The Florida Senate’s special master examining the suspension of Broward Sheriff Scott Israel rejected a push Wednesday from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office to accelerate the schedule for considering the case.
Special Master Dudley Goodlette, who is hearing Israel’s appeal of his suspension on behalf of the Senate, said a final hearing would take place on “June 18th and/or 19th and/or 20th.”
The dates Goodlette set are a compromise between the June 11 start DeSantis’ office wanted and the June 24 start date requested by Israel’s attorneys.
Nicholas Primrose, the governor’s deputy general counsel, wasn’t happy.
Primrose, who asserted that there aren’t really any facts in dispute, said the matter doesn’t require the time frame Goodlette established. He repeatedly objected to the dates during a scheduling conference Wednesday.
“The facts of both of those shootings are not in dispute,” Primrose said. “There’s really not a lot of disputed evidence that we’re relying on. There might be testimony that differs as to what Scott Israel was responsible for.” He added that “Scott Israel doesn’t take any responsibility for what happened in Broward County.”
Benedict Kuehne, one of Israel’s attorneys, said there are substantial factual disputes that require expensive preparation.
“The governor has a completely different view of this case than we do,” Kuehne said. “We believe that the allegations in the 14-page bill of particulars set out by the governor’s counsel are replete with factual falsities. … That information is factually inaccurate and subject to significant dispute.” He said the governor has repeatedly attempted to “unfairly and unconstitutionally tilt the scales in this case.”