On September 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Barry E. Dickson, Jr. to the Escambia County Court. Dickson, of Pensacola Beach, has been an Assistant Public Defender for the First Circuit since 2004. He currently serves as a reserve Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps. He received his bachelor’s […]
News & Featured Stories
Stefanie Morris appointed to Leon County Court
On September 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Stefanie Morris to the Leon County Court. Morris, of Tallahassee, has been an Assistant State Attorney in the Second Circuit since 2007, and she is currently Chief covering Gadsden and Liberty counties. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her […]
Judge Jennifer Swenson appointed to Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
On September 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jennifer Swenson to the Tenth Circuit Court. Swenson, of Lakeland, is currently a Judge for Polk County Court. She previously served as an Assistant State Attorney since 2012. She received her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and her law degree from Duke University. Swenson […]
Emily Curington appointed to Lake County Court
On August 19, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Emily Curington to the Lake County Court. Curington, of Fruitland Park, has been an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Circuit since 2002. She is also an adjunct professor at Lake Sumter State College. She received her bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College and […]
Brett Szematowicz appointed to Pinellas County Court
On August 19, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Brett Szematowicz to the Pinellas County Court. Szematowicz, of St. Petersburg, has been a founding partner of Greater Tampa Law P.L. since 2013. He previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Sixth Circuit. He received his bachelor’s degree from the American University […]
County Court Judge Steve Leifman on Mindfulness and Empathy
Miami-Dade County Court Judge Steve Leifman shares how judges and court staff can practice mindfulness and do their jobs with empathy during these trying times. Watch the Tiny Chat 16: Empathy video on the National Center for State Court’s website at this link: https://www.ncsc.org/newsroom/public-health-emergency/tiny-chats Source: National Center for State Courts
John Parnofiello appointed to Palm Beach County Court
On August 4, 2020, Governor DeSantis announced Assistant State Attorney John Parnofiello would be named to the Palm Beach County Court. Parnofiello has been an assistant state attorney for the 15th Circuit since 2015. Before that, he worked as an associate at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon and Ryles in West Palm Beach. Parnofiello received his bachelor’s […]
Know Your Courts: Safe Steps
Florida’s courts, clerks of court, and justice partners are taking safe steps to protect the health and safety of people who need to come to a court facility. Visit https://www.flcourts.org/steps2safecourts to learn more. Source: Florida Courts
County Court Judge Joshua Riba Appointed to Sixth Judicial Circuit Court
On July 23, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Joshua Riba to the Sixth Circuit Court. Riba, of Safety Harbor, has been a Judge for Pinellas County Court since 2016. He previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Sixth Circuit. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and […]
Judge Tommy Thompson Announced President of Conference of County Court Judges of Florida
Conference of County Court Judges of Florida President Judge Stephen R. Jewett passed the conference leadership responsibility to President-elect Tommy Thompson of Marion County in a Wednesday evening virtual ceremony. In an evening of firsts, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Canady swore-in the conference new officers, Circuit Representatives, District Vice Presidents, and new President Tommy […]