When Governor Ron DeSantis tapped Meredith Sasso for the Florida Supreme Court in 2023, the headlines started flying immediately. People wanted to know one thing. What is the meredith sasso political party affiliation? It's a fair question. Florida’s highest court has seen a massive shift over the last decade. Honestly, if you look at the paperwork, you’ll find she technically holds a nonpartisan office. But that’s only half the story.
You see, in Florida, judges don't run with a "D" or an "R" next to their name. It’s supposed to keep the bench neutral. But everyone knows that the path to the Supreme Court is paved with political connections and a very specific judicial philosophy. Sasso is widely recognized as a conservative Republican. This isn't just a label people threw at her; it’s rooted in her long history with the state’s most powerful GOP figures and her membership in influential legal circles like the Federalist Society.
The Federalist Society Connection and Judicial Roots
If you want to understand her "party" in the broader sense, you have to look at the Federalist Society. She’s a long-standing member. For those who aren't legal nerds, this group is basically the powerhouse for conservative and libertarian legal thought in America. It’s where Republican governors and presidents look when they want someone who believes in originalism. That’s the idea that the Constitution should be interpreted exactly as it was written, not as a "living document" that changes with the times.
She didn't just appear out of nowhere. Sasso was born and raised in Tallahassee. She's a Gator through and through, having earned both her undergraduate degree and her J.D. from the University of Florida. Before she ever wore a black robe, she was deep in the trenches of Republican governance. She served as the Chief Deputy General Counsel for former Governor Rick Scott. Working that closely with a Republican governor isn't just a job; it's a statement about where your loyalties and your legal leanings lie.
A Career Built on Republican Appointments
It's actually kind of wild when you look at the timeline. Sasso’s rise through the Florida court system has been entirely fueled by GOP appointments.
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- Rick Scott put her on the Fifth District Court of Appeal in 2019.
- Ron DeSantis then moved her to the newly created Sixth District Court of Appeal in early 2023.
- Just months later, DeSantis promoted her again—this time to the Florida Supreme Court.
She replaced Justice Ricky Polston. That move was a big deal. It solidified a 6-1 conservative majority on the court. While the office is nonpartisan, the meredith sasso political party ties are impossible to ignore. Her husband, Michael Sasso, is also a lawyer who was appointed by DeSantis to the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District—the group that took over Disney’s special taxing district. It’s a small, very Republican world.
Why Her Philosophy Matters More Than a Voter Card
Look, does it matter if she has a Republican voter registration? Probably not as much as her actual rulings. Sasso has been very clear about her "limited role" as a judge. She’s often talked about having "essential deference" to the people's elected representatives. That’s code for: "I’m not here to make laws; I’m here to make sure the ones the Legislature passed are followed."
This became very real for Floridians during the 2024 elections. Sasso was one of the justices who wrote a dissenting opinion against putting Amendment 4 (the abortion access amendment) on the ballot. She argued the language was "vague and ambiguous." She also dissented against the recreational marijuana amendment. In her view, the state shouldn't be authorizing something that is still a federal crime. These aren't just legal "uh-ohs." They are positions that align perfectly with the platform of the modern Republican Party in Florida.
The 2024 Retention Vote
In Florida, Supreme Court justices face a "retention" vote. It’s not a race against an opponent. It’s just a "Yes" or "No" on whether they should keep their jobs. In November 2024, Sasso faced the voters for the first time as a Supreme Court Justice. She won.
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She got about 62.3% of the vote. That’s a pretty solid margin, but it also reflects the political divide in the state. People who identify with the meredith sasso political party lean—conservative and originalist—voted "Yes" in droves. Those who wanted a more liberal or "activist" court voted "No."
Breaking Down the "Nonpartisan" Label
Is it a lie to call her nonpartisan? Technically, no. In the courtroom, she isn't supposed to care about party platforms. But in reality, the Florida Supreme Court has become one of the most reliably conservative courts in the country. Sasso is a key part of that. She’s the third woman currently on the court, joining Renatha Francis and Jamie Grosshans. All three were appointed by DeSantis. All three are seen as part of the same conservative movement.
If you’re trying to figure out where she stands, don't just look for a party logo. Look at who she spends her time with. She’s a member of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Leadership Network. That’s another high-level conservative think tank. When you add up the Federalist Society, the AEI, and her history with Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, the picture gets very clear. She is a pillar of the conservative legal establishment.
What This Means for Florida's Future
Having someone with Sasso's background on the bench for a term that lasts until 2031 means the court isn't changing direction anytime soon. Expect more rulings that favor:
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- Strict interpretation of state laws.
- Deference to the Florida Legislature.
- A skeptical eye toward citizen-led ballot initiatives.
- Support for executive power in the Governor’s office.
Whether you love that or hate it usually depends on your own politics. But you can't say the meredith sasso political party influence isn't there. It’s baked into the very fabric of her judicial career.
How to Track Her Impact
If you want to see if she's staying true to these roots, there are a few things you can do. You can follow the Florida Supreme Court’s online docket to read her opinions directly. Often, her dissents are more revealing than her majority opinions because they show exactly where she draws her personal "red lines." You can also keep an eye on Federalist Society events in Florida; she is a frequent speaker and panelist.
Understanding the person behind the robe is about more than just a label. It's about knowing the history, the mentors, and the philosophy. Sasso isn't just a "Republican appointee." She's a true believer in a specific type of law that has come to define Florida in the 2020s.
To stay informed on how her rulings might affect you, check the official Florida Supreme Court website periodically for new opinions on high-profile cases involving state regulations or constitutional amendments. You can also look up her previous rulings from her time on the Fifth and Sixth District Courts of Appeal to see the consistency in her judicial logic over the years. This gives you a much better sense of her "party" than any voter registration database ever could.