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Andrea Ruth Gundersen
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Andrea Ruth Gundersen is the judge for the Group 9 seat on the Florida 17th Circuit Court in Florida. Gundersen won the seat in the general election on November 8, 2016. She had previously ran unsuccessfully for the court in 2014.
Biography
Gundersen received her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her J.D. from the Nova University School of Law in 1992. She has owned her own legal practice, Law Offices of Andrea R. Gundersen, P.A., since 1999. Prior to this she worked at the practices of Soule Leal & Associates, P.A. (1996-1999) and Law Office of Milena Christopher, P.A. (1993-1996). From 1992 to 1993, she worked as an attorney for the Small Business Administration in disaster relief. She has also represented the Florida Department of Revenue's Child Support Enforcement Division.[1][2]
Elections
2016
| Florida 17th Circuit Court, Group 9 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Andrea Ruth Gundersen |
56.66% | 331,929 |
| Lea Krauss | 43.34% | 253,924 |
| Total Votes | 585,853 | |
| Source: Florida Election Watch, "Circuit Court Judge," accessed November 9, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. | ||
Florida's 20 circuit courts all had seats up for election in 2016. Of the 151 seats up for election, 125 saw only one candidate file for the election. The unopposed races were canceled and the sole candidates were automatically elected. Of the 26 opposed races, only 10 saw more than two candidates file. Candidates who received a majority of votes cast in the primary election on August 30, 2016, won the race and did not advance to the general election. Races where no candidate receives 50 percent plus one of the votes cast required a general election on November 8, 2016, between the top two primary vote recipients. Lea Krauss and Andrea Ruth Gundersen defeated Maxine Streeter in the Group 9 primary election for Florida's 17th Circuit Court.[3]
| Florida 17th Circuit Court, Group 9 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Lea Krauss |
37.64% | 59,476 |
| Andrea Ruth Gundersen |
32.27% | 50,995 |
| Maxine Streeter | 30.09% | 47,542 |
| Total Votes | 158,013 | |
| Source: Florida Department of State Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Primary Election," accessed December 19, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan elections
There are 597 judges on the Florida Circuit Court, each elected via nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to retain their seat.[4]
The chief judge is selected by peer vote and serves in that capacity for two years.
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[4]
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for five years; and
- under the age of 75 (retirement at 75 is mandatory).
2014
See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Gundersen ran for election to the Seventeenth Circuit Court.
Primary: She was defeated in the primary on August 26, 2014, receiving 21.41 percent of the vote. She competed against Dennis Bailey, Rhoda Sokoloff, and Russell Thompson.
[5][6]
Awards and associations
- 2013, 2014: Recognized in Florida Legal Elite
- 2012: Joseph J. Carter Professionalism Award
- AV rated attorney
- Florida Bar
- Broward County Bar Association
- Board member
- Chair of the Professionalism Committee
- Member of the Bench & Bar Committee
- Board member, Association of South Florida Mediators and Arbitrators
- Member, Florida Lawyers Network- WB Chapter Coordinator
- Member, South Broward Bar Association
- Member, West Broward Bar Association
- Tracy McPharlin Pro Bono Initiative
- Attorney Ad Litem
- Broward Lawyers Care[2][1]
See also
External links
- Andrea Ruth Gundersen campaign website, accessed May 28, 2014
- Broward County, "Supervisor of Elections," accessed May 14, 2014.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Andrea Ruth Gundersen campaign website, "Resume," archived May 28, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Information submitted via Judgepedia's candidate submission form on May 24, 2014
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2016 General Election," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "2014 General Election Candidate Listing," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Circuit Court Judge primary results," accessed August 27, 2014
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
