this Vote’s in Your Court page is a resource for voters regarding judges and judicial elections. It has the Guide for Florida Voters, an easy-to-read, nonpartisan brochure about the courts, the role of judges and the merit retention process. It includes biographies of the jurists in merit retention elections in November and will publish results of The Florida Bar’s merit retention poll of instate members in September. It also links to statements submitted by trial court judicial candidates, and includes additional voter resources as well. For copies of the Guide for Florida Voters, email [email protected].
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Merit retention poll |
Important Election Dates for 2018
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Florida Bar merit retention poll
The statewide merit retention judicial poll for Florida Supreme Court justices and District Courts of Appeal judges is conducted every two years by The Florida Bar. In-state members are asked to rate judges and justices who are up for retention and of whom they have direct knowledge. The merit retention poll is supervised by the Constitutional Judiciary Committee of The Florida Bar.
The 2018 merit retention poll is scheduled to be mailed to in-state Florida Bar members on Aug. 13, 2018, and the results will be released Sept. 11:
Merit retention poll results from 1978-2016
Voter Guide
Florida law requires Florida Supreme Court justices and appeals court judges to be placed on the ballot in nonpartisan elections every six years, so voters can determine whether the judges or justices should remain on their courts for another six-year term.These are called ‘merit retention’ elections. In 2018, one Supreme Court justice and 17 of the state’s appeals court judges will appear on the ballot.
The 2018 Guide for Florida Voters answers questions such as:
- What is the difference between a county and circuit court judge and an appellate judge?
- Why is it important to vote in judicial elections and merit retention elections?
- What exactly does a judge do?
Download the 2018 Guide for Florida Voters here.
Download the Spanish 2018 Guide for Florida Voters here.
Voter Resources
- Judicial Candidate Voluntary Self-Disclosure Statements: The statements, offered by The Florida Bar’s Constitutional Judiciary Committee, give county and circuit judicial candidates the opportunity to share information about their history, credentials and other relevant information with voters.
- The Florida Division of Elections has information about candidates, election laws and more.
- Sources of authority and guidance regarding political activity by judges and judicial campaigns. This page includes links to many of the laws, rules and opinions governing candidates running for judicial office.
- Frequently Asked Questions on Merit Retention
- Details about the merit retention poll and results from past years
- Florida Supreme Court page on merit retention
- The American Bar Association’s “Florida Votes” page.
- Get the latest news on Facebook and Twitter
MERIT RETENTION BIOGRAPHIES
Learn more about the 17 appeals court judges and one Supreme Court justice facing a merit retention vote in the general election. Each biography also provides a link to the official website of the judge/justice.
SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE ALAN LAWSON
FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
JUDGE HARVEY L. JAY III
JUDGE STEPHANIE W. RAY
JUDGE BRADFORD L. “BRAD” THOMAS
JUDGE KEMMERLY THOMAS
JUDGE ALLEN WINSOR
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
JUDGE ANTHONY K. BLACK
JUDGE DARRYL C. CASANUEVA
JUDGE EDWARD C. LAROSE
JUDGE SUSAN H. ROTHSTEIN-YOUAKIM
THIRD DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
JUDGE KEVIN EMAS
JUDGE IVAN F. FERNANDEZ
JUDGE NORMA S. LINDSEY
JUDGE ROBERT J. LUCK
FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
JUDGE BURTON C. CONNER
JUDGE JEFFREY T. KUNTZ
JUDGE CAROLE Y. TAYLOR
FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
JUDGE ERIC J. EISNAUGLE
Florida Supreme Court and Appellate Courts decisions
Learn more about the opinions handed down by the Florida Supreme Court and the state’s five appellate courts: