Gov. Rick Scott appointed County Court Judge Tyrie Boyer and attorney Harvey Jay III to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Thursday.
Boyer will fill the position vacated by Judge L. Haldane Taylor, who will retire at the end of the year.
Jay will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Fred Tygart, who will leave in June.
“Judge Boyer’s wide-ranging legal experience, his proven work ethic and his demonstrated respect for judicial restraint make him a great choice for the Circuit Court,” said Scott.
“I am confident that he will continue to preside with impartiality, diligence and abiding respect for the rule of law.”
Boyer has served on the Duval County Court since 2001 while also being an adjunct professor at the Florida Coastal School of Law since 2000.
Before taking the bench, Boyer spent 24 years as a private practitioner and was an assistant public defender for the Duval County Court from 1976-77.
Boyer served in the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard from 1969-1982 and received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.
“I am delighted and honored, and I look forward to the elevation to the circuit bench,” said Boyer.
“My job is to call balls and strikes as it relates to the application of the law to facts. I want to thank my family and especially my wife for their encouragement as I sought this position.”
Boyer is married to District 4 City Council member Lori Boyer.
Scott also added a litigator to the bench in Jay.
“With 22 years of litigation experience, Jay has gained the insight and skills that will make him a fair and impartial judge,” said Scott.
“He has long displayed the highest levels of integrity and professionalism, and I am confident he will exercise sound
judgment and adhere to a philosophy of judicial restraint,’ he said.
Jay’s law career has included service as a trial and appellate litigator, the bulk of which has been spent as a partner at Saalfield Shad.
Previously, he practiced with the Law Office of Joseph Milton from 1989-91. He received a bachelor’s degree from Stetson University and a law degree from the University of Florida.
“It’s a tremendous feeling,” said Jay.
“I look forward to an opportunity to utilize my trial experience and, hopefully, using that trial experience to be a welcome addition to enhance the trial bench. Second, something that is terribly important to me, is integrity and professionalism, because I think, so often, that starts from the bench,” he said.
Scott also appointed Assistant State Attorney Mose Floyd, 56, to the County Court Bench earlier this month, and Floyd is scheduled to begin his judicial career Nov. 7. County Judge Charles Cofer has been assigned to be Floyd’s mentor.
“I am very humbled to have been chosen by the local commission and the governor from a list of very qualified candidates,” said Floyd.
Floyd, who currently resides in Ponte Vedra, 2 miles outside of Duval County, plans to move into Jacksonville before joining the County bench, which is required of the appointment.
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