Courts in Florida

More information on Florida's state courts:

Selection methods
Elections
Salaries
Federal courts

In Florida, there are three federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.

Click a link for information about that court type.

* Federal courts
* State supreme court
* State court of appeals
* Trial courts

The image below depicts the flow of cases through Florida's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.

The structure of Florida's state court system.

## Contents

* 1 Judicial selection process
* 2 Federal courts
* 2.1 Active judges
* 2.1.1 Middle District
* 2.1.2 Northern District
* 2.1.3 Southern District
* 2.2 District map
* 2.3 Judicial selection
* 2.4 Bankruptcy courts
* 3 State supreme court
* 4 State court of appeals
* 4.1 First District
* 4.2 Second District
* 4.3 Third District
* 4.4 Fourth District
* 4.5 Fifth District
* 4.6 Sixth District
* 5 Trial courts
* 5.1 Circuit courts
* 5.2 County courts
* 6 In other states
* 7 See also
* 8 External links
* 9 Footnotes

## Judicial selection process[edit]

See also: Judicial selection in Florida and Florida judicial elections

The seven justices of the Florida Supreme Court and the 60 justices of the Florida District Courts of Appeal are selected by the governor. A judicial nominating commission screens potential judicial candidates, submitting a list of three to six nominees to the governor. The governor must appoint a judge from this list.[1] Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they appear in a yes-no retention election held during the next general election. If retained, judges serve six-year terms.[1]

The judges on the circuit courts and county courts are elected via nonpartisan elections to six-year terms.[1]

To read more about judicial elections in Florida, click here.

## Federal courts[edit]

The federal district courts in Florida are the:

* United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
* United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
* United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Appeals from these districts go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

### Active judges[edit]

#### Middle District[edit]

Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law

|
|
|
|

Steven Merryday

George H.W. Bush (R)

|  February 10, 1992 -  |

University of Florida, 1972

University of Florida Law, 1975

Marcia Howard

George W. Bush (R)

|  February 20, 2007 -  |

Vanderbilt University, 1987

University of Florida Law, 1990

Mary Scriven

George W. Bush (R)

|  September 30, 2008 -  |

Duke University, 1983

Florida State University College of Law, 1987

Sheri Polster Chappell

Barack Obama (D)

|  May 22, 2013 -  |

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1984

Nova Southeastern University, 1987

Paul G. Byron

Barack Obama (D)

|  June 24, 2014 -  |

University of Michigan, 1983

Louisiana State University School of Law, 1986

Carlos E. Mendoza

Barack Obama (D)

|  June 27, 2014 -  |

West Virginia University, 1993

West Virginia University, 1997

William Jung

Donald Trump (R)

|  September 10, 2018 -  |

Vanderbilt University, 1980

University of Illinois College of Law, 1983

Tom Barber

Donald Trump (R)

|  July 11, 2019 -  |

University of Florida, 1989

University of Pennsylvania, 1992

Wendy W. Berger

Donald Trump (R)

|  July 29, 2019 -  |

Florida State University, 1990

Florida State University College of Law, 1992

John L. Badalamenti

Donald Trump (R)

|  June 4, 2020 -  |

University of Florida, 1995

University of Florida College of Law, 1999

Kathryn Kimball Mizelle

Donald Trump (R)

|  November 20, 2020 -  |

Covenant College, 2009

University of Florida College of Law, 2012

Julie Sneed

Joe Biden (D)

|  March 4, 2024 -  |

University of Florida, 1991

Florida State University College of Law, 1994

This list displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president and does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

* Democrat appointed: 4
* Republican appointed: 8

#### Northern District[edit]

Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law

|
|
|
|

Margaret Rodgers

George W. Bush (R)

|  November 21, 2003 -  |

University of West Florida, 1989

California Western School of Law, 1992

Mark E. Walker

Barack Obama (D)

|  December 7, 2012 -  |

University of Florida, 1989

University of Florida College of Law, 1992

Allen Winsor

Donald Trump (R)

|  June 21, 2019 -  |

Auburn University, 1997

University of Florida College of Law, 2002

T. Kent Wetherell

Donald Trump (R)

|  July 12, 2019 -  |

Florida State University, 1992

Florida State University College of Law, 1995

The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

* Democrat appointed: 1
* Republican appointed: 3

#### Southern District[edit]

Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law

|
|
|
|

Kevin M. Moore

George H.W. Bush (R)

|  February 10, 1992 -  |

Florida State University, 1972

Fordham University Law, 1976

Donald Middlebrooks

Bill Clinton (D)

|  May 27, 1997 -  |

University of Florida, 1968

University of Florida Law, 1972

William Dimitrouleas

Bill Clinton (D)

|  May 22, 1998 -  |

Furman University, 1973

University of Florida College of Law, 1975

Jose E. Martinez

George W. Bush (R)

|  September 17, 2002 -  |

University of Miami, 1962

University of Miami School of Law, 1965

Cecilia Altonaga

George W. Bush (R)

|  May 7, 2003 -  |

Florida International University, 1983

Yale Law, 1986

Kathleen M. Williams

Barack Obama (D)

|  August 4, 2011 -  |

Duke University, 1978

University of Miami Law, 1982

Darrin P. Gayles

Barack Obama (D)

|  June 19, 2014 -  |

Howard University, 1990

George Washington University Law Center, 1993

Beth Bloom

Barack Obama (D)

|  June 25, 2014 -  |

University of Florida, 1984

University of Miami School of Law, 1988

Robin L. Rosenberg

Barack Obama (D)

|  July 24, 2014 -  |

Princeton University, 1983

Duke University School of Law, 1989

Roy Altman

Donald Trump (R)

|  April 9, 2019 -  |

Columbia University, 2004

Yale Law School, 2007

Rodolfo Ruiz

Donald Trump (R)

|  May 3, 2019 -  |

Duke University, 2002

Georgetown University Law Center, 2005

Rodney Smith

Donald Trump (R)

|  June 14, 2019 -  |

Florida A&M University, 1996

Michigan State University, 1999

Anuraag Singhal

Donald Trump (R)

|  December 20, 2019 -  |

Rice University, 1986

Wake Forest University School of Law, 1989

Aileen Cannon

Donald Trump (R)

|  November 13, 2020 -  |

Duke University, 2003

University of Michigan Law School, 2007

Jacqueline Becerra

Joe Biden (D)

|  February 29, 2024 -  |

University of Miami, 1991

Yale Law School, 1994

David Leibowitz

Joe Biden (D)

|  March 1, 2024 -  |

University of Pennsylvania, 1993

University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2000

Melissa Damian

Joe Biden (D)

|  March 4, 2024 -  |

Princeton University, 1990

University of Miami School of Law, 1995

The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.

* Democrat appointed: 9
* Republican appointed: 8

### District map[edit]

### Judicial selection[edit]

Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.

### Bankruptcy courts[edit]

There are three federal bankruptcy courts in Florida. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Florida are:

* United States bankruptcy court, Middle District of Florida
* United States bankruptcy court, Northern District of Florida
* United States bankruptcy court, Southern District of Florida

## State supreme court[edit]

See also: Florida Supreme Court

Founded in 1845, the Florida Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Carlos Muñiz.

As of May 2023, all seven judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.[2]

The Florida Supreme Court meets in Tallahassee, Florida. The court hears oral arguments from August through June of every year, typically during the first full week of each month.[3]

In Florida, state supreme court justices are selected through assisted appointment with a governor-controlled judicial nominating commission. Justices are appointed by the governor with the assistance of a commission with a majority of members selected by the governor. There are 10 states that use this selection method. To read more about the assisted appointment of judges, click here.

The Florida Constitution gives the Supreme Court mandatory appellate jurisdiction over certain types of cases such as death penalty, bond validations, public utilities cases, and matters pertaining to the state constitution. It has exclusive and non-exclusive jurisdiction over writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, and prohibition.[4] It also hears cases on appeal from the Florida District Courts of Appeal.

The court may provide advisory opinions to the attorney general regarding the validity of initiative petitions and to the governor regarding constitutional powers and duties.[5]

The table below lists the current judges of the Florida Supreme Court and the appointing governor.

Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office | Appointed by

|
|
|
|

Florida Supreme Court | Charles Canady | Nonpartisan | September 8, 2008 |  Charlie Crist (R)
Florida Supreme Court | John Daniel Couriel | Nonpartisan | June 1, 2020 |  Ron DeSantis (R)
Florida Supreme Court | Renatha Francis | Nonpartisan | September 1, 2022 |  Ron DeSantis (R)
Florida Supreme Court | Jamie Rutland Grosshans | Nonpartisan | September 14, 2020 |  Ron DeSantis (R)
Florida Supreme Court | Jorge Labarga | Nonpartisan | January 6, 2009 |  Charlie Crist (R)
Florida Supreme Court | Carlos Muñiz | Nonpartisan | January 22, 2019 |  Ron DeSantis (R)
Florida Supreme Court | Meredith Sasso | Nonpartisan | May 23, 2023 |  Ron DeSantis (R)

## State court of appeals[edit]

See also: Florida District Courts of Appeal

The Florida District Courts of Appeal are the state's intermediate appellate courts. These courts hear cases from a circuit or county court that cannot be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. There are five district courts of appeal in Florida.[6]

The following judges sit on the court:

### First District[edit]

Judge | Tenure | Appointed By

|
|

Thomas D. Winokur

June 11, 2015 - Present

Rick Scott

Ross L. Bilbrey

December 23, 2014 - Present

Rick Scott

L. Clayton Roberts

January 18, 2007 - Present

Charlie Crist

Lori S. Rowe

September 15, 2009 - Present

Charlie Crist

Stephanie Williams Ray

2011 - Present

Rick Scott

Susan Kelsey

April 16, 2015 - Present

Rick Scott

Timothy D. Osterhaus

May 20, 2013 - Present

Rick Scott

Adam Tanenbaum

2019 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Joseph Lewis

2001 - Present

Jeb Bush

Rachel Nordby

2019 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Robert E. Long Jr.

June 30, 2020 - Present

Ron DeSantis

M. Kemmerly Thomas

June 20, 2016 - Present

Rick Scott

### Second District[edit]

Judge | Tenure | Appointed By

|
|

Suzanne Labrit

July 29, 2020 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Matthew C. Lucas

December 23, 2014 - Present

Rick Scott

Patricia Kelly

2001 - Present

Jeb Bush

Daniel H. Sleet

December 21, 2012 - Present

Rick Scott

Morris Silberman

January 2, 2001 - Present

Jeb Bush

Anthony K. Black

2010 - Present

Charlie Crist

Craig Villanti

2003 - Present

Jeb Bush

Edward LaRose

2005 - Present

Jeb Bush

Nelly Khouzam

August 1, 2008 - Present

Charlie Crist

Stevan Northcutt

January 6, 1997 - Present

Lawton Chiles

J. Andrew Atkinson

2018 - Present

Rick Scott

Andrea Teves Smith

February 1, 2019 - Present

Rick Scott

Robert J. Morris Jr.

August 1, 2009 - Present

Charlie Crist

Susan Rothstein-Youakim

2016 - Present

Rick Scott

### Third District[edit]

Judge | Tenure | Appointed By

|
|

Fleur J. Lobree

2019 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Thomas W. Logue

June 7, 2012 - Present

Rick Scott

Bronwyn C. Miller

2019 - Present

Rick Scott

Monica Gordo

2019 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Edwin A. Scales III

October 21, 2013 - Present

Rick Scott

Alexander Bokor

September 1, 2020 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Kansas Gooden

July 1, 2024 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Kevin M. Emas

November 24, 2010 - Present

Charlie Crist

Ivan F. Fernandez

August 12, 2011 - Present

Rick Scott

Norma S. Lindsey

May 26, 2016 - Present

Rick Scott

### Fourth District[edit]

Judge | Tenure | Appointed By

|
|

Mark W. Klingensmith

June 27, 2013 - Present

Rick Scott

Dorian Damoorgian

January 2, 2008 - Present

Charlie Crist

Alan O. Forst

March 7, 2013 - Present

Rick Scott

Burton C. Conner

2011 - Present

Rick Scott

Cory Ciklin

December 10, 2008 - Present

Charlie Crist

Melanie May

2002 - Present

Jeb Bush

Robert Gross

1995 - Present

Lawton Chiles

Spencer D. Levine

2009 - Present

Charlie Crist

Jeffrey T. Kuntz

November 4, 2016 - Present

Rick Scott

Jonathan D. Gerber

2009 - Present

Charlie Crist

Martha Warner

1989 - Present

Bob Martinez

Edward Artau

2020 - Present

Ron DeSantis

### Fifth District[edit]

Judge | Tenure | Appointed By

|
|

John M. Harris

2018 - Present

Rick Scott

Eric Eisnaugle

2017 - Present

Rick Scott

Scott D. Makar

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

James A. Edwards

November 14, 2014 - Present

Rick Scott

Frederic Rand Wallis

May 29, 2013 - Present

Rick Scott

Brian D. Lambert

May 19, 2014 - Present

Rick Scott

John MacIver

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Harvey Jay III

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Adrian Soud

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Paige Kilbane

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Joe Boatwright

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Jordan Pratt

April 17, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

### Sixth District[edit]

Judge | Tenure | Appointed By

|
|

Paetra Brownlee

2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

John K. Stargel

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Daniel Traver

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Mary Alice Nardella

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Carrie Ann Wozniak

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Jared Smith

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Joshua Mize

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Roger Gannam

September 5, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

Keith F. White

January 1, 2023 - Present

Ron DeSantis

The map below shows each of those districts by county.

Jurisdiction of the Florida District Courts of Appeal

## Trial courts[edit]

### Circuit courts[edit]

See also: Florida Circuit Court

The Florida Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit courts hear cases including criminal felonies, family law matters, civil cases (with more than $50,000 at issue), probate issues, juvenile cases, and appeals from county courts. There are 20 judicial circuit courts.[7][8]

The map below shows each of those circuits by county.

Florida Circuit Courts

### County courts[edit]

See also: Florida County Court

The Florida County Courts' jurisdiction includes civil disputes involving between $8,000 and $50,000, and citizen disputes such as traffic offenses, misdemeanor criminal offenses, and minor monetary disputes. There is one court in each of the state's 67 counties.[8][9]

## In other states[edit]

Click the map below to explore the court structure in other states.

Choose your state...AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

http://ballotpedia.org/Courts_in_STATE

## See also[edit]

* Judicial selection in Florida
* Florida judicial elections

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic
* Florida Supreme Court

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
2. ↑ Gov. Charlie Crist switched parties from Republican to Democratic during his term. The judges he appointed were during his time as a Republican, so they are considered appointed by a Republican governor.
3. ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Visiting the Court," accessed September 13, 2021
4. ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "History of the Florida Supreme Court," accessed September 13, 2021
5. ↑ Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability,"State Courts System," accessed June 12, 2024
6. ↑ Florida Courts, "District Courts of Appeal," accessed January 18, 2023
7. ↑ Florida Courts, "Trial Courts - Circuit," accessed March 2, 2021
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Florida Bar, "Jurisdictional Changes to Civil Courts Take Effect in 2023," accessed April 4, 2023
9. ↑ Florida Courts, "Trial Courts - County," accessed March 2, 2021

Florida courts

* * *

Federal courts:

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida

State courts:

Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court

State resources:

Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida

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