Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga has cancer and is expected to undergo kidney surgery.
Labarga made the announcement in a statement released Friday. He says he is scheduled to have a kidney removed this month.
The chief justice says doctors told him his prognosis is "very good after surgery." The cancer was detected early through blood tests during a routine medical exam.
Labarga says doctors expect he'll spend seven days in the hospital. He says he'll resume his duties remotely as soon as possible after surgery.
Under Florida's Rules of Judicial Administration, Justice Barbara J. Pariente will assume the role of acting chief justice because she has the longest service time.
Labarga became the state's 56th chief justice and the first of Hispanic descent in 2014.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
