Jim Rosica
Rick Scott on Monday evening — just hours before his successor takes office — announced his final judicial appointments as Governor.
They include naming his chief deputy general counsel to the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach.
Meredith Sasso, 35, of Orlando, received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida, a press release said. Sasso fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Vincent Torpy.
Monday’s announcement follows four other appointments Monday, and appointments late Friday of two circuit judges, one county judge and five judges of compensation claims, who resolve disputed workers’ compensation claims.
Before that, Scott’s office last week dropped a list of 76 appointments to “multiple state boards,” which POLITICO Florida called “a rebuke to incoming GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.”
“DeSantis can pull the plug on any appointment that requires Senate confirmation, but Scott’s action is contrary to tradition and has boosted simmering tensions between the two,” the website reported.
In other moves Monday:
— Scott named Andrea Teves Smith to the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland.
Smith, 49, of Lakeland, is a circuit judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit for Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Stetson University College of Law.
Smith fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marva Crenshaw.
— Erin Perry was appointed to the Duval County Court.
Perry, 37, of Jacksonville, is a Circuit Court Division Chief in the State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit, comprising Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties.
She received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida. Perry fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Lester Bass to circuit judge.
— Natalie Moore was named to the Miami-Dade County Court.
Moore, 38, of Cooper City, is an Assistant State Attorney and Training Director in the State Attorney’s Office for the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County.
She received her undergraduate, graduate, and law degrees from the University of Florida. Moore fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Carlos Guzman to circuit judge.
— Robert Watson also was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court.
Watson, 47, of Miami, is a principal with the Kobre & Kim law firm. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his law degree from Stanford Law School.
He fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Alex Bokor to circuit judge.
Scott’s term officially ends at midnight between Monday and Tuesday; that’s when DeSantis, a Ponte Vedra Beach Republican, officially becomes Governor. DeSantis’ Tuesday morning swearing-in ceremony in front of the old Capitol is ceremonial.
Scott, a Naples Republican, is replacing Democrat Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate.
2 comments
Jason Robbins
January 7, 2019 at 7:09 pm
You list all the Judges except the Workers’ Compensation judges.
Jim Rosica
January 8, 2019 at 10:29 am
Here you go:
Ray Holley, 49, of Jacksonville, is reappointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Jacksonville District. He has served the Jacksonville District since 2010. Holley received both his bachelor’s and law degree from Stetson University.
Ralph Humphries, 66, of Jacksonville is reappointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Jacksonville District. He has served the Jacksonville District since 2010. Humphries received both his bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Florida.
Nolan Winn, 65, of Gulf Breeze, is reappointed as a Judge of Compensation Claim for the Pensacola District. He has served the Pensacola district since 2006. Winn received his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and his law degree from Tulane Law School.
Rita Lawton Young, 59, of St. Petersburg, is appointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Tampa District. Young is a State Mediator and Senior Attorney for the Division of Administrative Hearings. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and both her master’s and law degree from the University of Florida. She fills the vacancy created by retirement of Judge Spangler.
Michael Ring, 59, of Lighthouse Point, is appointed as a Judge of Compensation Claims for the Fort Lauderdale District. Ring is the owner of the Law Office of Michael J. Ring, P.A. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the Nova University School of Law. Ring fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Hogan.
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