The judicial nominating commissions in Northeast Florida judicial circuits could have substantially changed rosters next year.
The Florida Bar has the opportunity to nominate six candidates for the 4th Circuit JNC – comprising Clay, Duval and Nassau counties – and six for the 7th Circuit – Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties – to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his appointment. Each appointee will serve a four-year term beginning July 1, 2026.
Judicial merit selection is a way of choosing county and circuit judges through appointment, using a nonpartisan commission of lawyers and non-lawyers to locate, recruit, investigate and evaluate applicants for judicial office. The JNCs then submit three to six names of the most qualified applicants to the governor, who makes a final selection from the list.
Applicants must be members of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of the territorial jurisdiction served by the commission to which the member is applying. Commissioners are not eligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for two years following completion of their term.
Applications must be submitted no later than 5:30 p.m. Jan. 16. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Screening committees of the board of governors will review all applications. The Executive Committee will then make recommendations to the board.
Visit tinyurl.com/4watbz6k for more details and to download the application.
If you require assistance, call The Florida Bar headquarters at 850-561-5788.