9TH CIRCUIT JNC ANNOUNCES CIRCUIT COURT JUDICIAL VACANCIES
Gov. Ron DeSantis has requested the Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission provide him with names of highly qualified nominees for two Orange County Court vacancies and two Osceola County Court vacancies. The two Orange County Court vacancies were created by the elevation of Judge Brian Sandor and the resignation of Judge Andrew Bain. The two Osceola County Court vacancies were created by the elevation of Judges Christine Arendas and Hal Epperson.
The Commission requires interested candidates to submit a completed application for consideration to the Chair, Eric Jontz at [email protected] on or before Wed., Nov. 22, 2023 at noon (12 p.m.). Incomplete applications and untimely submissions will not be considered by the Commission. Applicants in need of guidance should direct inquires to the Chair. Applicants must qualify to hold office for County Court under Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Those qualifications include having been a member of the Florida Bar for the preceding five years, being a registered voter in the State of Florida, and for the two Orange County Court seats, the applicant must reside in Orange County at the time of appointment, and for the two Osceola County Court seats, the applicant must reside in Osceola County at the time of appointment.
Applications may be downloaded from the Office of the Governor at https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/ and must include a recent photograph, preferably as a cover page. Applicants must also include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for themselves, as well as for all co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the requisite background investigation.
All applications must be submitted in one file in .pdf format. A second .pdf version of the application must also be provided with redactions to protect personal information not subject to public disclosure as permitted by Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes. The two .pdf files should be named in a “last name.first name” format. For example, James Madison should submit two files named: (1) Madison.James.pdf and (2) Madison.James-REDACTED.pdf. Applications not submitted in the correct format may be rejected and paper applications will not be accepted. All complete and properly submitted applications will be considered for all four vacancies unless the applicant informs the JNC otherwise in the email submitting the application. The same application may be used for all openings but should indicate on the top of the first page that it is for a circuit and county seat, if desired.
Members of the bench, the Bar, and the public are encouraged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions. Letters of recommendation should be e- mailed or mailed to all Commissioners at any time before the interviews begin. The contact information for the commissioners is:
Eric Jontz, Chair
Fishback Dominick LLP 1947 Lee Road
Winter Park, FL 32789
Office: 407-262-8400
Email: [email protected]
Matthew Klein
Signature Aviation
13485 Veterans Way, Suite 600
Orlando, FL 32827
Office: 407-206-5291
Email: [email protected]
Tim Schulte Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe, P.A.
315 E. Robinson Street, Suite 600
Orlando, FL 32801
Office: 407-425-7010
Email: [email protected]
Christian Waugh, Vice Chair
Waugh PLLC
201 E. Pine Street, Suite 315
Orlando, FL 328001-2714
Office: 321-800-6008
Email: [email protected]
Michael Nardella
Nardella & Nardella, PLLC
135 W. Central Boulevard, Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32801-2435
Office: 407-966-2680
Email: [email protected]
Tara Tedrow
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.
215 E. Eola Drive
Orlando, FL 32801
Office: 418-6361
Email: [email protected]
Interviews will be held on or before Dec. 31, 2023, on a date to be determined. Applicants will be notified by email of their interview time and the location once the schedule is finalized after the application deadline. A complete interview schedule will be available on Gov. Ron DeSantis’s website.
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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."