Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of several individuals to Florida’s Judicial Nominating Commissions. These appointments are effective immediately, with various terms ending in either 2026, 2027, or 2028.
Joseph Hart from Tallahassee, who serves as the General Counsel for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, has been appointed to the First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission for a term ending on July 1, 2028.
Joshua Webb from Tampa, a Shareholder at Hill, Ward & Henderson, P.A., has been appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. This appointment stems from a list of nominees recommended by the Florida Bar, and his term will also end on July 1, 2028.
John Byrne from Coral Gables, who is a Partner at Maderal Byrne & Furst, is appointed to the Third District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. His appointment also follows a recommendation by the Florida Bar, and his term extends to July 1, 2028.
Various appointments were made to the Judicial Nominating Commissions for multiple Florida judicial circuits. Among them is Larry Keefe of Shalimar, serving as the Executive Director for the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, appointed to the First Judicial Circuit commission with a term ending on July 1, 2028. David Arthmann, also from Tallahassee, and the General Counsel for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, has been appointed to the Second Judicial Circuit commission for a term ending on July 1, 2026.
Dana Taylor of Live Oak, George Reeves of Madison, and James Willingham Jr. of Jasper have all received appointments or reappointments to the Third Judicial Circuit commission, where their terms will conclude on different dates in 2026 and 2028.
Other notable appointments include Robert Harris from Jacksonville, Matthew Foreman from Spring Hill, Terrence White from Ormond Beach, Stephanie Emrick and Rebecca Shinholser from Gainesville, along with several others who have been appointed or reappointed to various judicial circuits across the state.
These appointments are critical in ensuring the appropriate selection and nomination of judges to the state judiciary, impacting the legal landscape of Florida for years to come.
