TALLAHASSEE, Fla. /Florida Newswire/ -– Governor Charlie Crist today celebrated the investiture of jurist Jorge Labarga to the Florida Supreme Court. Labarga was Governor Crist’s third appointment to the seven-member high court and has been serving since January 6, 2009. “During his three decades as an attorney and circuit judge, Justice Labarga has proven his commitment to justice,” said Governor Crist. “In serving the court since January, he has already demonstrated wisdom, humility and compassion for people.”
Before being appointed to the Supreme Court, Justice Labarga served on the Fourth District Court of Appeal and previously on the 15th Judicial Circuit since 1996. Previously, he practiced with Roth, Duncan and Labarga for four years, and with Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Johnson, Roth and Romano for five years.
Labarga served as an assistant public defender from 1979 to 1982 and an assistant state attorney from 1982 to 1987. A 45-year Florida resident, Justice Labarga was born in Havana, Cuba, and received his bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Florida.
Justice Labarga will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Harry Lee Anstead, who served on the Florida Supreme Court beginning in 1994.
