Gov. Ron DeSantis has asked the Florida Supreme Court to dismiss a case against him for missing a deadline to fill a judicial vacancy – because he already filled it.

In a filing docketed Aug. 9, DeSantis general counsel Ryan Newman told the court the governor had elevated Alachua County Court Judge Kristine Van Vorst to fill an empty circuit judge seat in the 8th Judicial Circuit in north central Florida. He included DeSantis' Aug. 1 appointment letter to Van Vorst.

On Aug. 8, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed a petition for writ of mandamus , a request for the court to order a government official to carry out a legally required duty.

"Given the timely appointment, ... this unnecessary mandamus proceeding is moot," Newman wrote.

Van Vorst's appointment has not

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