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Supreme Court JNC seeks applicants to replace retiring Justice Lawson

Announcements

GavelThe Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission is now seeking applicants to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Alan Lawson effective August 31.

The judicial application for the at-large vacancy may be obtained from the Governor’s Judicial Nominations website here. Applicants must submit an original electronic copy of the application (including all attachments) in pdf format; and a redacted electronic copy of the application (including all attachments), which excludes all material that is exempt or confidential under applicable public records laws, also in pdf format.

Both the original and redacted electronic applications must be submitted electronically to all commission members at their email addresses below before 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 27,

The JNC “strongly prefers” the submission of applications in a searchable (i.e., non-scanned) pdf format. After the deadline for submitting applications, the Supreme Court JNC will determine which applicants to interview. Applicants who are selected by the commission for interviews will be contacted to confirm the date, time, and location. It is anticipated that interviews take place Saturday June 11, and, if needed, Sunday June 12 in Tampa.

Justice Lawson announced his upcoming retirement April 29 and comes at the conclusion of a 21-year judicial career and six years as a justice. Prior to his tenure on the Supreme Court, Lawson served 11 years on the Fifth District Court of Appeal, including a term as chief judge, and, four years as a circuit judge in the Ninth Circuit in Orange and Osceola counties.

“One of the greatest joys of my 35-year legal career has been and continues to be the ability to work alongside a bench and Bar filled with extraordinary individuals who work tirelessly to assure that the citizens we serve are well-served by our system of justice.” Lawson wrote in a letter announcing his retirement to Gov. Ron DeSantis.  “That system is often criticized yet still endures as the best system of justice that the world has ever seen.”

The members currently serving on the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission include:

Chair Daniel Nordby, Tallahassee, [email protected]

Vice Chair Fred Karlinsky, Weston, [email protected]

Cynthia G. Angelos, Port St. Lucie, [email protected]

Jesse M. Panuccio, Palm Beach Gardens, [email protected]

Hala A. Sandridge, Tampa, [email protected]

Heather Stearns, Tallahassee, [email protected]

Jeanne T. Tate, Tampa, [email protected]

Harout Samra, Coral Gables, [email protected]

Tim Cerio, Tallahassee, [email protected]

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