Staff Reports
Gov. Rick Scott appointed six new judges on Thursday, less than a month before he leaves office and joins the U.S. Senate.
Topping the list of appointments are two new names for the Third District appellate bench.
Eric Hendon will replace retired Judge Richard Suarez on the Third District Court of Appeal. Significantly, this is Scott’s first-ever appointment of an African American to be an appellate judge. Hendon, 62, lives in North Bay Village.
Scott also appointed Bronwyn Miller to the Third District appellate court.
Hendon and Miller, 46, are 11th Circuit Court judges.
Hendon received both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida.
Miller received her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and her law degree from the University of Miami. Miller replaces retired Judge Leslie Rothenberg.
Scott appointed two others to circuit courts.
Robert Segal was appointed to the 18th Circuit Court. Segal, of Melbourne, is the General Magistrate for Brevard County. The 50-year-old graduated with a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and received his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School. He replaces Judge John Harris, who was appointed to Fifth District Court of Appeal in July.
Lawrence “Larry” Lefler is appointed to the 13th Circuit Court. The 49-year-old from Tampa is a Hillsborough County Court Judge. He received his bachelor’s degree from Mercer University and his law degree from Texas Southern University. He replaces resigned Judge Claudia Isom.
The last two appointments: Cary Rada to the Lake County Court and David E. Stamey, Jr., to the Polk County Court.
Rada, 50, received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and his law degree from Stetson University. The Eustis man fills in for Judge James Baxley, who was appointed to the Fifth Circuit in August.
Stamey, a 48-year-old Assistant State Attorney of the 10th Circuit State Attorney’s Office, replaces resigned Judge Robert Williams. Stamey received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Stetson University.
