Judicial selection in Florida

From Judgepedia

Judges in Florida are selected via two different methods, the commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection for the appellate courts and non-partisan election of judges for trial courts. Mid-term vacancies on trial courts are also filled by the commission-selection method. ^[1]

Methods

Appointment

District court and Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor based upon the recommendation of the state's judicial nominating commission.

Non-partisan election

Circuit court judges are elected via non-partisan elections. However, if a vacancy occurs prior to the end of an elected judge's term, that vacancy is filled via the commission recommendation method.

Nominating Commissions

In Florida, there are twenty-six different judicial nominating commissions that nominate applicants for Florida court vacancies:

• A statewide nominating commission for the Florida Supreme Court,
• A commission for each of the twenty circuit courts in the state,
• A commission for each of the five district courts of appeal.
• A commission for each of the twenty judicial circuits.

When there is a vacancy on the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court Nominating Commission submits a list of three to six nominees to the Governor of Florida, who then appoints one of the nominees.

Members of the nominating commissions

Each nominating commission includes nine members who are appointed by the governor.

• Four of the members are attorneys appointed (by the governor) from lists of nominees submitted to him or her by the Florida Bar.
• Of the remaining five members, at least two must be attorneys.
• Members must be residents of the jurisdiction the commission serves.
• Members serve four-year terms.

External links

• Florida Voters to Decide Judicial selection
• Rules of procedure for the Florida Supreme Court nominating commission

References

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