From staff
And then there were six.
A half dozen aspirants to the bench remain after the judicial nominating commission for the 4th Judicial Circuit spent a long day Friday interviewing 19 people who wanted to become the newest Duval County court judge. They spent 20 minutes with each, then deliberated late to get a list to send to Gov. Jeb Bush.
Bush can reject the list and ask the commission to return for more interviews, but past history indicates that he’ll select one of these to join the county bench:
• Robert Aguilar, a partner in Aguilar & Sieron.
• Mark Borello, an assistant state attorney.
• Angela Dixon, an assistant state attorney.
• Mose Floyd, an assistant state attorney.
• Sheila Loizos, an assistant state attorney.
• Joseph “Joey” Vaughn, who has a one-man firm.
The position was created by the state legislature earlier this year and Bush now is in charge. He and his staff are responsible for the next round of interviews and the winner will take office on Nov. 2.
The process meant that 13 local attorneys didn’t make the cut and, in many cases, will be waiting for the next opening. Those who didn’t get into the final six are Franklin Akel, A. Wellington Barlow, T.A. “Tad” Delegal III, Shelley Eckels, Gary Joseph, Thomas Lobello III, Lynn Lovejoy, Donald Matthews, Virginia Norton, Patricia Parker, Jodi Seitlin, Julie Taylor and Leatrice Williams.
State law allows the governor to appoint a judge if a vacancy occurs on the bench or if a new seat is created. The new judge will face the voters, and possible opposition, in the next election.
The commission was headed by attorney Mary Bland Love and
included a mix of attorneys and non-attorneys. The nine members
participated in a sometimes-exhaustive process to reduce the field for a manageable number for the governor to consider.
Another opening looms — a seat on the 4th Judicial Circuit which includes Duval, Nassau and Clay counties. Applications will be accepted soon by the commission and the new judge can be appointed as
early as January.