Governor appoints nine judges in July
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed nine judges in July to fill vacancies across state and appellate courts — a group that includes federal prosecutors, sitting county and circuit judges, and longtime private practitioners.
Shannon Shaw of Jupiter to serve as judge on the Fourth District Court of Appeal
Shaw has served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida since 2017. Previously, she was an associate at Hunton & Williams. She was also a judicial law clerk for the Judge K. Michael Moore and the Judge James King in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University and her juris doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School. Shaw fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Martha Warner.
Caroline Shepherd of Palm Beach Gardens to serve as judge on the Fourth District Court of Appeal
Shepherd has served as a circuit court judge for the 15th Judicial Circuit since 2019. Previously, she served as a county court Judge for Palm Beach County. She also served as an assistant state attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and her juris doctor from New England School of Law. Shepherd fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Dorian K. Damoorgian.
Richard Martin of Tampa to serve as judge on the 13th Judicial Circuit Court
Martin has served as a county court judge for Hillsborough County since 2023. Previously, he served as the chief of staff at the Florida Office of the Attorney General. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Florida State University. Martin fills the judicial vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe.
Jeffrey Rich of Tampa to serve as judge on the 13th Judicial Circuit Court
Rich has served as a county court judge for Hillsborough County since 2021. Previously, he was the solo practitioner at The Law Office of Jeffrey M. Rich. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his juris doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law. Rich fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Samantha Ward.
Jason Jones of Tallahassee to serve as judge on the Second Judicial Circuit Court
Jones has served as a Leon County Court judge since 2020. Previously, he served as the general counsel for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Florida State University. Jones fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert Wheeler.
Aaron Hubbard of Largo to serve as judge on the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court
Hubbard has served as a County Court judge for Pinellas County since 2022. Previously, he served as an assistant state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and his juris doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Hubbard fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge George Jirokta.
Javier Pacheco of Bonita Springs to serve as judge on the Lee County Court
Pacheco has been a partner at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur since 2015. Previously, he was an associate at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Ohio State University and his juris doctor from Case Western Reserve University. Pacheco fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Andrew Swett.
John Reed of Shalimar to serve as judge on the Okaloosa County Court
Reed has served as a general magistrate for the First Judicial Circuit since 2023. Previously, he was a partner at Remol Reed. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida and juris doctor from the University of Florida. Reed fills the judicial vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Jonathan Schlechter.
Michael Porter of Vero Beach to serve as judge on the 19th Judicial Circuit bench.
Porter has served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida since 2018.
Previously, he was am assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville and his juris doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Porter fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Janet Carney Croom.
