Governor Ron DeSantis has announced appointments and reappointments to Florida’s Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNCs), which are responsible for selecting judicial nominees to fill vacancies across the state. These appointments cover various circuits and appellate districts, emphasizing experienced legal professionals in the nomination process.
Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission
Daniel Nordby (Tallahassee): Partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2026.
Jesse Panuccio (Fort Lauderdale): Partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Harout Samra (Coral Gables): Of Counsel at DLA Piper LLP, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Heather Stearns (Tallahassee): President of Liberty Dental Plan, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Timothy Cerio (Tallahassee): President and Executive Director of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
First District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
James Percival (Tallahassee): Chief of Staff for the Florida Attorney General, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Gary Hunter (Tallahassee): Partner at Holtzman Vogel, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Brad McVay (Tallahassee): Deputy Secretary of State for Legal Affairs, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
Chad Mizelle (Tampa): Chief Legal Officer at Affinity Partners, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Tyler Cathey (Tampa): General Counsel at Ally Capital Group, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Third District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
Adam Foslid (Coral Gables): Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Lauren Morse (Miami): Assistant County Attorney for Miami-Dade County, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
Debra Jenks (Palm Beach Gardens): President of Debra A. Jenks, P.A., reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Daniel Epstein (Boca Raton): Vice President of America First Legal, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
M. Scott Thomas (Ponte Vedra Beach): Partner at Burr & Forman LLP, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Amanda Carl (Osteen): Director of Legal and Government Affairs at Harrell’s LLC, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Sixth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
Amira Fox (Fort Myers): State Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Joshua Grosshans (Winter Garden): Founder of The Grosshans Group PLLC, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Circuit Judicial Nominating Commissions
First Judicial Circuit
Mark Davis (DeFuniak Springs): Shareholder at Clark Partington, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2026.
Second Judicial Circuit
Kristina Osterhaus (Tallahassee): Adjunct Professor at Florida State University, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Fourth Judicial Circuit
Patrick Kilbane (Jacksonville): General Counsel at Ullman Wealth Partners Group, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Fifth Judicial Circuit
William Gladson (Ocala): State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Sixth Judicial Circuit
Adam Ross (Clearwater): Assistant State Attorney, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Seventh Judicial Circuit
Anna Shea (Ponte Vedra Beach): Senior Deputy General Counsel at FIS, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2026.
Ninth Judicial Circuit
Jeff Aaron (Maitland): Founding Shareholder at DownsAaron, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
Tenth Judicial Circuit
Krista Mahalak (Winter Haven): Shareholder at Peterson & Myers, P.A., reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
Miguel Gonzalez (Coral Gables): Assistant County Attorney for Miami-Dade County, appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Twelfth Judicial Circuit
Nancy Cason (Sarasota): Managing Partner at Syprett Meshad, P.A., reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Max Amster (Tampa): CEO of Veridis Management LLC, reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028.
