Staff Reports
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday appointed 11 people to some of Florida’s Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNCs), the influential panels that recommend lawyers for judgeships.
When a judicial vacancy occurs that must be filled by appointment, a JNC “submit(s) three to six names of the most highly qualified applicants to the governor, who must make a final selection from the list,” according to The Florida Bar.
A judicial nominating commission itself has nine members. Five of those members “are appointed directly by the Governor, and the Bar sends nominations to the Governor to fill the remaining four spots,” the Bar’s website explains.
The governor must select from the Bar’s recommendations, but state law allows for the governor to “reject all of the nominees recommended for a position and request that (the Bar) submit a new list.”
According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, the names announced Tuesday are:
2nd District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
— Alexander Caballero, of Tampa, is a shareholder at Sessums Black Caballero Fiacarrotta, PA. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and his law degree from Florida State University. Caballero previously served on the Thirteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Caballero is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2022.
— Russell T. Kirshy, of Punta Gorda, is the principal of Russell T. Kirshy, P.A. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his law degree from Suffolk University. Kirshy previously served on the Twentieth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Kirshy is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2022.
5th District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission
— Scott Thomas, of Ponte Vedra, is a partner at Burr & Forman, LLP. He received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida. Thomas is reappointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2023.
5th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
— Jennifer C. Rey, of Brooksville, is a partner at the Hogan Law Firm. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Leo University, master’s degree from George Washington University and law degree from Stetson University. Rey is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2022.
7th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
— Travis D. Mydock, of St. Augustine, is the principal of Mydock Law, PLLC. He received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida. Mydock is appointed for the remainder of a term ending July 1, 2020.
— Kelly Parsons Kwiatek, of Daytona Beach, is the general counsel for Halifax Hospital Medical Center. She received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and her law degree from Florida State University. Kwiatek is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2023.
9th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
— Robert Holborn, of St. Cloud, is the general counsel for Russ Gibson, Sheriff of Osceola County. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Washington and Lee. Holbon is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2023.
11th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
— David Axelman, of Miami, is an attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and his law degree from the University of Miami. He is appointed for the remainder of a term ending July 1, 2020.
15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
— Jared S. Gillman, of Palm Beach Gardens, is an attorney at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and his law degree from St. Mary’s University. He is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2022.
18th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
— Shannon P. Snedaker, of Lake Mary, is the managing partner of Snedaker Law. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Barry University. Snedaker is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2020.
— Rachel W. Delgado, of West Melbourne, is the owner and general counsel Lancas, LLC. She received her bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Florida and University of Central Florida and her law degree from the University of Miami. Delgado is appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2022.
