Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Adam Tanenbaum to the Florida Supreme Court, marking his sixth conservative appointment on the seven-member bench. Tanenbaum, a judge on the First District Court of Appeal and Seminole High School alumnus, pledged to follow originalist principles and to correct what he calls erroneous textual interpretations. He previously served as general counsel for the Florida House and worked for other state agencies. DeSantis urged the court to exercise administrative authority over the legal profession, citing a recent Texas high-court decision.
DeSantis Appoints Adam Tanenbaum as Sixth Conservative Justice on Florida Supreme Court
FILE - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces issuing "investigative subpoenas" to Orange County employees during a press conference in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File)
SEMINOLE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday appointed Adam Tanenbaum, a judge on the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, to the Florida Supreme Court, giving DeSantis his sixth conservative appointee on the seven-member bench.
Tanenbaum, a graduate of Seminole High School in the St. Petersburg area, said he would adhere to the principles of originalism — the view that a law's meaning is fixed at the time it is enacted — if confirmed to the state's highest court.
Judicial Philosophy and Remarks
“Sometimes the circumstances require boldness to restore our jurisprudence to its historical roots,” Tanenbaum said, adding that judges should not be afraid to correct what he described as an “erroneous interpretation of the text.”
Tanenbaum previously served as general counsel for the Florida House of Representatives and worked on the legal staff of several state agencies. He has served on the First District Court of Appeal before his appointment to the Supreme Court.
Governor's Comments
Before announcing the appointment, DeSantis urged the Florida Supreme Court to use its administrative authority over the state's legal profession. He pointed to a recent Texas Supreme Court decision that removed the requirement that Texas law schools be accredited by the American Bar Association as an example of courts exercising administrative power.
“I think that there’s room, you know, to be really, really bold,” DeSantis said.
The appointment further cements a conservative majority on the Florida Supreme Court, which now includes six justices appointed by DeSantis. Observers say the court's composition may influence decisions on a range of state legal issues in the years ahead.
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