Gov. DeSantis has announced a vacancy on the First Judicial Circuit, Circuit Court due to the retirement of Judge Gary Bergosh. Accordingly, the Judicial Nominating Commission of the First Judicial Circuit is now accepting applications for this vacancy.
Applicants must fulfill the Constitutional qualifications before assuming the office of Circuit Court Judge, which specify that: a) no person shall be eligible for the office of judge of any court unless the person is an elector of the state and resides in the territorial jurisdiction of the court; and b) no person is eligible for the office of circuit judge unless the person is, and has been for the preceding five years, a member of the bar of Florida.
Applications may be downloaded from the Office of the Governor’s website at www.flgov.com. Effective July 1, 2020, the application has been substantially revised, and only the current version will be accepted.
All applicants must submit the following: a .pdf version of the complete unredacted application with attachments, including the executed FDLE form, and a color photograph in .jpg or .gif format; and a .pdf version of a redacted copy of the application excluding all exempt information pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The .pdf files should be titled in the name of the applicant (Doe.John.pdf) and labeled “Redacted” or “Original” as applicable.
Applications must be delivered by email to Zack Smith, Chair, at zack.smith@heritage.org no later than 3 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
All questions in the application must be fully and completely answered. The submitted application must include the required financial disclosures, a writing sample, and a recent photograph. Applications must also include current contact information, including e-mail addresses, for all judges, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and references to facilitate the background investigation that members of the Commission will conduct.
All proceedings of the Judicial Nominating Commission are open to the public except for deliberations. Accordingly, applicants should not expect their applications to remain confidential. If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor’s Office.
Members of the bench, Bar, and the public are encouraged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions. Letters of recommendation should be e- mailed or mailed to all commissioners.
The members of the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission are listed below.
Dana Matthews
Work: 850-837-3662
Cell: 850-259-7658
Email: dmatthews@destinlaw.com
Aaron McCurdy
Work: 850-202-8525
Cell Phone – 850-791-5118
Email: amccurdy@pensacolalaw.com
Cecily Parker
Work: 850-292-8603
Cell: 850-292-8603
Email: cecilymarieparker@gmail.com
Amy Bender
Work: 770-818-0000
Cell: 770-818-0000
Email: abender@fmglaw.com
Kerry Anne Schultz
Work: 850-754-1600
Cell: 850-380-0784
Email: kaschultz@schultzlawgrp.com
Robert Jones III
Work: 850-432-2451
Cell: 904-334-6504
Email: rlj@beggslane.com
Lisa Jo Spencer
Work: 850-226-4998
Cell: 850-865-2471
Email: lisajo@lisajospencerlaw.com
Shelley Reynolds, VICE CHAIR
Work: 850-434-1330
Cell: 850-324-9493
Email: shelley@shelleyreynolds.com
Zack Smith, CHAIR
Work: 202-608-6049
Email: Zack.Smith@heritage.org
Original source can be found here.