Renzo Downey
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed four judges to courts across the state Wednesday.
The Governor appointed Robert Long Jr. to the 1st District Court of Appeal, Edward Artau to the 4th District Court of Appeal, Jennifer Frydrychowicz to the 1st Circuit Court and Jacqueline Steele to the Manatee County Court.
Long has been a judge for the 2nd Circuit since 2016. Previously, he served as the General Counsel for the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
The Tallahassee resident is also a lieutenant in the Navy Reserve and, like DeSantis, has been an officer in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law.
Long will replace Judge James Wolf, who will retire at the end of the month after a 30-year career on the court.
Artau, who has been a Judge for the 15th Circuit since 2014, will replace retired Judge Carole Taylor. Previously, he served as the General Counsel for the South Florida Water Management District.
The West Palm Beach resident is the son of Cuban Americans whose family fled from Cuba. He received his bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and his law degree from Georgetown University.
Frydrychowicz has been an Escambia County Judge since 2014. She replaces retired Judge Michael Allen.
Previously, she served as an Assistant State Attorney in the First Circuit. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the University of Florida College of Law.
Steele is a lawyer at McConnaughhay, Coonrod, Pope, Weaver & Stern, P.A. She previously was an Assistant Public Defender in the 13th Circuit.
The Bradenton lawyer replaces retired Judge Robert Farrance. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and her law degree from Florida State University College of Law.
