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Judicial selection in Florida
| Judicial selection in Florida | |
 | |
| Florida Supreme Court | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | 6 years |
| Florida District Courts of Appeal | |
| Method: | Assisted appointment |
| Term: | 6 years |
| Florida Circuit Court | |
| Method: | Nonpartisan election |
| Term: | 6 years |
| Florida County Court | |
| Method: | Nonpartisan election |
| Term: | 6 years |
Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. At the state level, methods of judicial selection vary substantially in the United States, and in some cases between different court types within a state. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here.
This article covers how state court judges are selected in Florida, including:
- Florida Supreme Court,
- Florida District Courts of Appeal,
- Florida Circuit Court, and
- Limited jurisdiction courts
As of April 2025, judges for the Florida Supreme Court and Florida District Courts of Appeal were selected through the assisted appointment method, where the governor selects a nominee from a list provided by a nominating commission. Judges for the Florida Circuit Courts and Florida County Courts were selected through nonpartisan elections.
Click here to notify us of changes to judicial selection methods in this state.
Florida Supreme Court
- See also: Florida Supreme Court
The seven justices of the Florida Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. A judicial nominating commission consisting of nine members who are appointed by the governor to four-year terms screens potential judicial candidates.[1] The commission submits a list of three to six nominees to the governor, and the governor must then appoint a judge from the list.[2]
Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they appear in a yes-no retention election held during the next general election. If retained, judges serve six-year terms.[2] Under the Florida constitution, a judge must retire at age 75; however, a judge who reaches 75 after serving at least half of his or her term may complete that term.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for 10 years before assuming the bench; and
- under the age of 75.
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for two years.[2]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends three to six qualified candidates to the governor, and the governor selects a successor from that list. The new appointee serves for at least one year before running in a yes-no retention election.[2]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Florida; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived January 13, 2012
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Florida Constitution, "Article V, Section 8," accessed September 10, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Florida; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Online Sunshine, "The Florida Constitution," accessed June 25, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "History of Reform Efforts: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Courts, "FAQ: Federal Judges," accessed March 26, 2015
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Judicial Selection: The Process of Choosing Judges," accessed August 10, 2021
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
