Governor Ron DeSantis announces five judicial appointments
On Thursday, December 3, 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of two county court judges to the circuit court bench. County Court Judge Michael Deen, of Winter Park, will serve as Circuit Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit and County Court Judge Natasha DePrimo, of Davie, will serve as Circuit Judge in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
Judge Michael Deen has served on the Orange County bench since his appointment in March 2021. He previously served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit for nine years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Samford University and his law degree from Barry University. Judge Deen fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Donald A. Myers, Jr.
Judge Natasha DePrimo has served on the Broward County bench since her appointment in 2018. She previously served as a Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Transportation for nine years and as an Assistant State Attorney for three years. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and her law degree from the University of Florida. Judge DePrimo fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Tarlika Nunez-Navarro.
Governor DeSantis also announced three new County Court Judges to fill vacancies created by the Florida Legislature. James Giardina, Susan Lopez, and Matthew Smith, all of Tampa, will serve as County Court Judges in Hillsborough County.
James Giardina has served as the Owner and Lead Attorney at The Consumer Rights Law Group, PLLC since 2008. He received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Susan Lopez has served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit since 2005. She received her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and her law degree from Suffolk University.
Matthew Smith has served as an Assistant Statewide Prosecutor in the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution since January 2021. He previously served as Chief Assistant State Attorney in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, where he served for 15 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from the United States Air Force Academy and his law degree from Florida State University.
Source: Governor’s Press Office