The Fourth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will have two full days of interviews with 31 applicants for two openings.
Interviews will be Aug. 29 for the Circuit Court opening created by the resignation of Judge Haldane Taylor. Taylor will retire at the end of the year.
Interviews will be Sept. 9 for a Duval County Court opening created when Gov. Rick Scott appointed Judge Kevin Blazs to the circuit bench, replacing the late Judge Jefferson Morrow.
Both sets of interviews will be held at the Duval County Courthouse in Chief Judge Donald Moran’s chambers.
“There is a good pool of talented lawyers and judges who have applied for the openings,” said Moran.
“The nominating commission’s job will not be easy as they try to select a few candidates from this group,” he said.
Ten candidates have applied for the Circuit seat, 11 applied for the County seat and 10 applied for both seats.
Requirements include being a member of The Florida Bar for the past five years and a registered Florida voter.
Applicants for the Circuit Court seat must be residents of Duval, Clay or Nassau counties and the Duval County Court seat requires the applicant to be a resident of Duval before taking office.
The interview process not only includes an application and interview, but commission members also communicate with judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel and references requested in the application.
The Judicial Nominating Commission consists of Chairman Wayne Alford of the Alford Law Group, Vice Chairman Richard Alexander of the Alexander Law Practice, Robert O’Quinn of Cole Scott & Kissane, Chip Bachara of the Bachara Construction Law Group, William Prichard Jr. of Moseley Prichard, Dexter Van Davis of the Davis Law Group, Deno Hicks and Gregory Strickland.
The commission can send up to six names for each seat to Scott, who will make the selection.
356-2466
Applications for the judicial seats
There were 10 applicants who applied for both the Circuit and County Court seats, as well as 10 applicants for only the Circuit Court seat and 11 for only the County Court seat.
Circuit
County Judge Roberto Arias
County Judge Tyrie Boyer
David Hallman, attorney for Nassau County
Fourth Circuit Magistrate Joanna Houser
Harvey Jay, of Saalfield, Shad, Jay, Lucas & Stokes
Michelle Kane, of the Law Offices of Michelle B. Kane
Carol Mirando, assistant general counsel for the City of Jacksonville
Ann Smith, of Smith & Barquinero
John Viggiani, of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin
Gary Wilkinson, of Bledsoe, Jacobson, Schmidt, Wright, Lang & Wilkinson
County
Denise Delorenzo, Fourth Circuit magistrate
Mose Floyd, assistant state attorney
David Gagnon, of Taylor, Day, Currie, Boyd & Johnson
Katy Harris, assistant public defender
La’Rae Hendrix, of The Law Office La’Rae H. Hendrix
Octavius Holliday, assistant state attorney
Sheila Loizos, assistant state attorney
Scott Mitchell, of Scott Mitchell, PA
Todd Niemczyk, assistant public defender
Bethany Reichard, of Holbrook, Akel, Cold, Stiefel & Ray
Rhonda Peoples-Waters, of Rhonda Peoples-Waters PA
Both
Marianne Aho, of Marks Gray
Lester Bass, Fourth Judicial Circuit magistrate
Suzanne Bass, of the Law Offices of Suzanne Bass
Alan Chipperfield, assistant public defender, Eighth Circuit
Katie Dearing, of Liles, Gavin, Costantino, George & Dearing
Rosa Dubose, associate dean for academic affairs for Florida Coastal School of Law
Andrew Kantor, of Brennan Manna & Diamond
Donald Mairs, of The Mairs Law Firm
Barry Newman, of Spohrer & Dodd
Michael Sharrit, of Terrell Hogan