A Florida native, Lagoa was the first Hispanic woman to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. "She has been the essence of what a judge should be,” DeSantis said when he nominated her.
Trump nominated Lagoa to serve on 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. She was confirmed by the Senate in a bipartisan vote, which could help ease her path to the court if she’s selected by the president again.
At 52, Lagoa would be the youngest justice on the Supreme Court, just a few months behind one of Trump’s other nominees, Neil Gorsuch. A lifetime appointment to the court would allow her to serve for decades to come.
Lagoa, 52, would bring lengthy judicial experience in state and federal courts as well as two potential political benefits: She is a Cuban American from a battleground state Trump desperately needs to win in November.
A graduate of Florida International University and Columbia University Law School, Lagoa was raised in Hialeah, Fla., the daughter of parents from Cuba.
“Justice Lagoa’s proven commitment to upholding the rule of law, unparalleled legal career and vast experience on the appellate bench distinguish her among the most qualified individuals to serve on our state’s highest court,” DeSantis said upon selecting her for the state Supreme Court.
Lagoa, is a member of the conservative Federalist Society, which stresses that judges should "say what the law is, not what it should be.”
Trump nominated her for the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last September, and she was confirmed by an unusually lopsided 80-15 Senate vote in November. Most of Trump's nominees win confirmation narrowly (Amy Coney Barrett only confirmed by a vote of 55-43).
Thank you for this. I know Barrett has a lot of support here, but I think that lagoa is a better play here. He can nominate Barrett after Thomas retires next year when trump gets re-elected.
Yes, Barrett is only 48 years old. But she's too polarizing for this specific environment. We need to ease the minds of the suburban soccer moms.
Plus, Lagoa was confirmed by a 80-15 Senate vote in 2019. Most of Trump's nominees win confirmation narrowly (Amy Coney Barrett only confirmed by a vote of 55-43). Let's hear those D Senators who voted for her last year now claim that she's a Nazi rapist. It will only further de-legitmize their party.