A federal appeal court is reconsidering a decision that reversed former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers' bribery conviction.

In a rare move, the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal vacated the 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel Wednesday. The full 11-judge panel now will rehear Childers' appeal.

Childers had already completed a 3 1/2-year prison term before the appeal court ruled in June.

The conviction stemmed from Childers' actions as an Escambia County commissioner after the Pensacola Republican left the Senate due to term limits in 2000.

A state court jury found him guilty of bribing a fellow commission to vote for a county land purchase.