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Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal
The Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal is one of six intermediate appellate courts in Florida. It is located in Lakeland and has nine judges.
The Florida Supreme Court recommended in November 2021 the creation of a sixth appellate court. In 2022, the Florida Legislature passed HB 7027, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), to establish the court effective January 1, 2023.[1] The court has jurisdiction over three circuits: the Ninth, Tenth, and Twentieth circuits.[2]
A committee working under the Supreme Court found that the addition of a new district would "provide adequate access to oral arguments and other proceedings, foster public trust and confidence based on geography and demographic composition, and help attract a diverse group of well-qualified applicants for judicial vacancies."[3]
- Published opinions of the Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal can be found here.
| Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal | |||
 | |||
| Court information | |||
| Judges: | 9 | ||
| Founded: | 2023 | ||
| Salary: | Associates: $223,318[4] | ||
| Judicial selection | |||
| Method: | Assisted appointment | ||
| Term: | 6 years | ||
Judges
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
September 5, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
Salary
- See also: Florida court salaries and budgets
In 2025, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $223,318, according to the National Center for State Courts.[5]
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Florida
The justices of the Florida District Courts of Appeal are selected by a nine-member judicial nominating commission.[6] The commission screens potential judicial candidates, submitting a list of three to six nominees to the governor. The governor must appoint a judge from this list.[7]
Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they appear in a yes-no retention election held during the next general election. If retained, judges serve six-year terms.[7] Under the Florida constitution, a judge must retire at age 75; however, a judge who reaches 75 after serving at least half of his or her term may complete that term.[8]
Qualifications
To serve on one of these courts, a judge must be:
- a qualified elector;
- a resident in the jurisdiction of the court;
- admitted to practice law in the state for 10 years before assuming the bench; and
- under the age of 75.
Chief justice
The chief justice of the appellate courts is selected by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for two years.[7]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends three to six qualified candidates to the governor, and the governor selects a successor from that list. The new appointee serves for at least one year before running in a yes-no retention election. If retained, judges serve six-year terms.[7]
Elections
For details about Florida's judicial elections, visit the Florida judicial elections page.
2024
The terms of 24 Florida intermediate appellate court judges expired on January 7, 2025. 23 seats were up for retention election on November 5, 2024. The filing deadline was April 26, 2024.
Candidates and results
First District
Ray's seat
Florida 1st District Court of Appeal, Stephanie Williams Ray's seat
Stephanie Williams Ray was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 66.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
66.4
|
648,575 | ||
No |
33.6
|
327,757 | |||
Total Votes |
976,332 | ||||
|
|
Bradford Thomas' seat
Florida 1st District Court of Appeal, Bradford Thomas' seat
Bradford Thomas was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 64.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
64.4
|
624,580 | ||
No |
35.6
|
345,379 | |||
Total Votes |
969,959 | ||||
|
|
M. Kemmerly Thomas' seat
Florida 1st District Court of Appeal, M. Kemmerly Thomas' seat
M. Kemmerly Thomas was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 65.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.0
|
630,499 | ||
No |
35.0
|
339,850 | |||
Total Votes |
970,349 | ||||
|
|
Second District
Black's seat
Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal, Anthony K. Black's seat
Anthony K. Black was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 68.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
68.6
|
1,182,156 | ||
No |
31.4
|
541,255 | |||
Total Votes |
1,723,411 | ||||
|
|
LaRose's seat
Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal, Edward LaRose's seat
Edward LaRose was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 69.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
69.7
|
1,194,435 | ||
No |
30.3
|
519,460 | |||
Total Votes |
1,713,895 | ||||
|
|
Rothstein-Youakim's seat
Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal, Susan Rothstein-Youakim's seat
Susan Rothstein-Youakim was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 68.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
68.7
|
1,174,626 | ||
No |
31.3
|
536,249 | |||
Total Votes |
1,710,875 | ||||
|
|
Third District
Emas' seat
Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal, Kevin M. Emas' seat
Kevin M. Emas was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 73.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
73.7
|
722,608 | ||
No |
26.3
|
258,095 | |||
Total Votes |
980,703 | ||||
|
|
Fernandez's seat
Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal, Ivan F. Fernandez's seat
Ivan F. Fernandez was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 70.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
70.3
|
687,127 | ||
No |
29.7
|
290,569 | |||
Total Votes |
977,696 | ||||
|
|
Lindsey's seat
Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal, Norma S. Lindsey's seat
Norma S. Lindsey was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 68.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
68.3
|
664,440 | ||
No |
31.7
|
308,092 | |||
Total Votes |
972,532 | ||||
|
|
Fourth District
Conner's seat
Florida 4th District Court of Appeal, Burton C. Conner's seat
Burton C. Conner was retained to the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 65.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.3
|
1,111,253 | ||
No |
34.7
|
589,775 | |||
Total Votes |
1,701,028 | ||||
|
|
Kuntz's seat
Florida 4th District Court of Appeal, Jeffrey T. Kuntz's seat
Jeffrey T. Kuntz was retained to the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 63.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.0
|
1,064,562 | ||
No |
37.0
|
625,797 | |||
Total Votes |
1,690,359 | ||||
|
|
Fifth District
Boatwright's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Joe Boatwright's seat
Joe Boatwright was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 65.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.3
|
1,464,141 | ||
No |
34.7
|
777,500 | |||
Total Votes |
2,241,641 | ||||
|
|
Eisnaugle's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Eric Eisnaugle's seat
Eric Eisnaugle was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 63.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.8
|
1,416,215 | ||
No |
36.2
|
804,992 | |||
Total Votes |
2,221,207 | ||||
|
|
Jay's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Harvey Jay's seat
Harvey Jay III was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 66.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
66.1
|
1,469,464 | ||
No |
33.9
|
752,263 | |||
Total Votes |
2,221,727 | ||||
|
|
Kilbane's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Paige Kilbane's seat
Paige Kilbane was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 65.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.2
|
1,445,361 | ||
No |
34.8
|
773,146 | |||
Total Votes |
2,218,507 | ||||
|
|
MacIver's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, John MacIver's seat
John MacIver was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 64.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
64.2
|
1,420,984 | ||
No |
35.8
|
790,866 | |||
Total Votes |
2,211,850 | ||||
|
|
Pratt's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Jordan Pratt's seat
Jordan Pratt was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 65.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.2
|
1,440,056 | ||
No |
34.8
|
768,806 | |||
Total Votes |
2,208,862 | ||||
|
|
Soud's seat
Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Adrian Soud's seat
Adrian Soud was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 65.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.2
|
1,439,256 | ||
No |
34.8
|
767,844 | |||
Total Votes |
2,207,100 | ||||
|
|
Sixth District
Brownlee's seat
Florida 6th District Court of Appeal, Paetra Brownlee's seat
Paetra Brownlee was retained to the Florida 6th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 63.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.9
|
1,044,653 | ||
No |
36.1
|
589,929 | |||
Total Votes |
1,634,582 | ||||
|
|
Gannam's seat
Florida 6th District Court of Appeal, Roger Gannam's seat
Roger Gannam was retained to the Florida 6th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 62.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
62.7
|
1,018,462 | ||
No |
37.3
|
606,725 | |||
Total Votes |
1,625,187 | ||||
|
|
Mize's seat
Florida 6th District Court of Appeal, Joshua Mize's seat
Joshua Mize was retained to the Florida 6th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 62.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
62.9
|
1,018,234 | ||
No |
37.1
|
600,039 | |||
Total Votes |
1,618,273 | ||||
|
|
Smith's seat
Florida 6th District Court of Appeal, Jared Smith's seat
Jared Smith was retained to the Florida 6th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 63.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.7
|
1,031,040 | ||
No |
36.3
|
587,960 | |||
Total Votes |
1,619,000 | ||||
|
|
White's seat
Florida 6th District Court of Appeal, Keith White's seat
Keith F. White was retained to the Florida 6th District Court of Appeal on November 5, 2024 with 63.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.7
|
1,030,381 | ||
No |
36.3
|
587,310 | |||
Total Votes |
1,617,691 | ||||
|
|
Judges not on the ballot
- Darryl Casanueva (2nd District)
- Scott D. Makar (5th District)
Ethics
The Code of Judicial Conduct for the State of Florida sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in Florida. It consists of seven canons:
- Canon 1: "A Judge Shall Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary"
- Canon 2: "A Judge Shall Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in all of the Judge's Activities"
- Canon 3: "A Judge Shall Perform the Duties of Judicial Office Impartially and Diligently"
- Canon 4: "A Judge Is Encouraged to Engage in Activities to Improve the Law, the Legal System, and the Administration of Justice"
- Canon 5: "A Judge Shall Regulate Extrajudicial Activities to Minimize the Risk of Conflict With Judicial Duties"
- Canon 6: "Fiscal Matters of a Judge Shall be Conducted in a Manner That Does Not Give the Appearance of Influence or Impropriety; etc."
- Canon 7: "A Judge or Candidate for Judicial Office Shall Refrain From Inappropriate Political Activity"[9]
The full text of the Code of Judicial Conduct for the State of Florida can be found here.
Removal of judges
Judges in Florida may be removed in one of two ways:
- By a two-thirds vote of the senate after a two-thirds vote for impeachment by the house of representatives
- By the supreme court after a recommendation from the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission[10]
Jurisdiction
There are three circuits and 13 counties in the Sixth District.[2]
- Ninth Circuit: Orange and Osceola counties
- Tenth Circuit: Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties
- Twentieth Circuit: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties
State profile
| Demographic data for Florida | ||
|---|---|---|
| Florida | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 20,244,914 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 53,625 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 76% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 16.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.4% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 23.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 86.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.3% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $47,507 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.8% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Florida. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Florida
Florida voted Republican in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, four are located in Florida, accounting for 1.94 percent of the total pivot counties.[11]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Florida had three Retained Pivot Counties and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 1.66 and 4.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respsectively.
More Florida coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Florida
- United States congressional delegations from Florida
- Public policy in Florida
- Endorsers in Florida
- Florida fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Florida Courts, "6DCA Organization," accessed January 18, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Florida Courts, "District Courts of Appeal," accessed January 18, 2023
- ↑ JD Supra, "Welcoming Florida’s Sixth District Court of Appeal," September 20, 2022
- ↑ The salary of the chief judge may be higher than an associate judge.
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "2025 Salaries and Rankings," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Florida; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived January 13, 2012
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Florida Constitution, "Article V, Section 8," accessed September 10, 2021
- ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Code of Judicial Conduct for the State of Florida," accessed September 13, 2021
- ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Judicial Qualifications Commission Cases Pending in the Florida Supreme Court," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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
