Supreme Court allows Thompson’s challenge to DeSantis' pick for judge

Striking a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis, a unanimous Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed state Rep. Geraldine Thompson to continue challenging the governor’s appointment of Palm Beach Circuit Judge Renatha Francis to the state’s highest court.

The court gave DeSantis until Wednesday to explain why he shouldn’t appoint someone other than Francis out of the list of seven other approved nominees.

Thompson, D-Windermere, said Tuesday the order is "very promising.”

“The governor will have to articulate why none of the others who are on that list would be qualified for appointment, given that his appointee is ineligible because she does not meet the constitutional requirement,” Thompson said.