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Florida Supreme Court Justice Forced To Retire

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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Appointed by then-Governor. Charlie Crist to the state Supreme Court in 2009, Justice James Perry has announced he'll step down from his post in the end of December because he has reached mandatory retirement age.

Perry, the fourth black justice appointed to the court, sent a letter to Governor Rick Scott on Friday telling him that he would leave the court on Dec. 30. Perry was

Florida law requires that justices retire once they turn 70, although they can serve out their term if their birthday falls in the last three years of their six-year term. Perry is 72.

Perry's departure gives Scott a chance to alter the makeup of the Supreme Court, which has angered Republican legislators with some of its decisions. Scott will appoint a successor from a list given to him by a nominating commission.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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