1ST CIRCUIT JNC ANNOUNCES CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURT JUDICIAL VACANCIES
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced vacancies on the First Judicial Circuit Court (two vacancies) and the Santa Rosa County Court (one vacancy). These appointments are to fill the vacancies created by the resignation of Judge Wells and the enactment of HB 5401. Accordingly, the Judicial Nominating Commission of the First Judicial Circuit is now accepting applications for these vacancies.
Applicants must fulfill the Constitutional qualifications before assuming the office of County Court Judge, which specify that: a) no person shall be eligible for the office of judge of any court unless the person is an elector of the state and resides in the territorial jurisdiction of the court; and b) no person is eligible for the office of county court judge unless the person is, and has been for the preceding five years, a member of the bar of Florida.
Applicants must fulfill the Constitutional qualifications before assuming the office of Circuit Court Judge, which specify that: a) no person shall be eligible for the office of judge of any court unless the person is an elector of the state and resides in the territorial jurisdiction of the court; and b) no person is eligible for the office of circuit judge unless the person is, and has been for the preceding five years, a member of the bar of Florida.
Applications may be downloaded from the Office of the Governor’s website at www.flgov.com. Effective July 1, 2020, the application has been substantially revised, and only the current version will be accepted.
All applicants must submit the following: a .pdf version of the complete unredacted application with attachments, including the executed FDLE form, and a color photograph in .jpg or .gif format; and a .pdf version of a redacted copy of the application excluding all exempt information pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The .pdf files should be titled in the name of the applicant (Doe.John.pdf) and labeled “Redacted” or “Original” as applicable.
Applications must be delivered by email to Robert L. Jones, III, Chair, at [email protected] no later than 3 p.m. (CDT) on Mon., Aug. 19th, 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
All questions in the application must be fully and completely answered. The submitted application must include the required financial disclosures, a writing sample, and a recent photograph. Applications must also include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for all judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the background investigation that members of the Commission will conduct.
All proceedings of the Judicial Nominating Commission are open to the public except for deliberations. Accordingly, applicants should not expect their applications to remain confidential. If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor’s Office.
Members of the bench, Bar, and the public are encouraged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions. Letters of recommendation should be emailed or mailed to all commissioners.
The members of the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission are listed below.
Dana Matthews
Work: 850-837-3662
Cell: 850-259-7658
Email: [email protected]
Aaron McCurdy
Work: 850-202-8525
Cell Phone – 850-791-5118
Email: [email protected]
Cecily Parker
Cell phone850-292-8603
work phone 850-292-8603
Amy Bender
Work: 770-818-0000
Cell: 770-818-0000
Email: [email protected]
Kerry Anne Schultz
Work: 850-754-1600
Cell: 850-380-0784
Email: [email protected]
Robert Jones III, CHAIR
Work: 850-432-2451
Cell: 904-334-6504
Email: [email protected]
Lisa Jo Spencer
Work: 850-226-4998
Cell: 850-865-2471
Email: [email protected]
Shelley Reynolds
Work: 850-434-1330
Cell: 850-324-9493
Email: [email protected]
Zack Smith, VICE CHAIR
Work: 202-608-6049
Cell: 205-482–0115
Email: [email protected]
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EDITORS: Please note The Florida Bar is not an association and "Association" is not part of our name. Proper reference is "The Florida Bar." Local bar organizations are properly termed "associations."