After interviewing nine applicants to fill the vacancy on the Clay County Court bench created by the appointment of Judge Kristina Mobley to circuit court May 14, the 4th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission submitted five candidates to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his consideration:
- Dominic DeLuca, a 2013 graduate of Florida Coastal School and special counsel at Marshall Dennehy.
- State Magistrate in the 4th Judicial Circuit Amber Donley, a 2010 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law.
- Ernie Dukes, a 2004 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law and a personal injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan.
- Geraldine Hartin, a 2005 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law and a partner at Hamilton & Hartin.
- Melissa Merritt, a 2010 graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law and an attorney at Nichols & Pina.
DeSantis has 60 days to appoint one of the nominees or he may ask the commission to provide additional qualified candidates.
