District Court of Appeal in 2006.[11] She became the chief judge of the Third District court on January 1, 2019.[12]
2014 election
- See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Lagoa was retained to the Third District Court of Appeal with 74.0 percent of the vote on November 4, 2014.[5]
Bar evaluation
The Florida Bar conducted a poll of its members regarding the appellate judges up for retention in 2014. 86% of respondents recommended Lagoa for retention.[13]
2008 election
Lagoa was retained on November 4, 2008.[14]
Early life and education
Lagoa was born in 1967 in Miami, Florida. She graduated from Florida International University in 1989 with a B.A., cum laude, and received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1992. During her legal studies, Lagoa served on the Columbia Law Review.[3][9][15]
Professional career
- 2019-present: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- 2019: Justice, Florida Supreme Court
- 2006-2019: Judge, Florida Third District Court of Appeal
- 2019: Chief judge
- 2003-2006: Assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida
- 1992-2003: Private practice[15]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2019: Judicial Leadership Award, National Hispanic Bar Foundation
- 2019: Women Making History, Florida Association of Women Lawyers Miami-Dade Chapter
- 2019: Rosemary Barkett Award for Judicial Excellence, American Inns of Court
- 2010: Outstanding Alumna Award, Florida International University Medallion of Honor
- 2010: Outstanding Women of Color award, Black Law Student Association and Caribbean Law Student Association at St. Thomas Law School[15]
Associations
- 2019: Member, Florida Association of Women Lawyers Miami-Dade Chapter
- 2017-2019: Member, Florida District Court of Appeal Budget Commission
- 2008-2019: Member, Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society
- 2006-2019: Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges
- 2009-2019: Election Committee Chair
- 2006-2019: Member
- 2013-2016: Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Contract and Business Cases
- 2002-2003, 1994-2000: Member, American Bar Association
- 2000-2003: Member, United Way of Dade County, Young Leaders Society
- 1998-2004: Dade County Bar Association
- 1997-2001: Member, Film Society of Miami, Board of Directors
- 1991-2001: Member, YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade, Inc., Board of Directors[15]
Possible Donald Trump nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court
2020
- See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2020
On September 18, 2020, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, leaving a vacancy on the Supreme Court. The following day, President Donald Trump (R) said he would nominate a woman to replace Ginsburg.[16] On September 26, 2020, President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy.[17]
Lagoa was among the women President Trump had previously identified as a potential Supreme Court nominee before nominating Amy Coney Barrett. President Trump released four lists of potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees; two in 2016, one in 2017, and one in 2020. Click here for more information on the vacancy and nomination process.
Noteworthy cases
Jones v. Governor of Florida (2020)
The Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018) restored voting rights to convicted felons who had completed “all terms of [their] sentence.” In 2019, the state enacted a law clarifying that “all terms of sentence” includes all financial obligations of the sentence such as fees, penalties, and restitution. This was challenged in a class action lawsuit. In July 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the law could be enforced while the suit is pending. The 11th Circuit upheld the law. Lagoa voted with the majority which found that the restitution provisions are not an illegal poll tax but “promotes full rehabilitation of returning citizens and ensures full satisfaction of the punishment imposed for the crimes by which felons forfeited the right to vote."[18][19]
Israel v. DeSantis (2019)
As a member of the Florida Supreme Court, Lagoa upheld the suspension of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel by Governor Ron DeSantis. Shortly after assuming office, DeSantis suspended Sheriff Israel, citing two mass shootings that occurred during Israel’s tenure—one at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport and the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Israel petitioned for a writ of quo warranto arguing that DeSantis exceeded his authority by suspending Israel. Lagoa wrote the majority opinion upholding the suspension as within DeSantis’ Constitutional authority and that the Florida Senate has the authority to decide whether the suspension is justified.[20][21][22]
Elián González case (2000)
Early in her career, Lagoa was a pro bono member of the team that represented Elián González’s family in the case involving a young boy found adrift alone at sea after his mother perished trying to escape Cuba to the United States. The case became the focus of a heated custody battle between González’s family in the U.S. and his father in Cuba, resulting in armed federal agents seizing the boy from his uncle’s Miami home and returning him to his father.[23][24]
About the court
| Eleventh Circuit |
|---|
| Court of Appeals |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 12 |
| Judges: 12 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: William Pryor |
| Active judges: Nancy Gbana Abudu, Elizabeth L. Branch, Andrew Brasher, Britt Grant, Adalberto Jordan, Embry Kidd, Barbara Lagoa, Robert J. Luck, Kevin C. Newsom, Jill Pryor, William Pryor, Robin Rosenbaum Senior judges: |
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal appellate court with appellate jurisdiction. It hears appeals from all of the circuit courts within its jurisdiction and its rulings may be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Appeals are heard in the Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Court of Appeals Building in Atlanta.
The Eleventh Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over cases heard in one of its subsidiary districts. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law. Appeals of rulings by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals are petitioned to the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Clarence Thomas is the circuit justice for the Eleventh Circuit.
The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- Biography from the Florida Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
- Florida Supreme Court
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Congress.gov, "PN1171 — Barbara Lagoa — The Judiciary," accessed October 17, 2019
- ↑ Lagoa, Barbara," accessed December 9, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ron DeSantis, 46th Governor of Florida, "Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Barbara Lagoa to the Florida Supreme Court," January 9, 2019
- ↑ Third District Court of Appeal, "Judge Lagoa Bio"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election," accessed June 13, 2014
- ↑ White House, "Additions to President Donald J. Trump’s Supreme Court List," September 9, 2020
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," October 16, 2019
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," November 7, 2019
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees," September 12, 2019
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed October 16, 2019
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Two Florida Supreme Court justices appointed by Trump to federal appeals court," September 13, 2019
- ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Justice Barbara Lagoa," accessed September 21, 2020
- ↑ The Florida Bar, "2014 Merit Retention Poll," accessed September 9, 2014
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees: Barbara Lagoa," accessed October 17, 2019
- ↑ The Hill, "Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week," September 19, 2020
- ↑ ‘’CNN’’, “Trump to announce Supreme Court nominee,” September 26, 2020
- ↑ Justia, "Jones v. Governor of Florida, No. 20-12003 (11th Cir. 2020)," accessed September 23, 2020
- ↑ CNN, "Florida can bar ex-felons from voting if they owe court payments, appeals court rules," September 11, 2020
- ↑ Justia, "Israel v. DeSantis," accessed September 23, 2019
- ↑ Politico, "Florida Supreme Court upholds suspension of embattled Broward sheriff," April 23, 2019
- ↑ U.S. News and World Report, "Rulings by Supreme Court Contender Lagoa Show Right-Leaning Views," September 20, 2020
- ↑ New York Times, "Lagoa’s Role in Florida Could Be a Factor in Trump’s Supreme Court Pick," September 21, 2020
- ↑ New York Times, "Federal Judge Fails to Rule On Fate of Cuban Youngster," March 10, 2000
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Florida Supreme Court 2019-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal 2006-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |
Thomas Parker • Elizabeth Branch • Neil Gorsuch • Amul Thapar • David C. Nye • John K. Bush • Kevin Newsom • Timothy J. Kelly • Ralph Erickson • Scott Palk • Trevor McFadden • Joan Larsen • Amy Coney Barrett • Allison Eid • Stephanos Bibas • Donald Coggins Jr. • Dabney Friedrich • Greg Katsas • Steven Grasz • Don Willett • James Ho • William L. Campbell Jr. • David Stras • Tilman E. Self III • Karen Gren Scholer • Terry A. Doughty • Claria Horn Boom • John Broomes • Rebecca Grady Jennings • Kyle Duncan • Kurt Engelhardt • Michael B. Brennan • Joel Carson • Robert Wier • Fernando Rodriguez Jr. • Annemarie Carney Axon • | ||
| 2018 |
Andrew Oldham • Amy St. Eve • Michael Scudder • John Nalbandian • Mark Bennett • Andrew Oldham • Britt Grant • Colm Connolly • Maryellen Noreika • Jill Otake • Jeffrey Beaverstock • Emily Coody Marks • Holly Lou Teeter • Julius Richardson • Charles B. Goodwin • Barry Ashe • Stan Baker • A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. • Terry F. Moorer • Susan Baxter • William Jung • Alan Albright • Dominic Lanza • Eric Tostrud • Charles Williams • Nancy E. Brasel • James Sweeney • Kari A. Dooley • Marilyn J. Horan • Robert Summerhays • Brett Kavanaugh • David Porter • Liles Burke • Michael Juneau • Peter Phipps • Lance Walker • Richard Sullivan • Eli Richardson • Ryan Nelson • Chad F. Kenney, Sr. • Susan Brnovich • William M. Ray, II • Jeremy Kernodle • Thomas Kleeh • J.P. Hanlon • Mark Norris • Jonathan Kobes • Michael Brown • David Counts | ||
| 2019 |
Eric Miller • Chad Readler • Eric Murphy • Neomi Rao • Paul Matey • Allison Jones Rushing • Bridget S. Bade • Roy Altman • Patrick Wyrick • Holly Brady • David Morales • Andrew Brasher • J. Campbell Barker • Rodolfo Ruiz • Daniel Domenico • Michael Truncale • Michael Park • Joseph Bianco • Raúl Arias-Marxuach • Daniel Collins • Joshua Wolson • Wendy Vitter • Kenneth Kiyul Lee • Kenneth Bell • Stephen Clark • Howard Nielson • Rodney Smith • Jean-Paul Boulee • Sarah Daggett Morrison • Rossie Alston • Pamela A. Barker • Corey Maze • Greg Guidry • Matthew Kacsmaryk • Allen Winsor • Carl Nichols • James Cain, Jr. • Tom Barber • J. Nicholas Ranjan • Clifton L. Corker • Peter Phipps • Daniel Bress • Damon Leichty • Wendy W. Berger • Peter Welte • Michael Liburdi • William Shaw Stickman • Mark Pittman • Karin J. Immergut • Jason Pulliam • Brantley Starr • Brian Buescher • James Wesley Hendrix • Timothy Reif • Martha Pacold • Sean Jordan • Mary Rowland • John M. Younge • Jeff Brown • Ada Brown • Steven Grimberg • Stephanie A. Gallagher • Steven Seeger • Stephanie Haines • Mary McElroy • David J. Novak • Frank W. Volk • Charles Eskridge • Rachel Kovner • Justin Walker • T. Kent Wetherell • Danielle Hunsaker • Lee Rudofsky • Jennifer Philpott Wilson • William Nardini • Steven Menashi • Robert J. Luck • Eric Komitee • Douglas Cole • John Sinatra • Sarah Pitlyk • Barbara Lagoa • Richard Myers II • Sherri Lydon • Patrick Bumatay • R. Austin Huffaker • Miller Baker • Anuraag Singhal • Karen Marston • Jodi Dishman • Mary Kay Vyskocil • Matthew McFarland • John Gallagher • Bernard Jones • Kea Riggs • Robert J. Colville • Stephanie Dawkins Davis • Gary R. Brown • David Barlow • Lewis Liman | ||
| 2020 |
Lawrence VanDyke • Daniel Traynor • John Kness • Joshua Kindred • Philip Halpern • Silvia Carreno-Coll • Scott Rash • John Heil • Anna Manasco • John L. Badalamenti • Drew Tipton • Andrew Brasher • Cory Wilson • Scott Hardy • David Joseph • Matthew Schelp • John Cronan • Justin Walker • Brett H. Ludwig • Christy Wiegand • Thomas Cullen • Diane Gujarati • Stanley Blumenfeld • Mark Scarsi • John Holcomb • Stephen P. McGlynn • Todd Robinson • Hala Jarbou • David Dugan • Iain D. Johnston • Franklin U. Valderrama • John Hinderaker • Roderick Young • Michael Newman • Aileen Cannon • James Knepp • Kathryn Kimball Mizelle • Benjamin Beaton • Kristi Johnson • Toby Crouse • Philip Calabrese • Taylor McNeel • Thomas Kirsch • Stephen Vaden • Katherine Crytzer • Fernando Aenlle-Rocha • Charles Atchley • Joseph Dawson | ||
| 2025 |
Whitney Hermandorfer • Joshua Divine • Cristian M. Stevens • Zachary Bluestone • Emil Bove • Edward Artau • Kyle Dudek | ||
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current judges | Charles Canady, John Daniel Couriel, Renatha Francis, Jamie Rutland Grosshans, Jorge Labarga, Carlos Muñiz, Meredith Sasso | ||
| Former judges | Barbara Lagoa, C. Alan Lawson, R. Fred Lewis, Robert J. Luck, Barbara J. Pariente, James Perry, Ricky Polston, Peggy Quince | ||
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
