Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Federal judge: Snipes deserves chance to be heard
Ruling: Suspended elections supervisor vilified by governor
Brenda Snipes got a raw deal when former Gov. Rick Scott suspended her as Broward County’s supervisor of elections, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
Scott vilified Snipes, trampled her due-process rights and used vague and meaningless catch-all terms to do so, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker wrote in a 15-page ruling.
As a result of having “zero opportunity to tell her side of the story,” Snipes must be given the chance, either in writing or orally, to be heard no later than March 31, Walker wrote.
It will be newly elected Gov. Ron DeSantis’ responsibility to carry out the judge’s order.
Snipes, 76, went before the judge in Tallahassee on Monday and asked to be reinstated, accusing Scott of trying to “tar her” with false allegations of incompetence.
Despite calls to their cellphones, neither Snipes nor her attorney could be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Snipes, a Democrat appointed by former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2003, came under heavy fire after the contentious recount that followed the November elections.
She had planned to resign Jan. 4 but rescinded her resignation after Scott immediately suspended her last month.
Scott’s suspension order
said Snipes’ misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty dictated her removal from office.
Such “catch-all terms” are “so broad and vague as to be meaningless,” Walker wrote.
The judge warned that if terms like “misfeasance” and “incompetence” are used when Snipes is given notice of a hearing, the notice “must identify what specific conduct those kinds of phrases refer to.”
Walker dinged Scott throughout the ruling. “Rather than accept the resignation quietly and avoid trampling on Snipes’ due process rights, Scott suspended Snipes and vilified her without giving her a meaningful opportunity to be heard,” Walker wrote.
“Flagrantly disregarding Plaintiff’s constitutional rights fits into an unfortunate rhythm for Scott,” he also wrote.
The day after Snipes’ suspension, Scott tapped one of his favorite appointees, Peter Antonacci, to replace her. He is expected to fill out the final two years of Snipes’ term.
In the past, Scott has appointed Antonacci to serve as Palm Beach County’s state attorney, South Florida Water Management District executive director and head of Enterprise Florida.