In a strongly worded ruling, a state appeals court backed Gov. Rick Scott in a dispute about his authority to appoint a replacement for a retiring Northeast Florida judge.

A panel of the First District Court of Appeal overturned a lower-court decision that blocked Scott from appointing a replacement for Judge Robert Foster of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Duval, Nassau and Clay counties. Jacksonville lawyer David Trotti filed a lawsuit to try to prevent the appointment, arguing that Foster’s replacement should be chosen by voters during this year’s elections.