TALLAHASSEE — A major transition is underway at the Florida Supreme Court as its longest-serving justice, Charles Canady, announces his departure to lead the University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. This change marks a significant moment in Florida’s judicial landscape.
Justice Canady, who has been part of the Supreme Court for 17 years, shared his decision on Monday, expressing gratitude for his tenure. “I will always deeply value my years on the court. But the time has come to move on to another position of public service,” said Canady, 71. He will assume his new role as director and tenured professor at the Hamilton School in 2026.
This departure offers Governor Ron DeSantis, who has already appointed a majority of the justices, another chance to influence the court’s composition. Justice Canady’s judicial journey began in August 2008 when then-Governor Charlie Crist appointed him, shortly after appointing Justice Jorge Labarga.
A native of Lakeland and a former legislator, Canady served as chief justice three times. His political career started in the state House from 1984 to 1990, followed by four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives until 2000. He later joined former Governor Jeb Bush as general counsel before moving to the 2nd District Court of Appeal, eventually reaching the Supreme Court.
Justice Canady’s tenure coincided with a shift in the court’s ideological balance, notably under Governor DeSantis’ influence post-2019, when mandatory retirements led to a conservative reshaping. Known for his conservative stance, Canady played a significant role in the abortion debate, coining the term “partial birth abortion” and authoring legislation to ban the practice during his time in Congress.
His legislative contributions also include involvement in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1999, highlighting his influence during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
Justice Canady, married to Jennifer Canady, a state House member poised to become speaker in 2028, was born to a politically active family in Polk County. His father, Charles E. Canady, served as an aide to the late Governor Lawton Chiles. Reflecting on his career, Canady once considered academia before committing to law, expressing no regrets about his choice. “The law seemed to be always what I came back to,” he noted in a 2010 interview.
As he transitions to the Hamilton School, Canady will engage in promoting traditional educational values, aligning with state leaders’ efforts to focus on classical education over diversity initiatives. The school claims to be “leading a higher education revolution,” focusing on nurturing critical thinkers who “lead with purpose.”
“Now more than ever, the world needs critical thinkers filled with fresh ideas and the courage to ask bigger questions. At the Hamilton School, we prepare you to think deeply, explore widely, speak with conviction, and lead with purpose,” the school’s website states. It emphasizes training students in “ideas and habits of thought that founded our country and sustain our free society.”
