Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Adam Tannenbaum to the Florida Supreme Court and said the state's judiciary is now more predictable after several appointments he made during his tenure.

DeSantis, introduced on the transcript as the governor, said he appointed Tannenbaum from the First District Court of Appeal and noted the judge's local ties, calling him a strong jurist and referencing Tannenbaum's Seminole High School valedictorian status. "I appointed, the next justice to the Florida Supreme Court, judge, Adam Tannenbaum from, the First District Court of Appeals," DeSantis said.

The governor framed replacements on the Supreme Court as part of a broader shift away from what he described as an 'activist judiciary' that previously overturned legislative reforms. He told the audience that six of seven current justices were appointed by him and argued those appointments provide certainty for businesses and lawmakers. "If they ever do anything bad, then, you know, that is what it is," he said, adding that predictability on the high court reduces legal uncertainty.

DeSantis also urged courts to be more attentive to ballot language for constitutional amendments, saying vague ballot descriptions can mislead voters. He argued that wealthy interest groups use ballot initiatives to gain advantage and that the judiciary has a role in policing that process.

The remarks were part of a longer address in Tallahassee in which the governor connected judicial appointments to recent legislative efforts and litigation reforms. He criticized prior court actions that, in his view, undid legislative changes and said a more conservative judiciary supports the state’s policy agenda.

The speech did not include questions, opposing commentary, or a formal response on the record from members of the bench or the Florida Supreme Court. DeSantis’s announcement of the appointment and his characterization of the courts were presented as his assessment to the audience; the transcript does not include independent adjudication or rebuttal of those claims.