Because of the reorganization of Florida’s District Courts of Appeal and appellate judges transferring to the new 6th District Court of Appeal, there are four vacancies to be filled on the 5th District Court of Appeal.
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 5th DCA interviewed 28 applicants Oct. 16-17 at the 5th DCA Courthouse in Daytona Beach.
Following deliberations and consideration of each applicant, the commission nominated 15 candidates to Gov. Ron DeSantis:
• Putnam County Judge C. Joseph Boatwright II
• 4th Circuit Judge Jeb Branham
• 4th Circuit Judge Meredith Charbula
• 18th Circuit Judge Melanie Chase
• 4th Circuit Judge Robert Dees
• 7th Circuit Judge Christopher Kelly
• 15th Circuit Judge Paige Kilbane
• John MacIver, general counsel to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis
• 4th Circuit Judge Eric Roberson
• Cristine Russell, an attorney at Rogers Towers in Jacksonville
• 4th Circuit Judge Tatiana Salvador
• Therese Savona, an attorney at Cole, Scott & Kissane in Orlando
• 4th Circuit Judge Adrian Soud
• 18th Circuit Judge Christopher Sprysenski
• Michael Vitale, an attorney with Baker & Hostetler in Orlando
Branham, Charbula, Dees, Kilbane, Russell, Roberson, Salvador and Soud are members of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
DeSantis has 60 days to appoint four judges to the 5th DCA, or he may ask the commission to submit additional nominees.