Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Bradley Harper
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
2021 - Present
2022
4
Bradley Harper is a judge of the Florida 15th Circuit Court. He assumed office in 2021. His term ended in 2022.
Harper ran for re-election for judge of the Palm Beach County Court in Florida. He won in the general election on August 30, 2016.
He was appointed to the Circuit Court on September 16, 2021 by Governor Ron DeSantis to replace Krista Marx.
Bradley Harper previously served as a judge for the Group 15 seat on the Palm Beach County Court in Florida. Harper won the seat in the primary election on August 30, 2016. He left office in 2021 when he was appointed judge of the Circuit Court.
Biography
Harper has been involved with various community organizations, including: Blueprint Leadership Program, Inc., Boyz to Men Mentoring Program, BSA Scout Troop 116, Do the "Write" Thing, Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Kiwanis Club, Lake Worth High School Dollars for Scholars, Lake Worth Pioneers' Association, Leadership Palm Beach County, Luvmat Homeless Project, Northboro Elementary School Advisory Counsel, Northboro Elementary School PTO, Rotary Club of West Palm Beach, Toastmasters Palm Beach, and West Riviera Elementary School Advisory.[1]
Education
Harper earned his bachelor's degree at Morehouse College and his law degree at the University of Florida.[1]
Career
- 2021–present: Judge, Florida 15th Circuit Court
- 2017–2021: Judge, Palm Beach County Court
- 2012–2016: Partner, Powers, McNalis, et al.
- 2007–2012: Partner, Olds, Stephens & Harper
- 2003–2007: Associate, Olds & Stephens
Harper is a member of the American Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, The Florida Bar, National Bar Association, and the Palm Beach County Bar Association. He was a member of the Florida Bar Client Security Fund from 2008 to 2015 and served as Vice Chair of that organization from 2012 to 2013. Harper also served as Chair of the Florida Bar Paralegal Committee from 2008 to 2013. He was President of the F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association in 2006. Harper served as the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Representative for the Florida Conference of County Judges for eleven years. He has been a member of the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission's Racial Equity Team and the Florida Bar Evidence Committee for over three years.[1]
Elections
2016
Thirty-nine of Florida's 67 county courts had seats up for election in 2016. Of the 101 seats up for election, 68 saw only one candidate file for the election. The unopposed races were canceled and the sole candidates were automatically elected. Of the 33 opposed races, only 15 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. Bradley Harper defeated Esther Feistmann in the Group 15 primary election for the Palm Beach County Court.[2]
| Palm Beach County Court, Group 15 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Bradley Harper |
52.57% | 75,547 |
| Esther Feistmann | 47.43% | 68,151 |
| Total Votes | 143,698 | |
| Source: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, "Primary Election - 8/30/2016," September 9, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan elections
Like the circuit courts, the Florida County Court selects its judges through nonpartisan elections. County judges serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to retain their seats.[3][4]
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the county courts employ the same assisted appointment method that the appellate courts use. Judges selected this way serve for at least one year, after which they must run for re-election.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on one of these courts, a judge must be:
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- under the age of 75; and
- admitted to practice law in the state for five years prior to assuming the bench.
Note that this final requirement—that judges be qualified to practice law in the state for at least five years—is the one piece that breaks from the qualifications of Florida appellate judges, who need a minimum of 10 years. In counties of 40,000 people or fewer, this requirement is waived altogether.[3]
See also
- Florida 15th Circuit Court
- Palm Beach County Court, Florida
- Courts in Florida
- Florida local trial court judicial elections, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida, "Bradley Harper," accessed July 5, 2022
- ↑ Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, "Candidates For 2016 Election Cycle," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Florida; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Online Sunshine, "The Florida Constitution," accessed June 25, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 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
