News & Featured Stories

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Ask Judge Smith: When ‘the lawyers know too much’

Read Judge Smith’s recent Ask Judge Smith column When ‘the lawyers know too much’. Judge Layne Smith is a Leon County Court Judge who often speaks and writes about civics, the law, and the administration of justice. Source: Tallahassee Democrat

INFORMATION ON COURT CLOSURES Hurricane Dorian

For information on court closures throughout the state due to Hurricane Dorian, please visit the Florida Supreme Court’s emergency website page located at https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/Emergency.

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Three Miami-Dade County Judges Appointed to Eleventh Judicial Circuit Bench

On August 29, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Miami-Dade County Judges William Altfield, Gina Beovides, and Laura Shearon Cruz to the Eleventh Circuit Court. William Altfield, 59, of Miami, has been serving as a Miami-Dade County Court judge since 2011. He previously served as a special assistant in the United States Attorney’s […]

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Ask Judge Smith: To plea or not to plea, that is the question

Read Judge Smith’s recent Ask Judge Smith column To plea or not to plea, that is the question. Judge Layne Smith is a Leon County Court Judge who often speaks and writes about civics, the law, and the administration of justice. Source: Tallahassee Democrat

Lori Ann Winstead appointed to Polk County Bench

On Friday, July 26, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Lori Ann Winstead to the Polk County Court. Winstead, 39, of Lakeland, Florida, is an Assistant State Attorney for the Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney’s Office. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College and her law degree from Barry School of Law. […]

Heather Doyle appointed to Manatee County Bench

On Friday, July 26, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Heather Doyle to the Manatee County Court. Doyle, 43, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is a Chief Assistant State Attorney in the Twelfth Circuit State Attorney’s Office. She received her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and her law […]

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Jason Nimeth appointed to Lake County Bench

On Friday, July 26, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jason Nimeth to the Lake County Court. Nimeth, 34, of Leesburg, Florida, is an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Circuit State Attorney’s Office. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Barry University School of […]