Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Scott Makar of Jacksonville to the First District Court of Appeal.
Makar has served as Florida’s Solicitor General in the Office of the Attorney General since 2007. Since then, he has argued five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Florida Supreme Court, the First District Court of Appeal and the Second and Thirteenth Judicial Circuits.
“Scott’s extensive knowledge of the law and experience in appellate courts is widely known and respected,” Scott said in a statement.
“I am confident he will consider every case presented to the appellate court in a thorough and fair manner,” Scott said.
Makar will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Paul Hawkes.
Makar previously was chief of the appellate division and assistant general counsel for the City of Jacksonville from 2001-07.
From 1989-2001, Makar was an associate and a capital partner in Holland & Knight.
He also was a judicial clerk for Judge Thomas A. Clark, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta.
Makar received a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, as well as two master’s degrees, a law degree and a doctorate in economics from the University of Florida.