Open Tallahassee judgeship gets a dozen applicants

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When it comes to applying for a judgeship, the third time could be a charm for Alan Abramowitz. 

Abramowitz

Abramowitz, executive director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Office, is one of 12 applicants for a Tallahassee-area circuit judge seat opening because of the retirement of Charles A. Francis.

Abramowitz has applied to become a judge twice before.

Francis, first appointed to the bench in 1999, will step down from judicial office on March 31.

The 2nd Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) will meet Jan. 9 to review the applications and decide who to interview.

Interviews are scheduled for Jan. 16 at the Leon County Courthouse Annex on Thomasville Road in Tallahassee.

The JNC will eventually recommend 3-6 names to Gov. Rick Scott, who makes the final selection.

The other 11 applicants are:

Georgia Cappleman, an assistant state attorney in Tallahassee.

Eddie Evans, an assistant state attorney in Tallahassee.

Cedell Garland, a senior assistant attorney general.

Joseph Jones, a partner in Berger Singerman’s Tallahassee office.

Russell Kent, special counsel for litigation at the Attorney General’s Office.

James Marsh, chief of corrections litigation for the Attorney General’s Office.

Ace Pedroso, magistrate for the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Jacqueline Smith, child support hearing officer for the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

D. Christine Thurman, a family law attorney in Tallahassee.

Amanda Wall, administrative magistrate for the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Zachary R. White, an attorney in private practice in Tallahassee.

The 2nd Judicial Circuit, headquartered in Tallahassee, covers Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties in north Florida.

Jim Rosica

Jim Rosica is the Tallahassee-based Senior Editor for Florida Politics. He previously was the Tampa Tribune’s statehouse reporter. Before that, he covered three legislative sessions in Florida for The Associated Press. Jim graduated from law school in 2009 after spending nearly a decade covering courts for the Tallahassee Democrat, including reporting on the 2000 presidential recount. He can be reached at [email protected].



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