Plan Would Let Governor Pick Administrative Judges

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By DARA KAM
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

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THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 22, 2017……… One case involved a tiny horse track where an employee waved a red rag to start a “race” between two aging nags.

Another centered on whether pari-mutuels could continue to offer popular “designated-player” poker-style games at card rooms throughout the state.

And a third focused on a dispute between a public hospital system and an industry giant over building a new medical center in Doral.

The cases are just a sample of the skirmishes at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, where nearly three dozen judges weigh in on state agency actions on matters ranging from the mundane to the colossal.

In recent months, administrative law judges have sided against gambling regulators, health officials and other state agencies for exceeding their authority or failing to do their jobs correctly.