Florida intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

2020 State Judicial Elections
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The terms of 25 Florida District Courts of Appeal justices expired on January 5, 2021. The 25 seats were up for retention election on November 3, 2020. A full term on the court is six years. Twenty-four judges filed to run for retention in 2020. One judge did not file to run for retention.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Florida modified its voter registration procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Voter registration: The voter registration deadline was extended to October 6, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Candidates and results

This is a list of the justices who stood for retention election in 2020 in order to remain on the bench.

First District Court of Appeal

First District Court of Appeal
Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
Office	Candidates
Adam Tanenbaum's seat	Adam Tanenbaum (i)
Joseph Lewis' seat	Joseph Lewis (i)
L. Clayton Roberts' seat	L. Clayton Roberts (i)
Rachel Nordby's seat	Rachel Nordby (i)
Scott D. Makar's seat	Scott D. Makar (i)
Timothy D. Osterhaus' seat	Timothy D. Osterhaus (i)

Second District Court of Appeal

Second District Court of Appeal
Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
Office	Candidates
Andrea Teves Smith's seat	Andrea Teves Smith (i)
Daniel H. Sleet's seat	Daniel H. Sleet (i)
J. Andrew Atkinson's seat	J. Andrew Atkinson (i)
Morris Silberman's seat	Morris Silberman (i)

Third District Court of Appeal

Third District Court of Appeal
Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
Office	Candidates
Bronwyn C. Miller's seat	Bronwyn C. Miller (i)
Eric Hendon's seat	Eric Hendon (i)
Fleur J. Lobree's seat	Fleur J. Lobree (i)
Monica Gordo's seat	Monica Gordo (i)
Thomas W. Logue's seat	Thomas W. Logue (i)

Fourth District Court of Appeal

Fourth District Court of Appeal
Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name. = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office	Candidates
Alan O. Forst's seat	Alan O. Forst (i)
Mark W. Klingensmith's seat	Mark W. Klingensmith (i)
Martha Warner's seat	Martha Warner (i)

Fifth District Court of Appeal

Fifth District Court of Appeal
Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
Office	Candidates
Frederic Rand Wallis' seat	Frederic Rand Wallis (i)
Jamie Rutland Grosshans' seat	Jamie Rutland Grosshans (i) (unofficially withdrew)
John M. Harris' seat	John M. Harris (i)
Kerry Evander's seat	Kerry Evander (i)
Meredith Sasso's seat	Meredith Sasso (i)
Richard Orfinger's seat	Richard Orfinger (i)

Note: Jamie Rutland Grosshans withdrew from the retention election once she was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court.

Past elections

2018

See also: Florida intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

First District

Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

Bradford Thomas was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 65.9% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	65.9	773,502
			No	34.1	401,090
			Total Votes		1,174,592

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It has been certified. Source

Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

Stephanie Williams Ray was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 69.0% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	69.0	813,709
			No	31.0	366,207
			Total Votes		1,179,916

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It has been certified. Source

Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

Harvey Jay III was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 66.4% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	66.4	787,244
			No	33.6	398,896
			Total Votes		1,186,140

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It has been certified. Source

Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

Allen Winsor was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 64.9% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	64.9	761,518
			No	35.1	412,328
			Total Votes		1,173,846

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

M. Kemmerly Thomas was retained to the Florida 1st District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 66.1% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	66.1	775,643
			No	33.9	398,432
			Total Votes		1,174,075

---

It has been certified. Source

Second District

Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

Darryl Casanueva was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 69.9% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	69.9	1,395,404
			No	30.1	601,185
			Total Votes		1,996,589

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

Edward LaRose was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 71.9% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	71.9	1,433,864
			No	28.1	561,471
			Total Votes		1,995,335

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

Anthony K. Black was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 73.6% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	73.6	1,480,603
			No	26.4	531,641
			Total Votes		2,012,244

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

Susan Rothstein-Youakim was retained to the Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 72.5% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	72.5	1,451,934
			No	27.5	549,901
			Total Votes		2,001,835

---

It has been certified. Source

Third District

Judges Richard Suarez and Leslie Rothenberg did not file for retention.

Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

Kevin M. Emas was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 74.1% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	74.1	532,495
			No	25.9	186,484
			Total Votes		718,979

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

Ivan F. Fernandez was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 74.0% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	74.0	533,382
			No	26.0	187,539
			Total Votes		720,921

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

Robert J. Luck was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 73.7% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	73.7	501,937
			No	26.3	178,989
			Total Votes		680,926

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

Norma S. Lindsey was retained to the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 75.3% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	75.3	534,916
			No	24.7	175,077
			Total Votes		709,993

---

It has been certified. Source

Fourth District

Florida 4th District Court of Appeal

Carole Taylor was retained to the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 78.6% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	78.6	1,022,532
			No	21.4	277,869
			Total Votes		1,300,401

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 4th District Court of Appeal

Burton C. Conner was retained to the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 75.1% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	75.1	986,636
			No	24.9	326,381
			Total Votes		1,313,017

---

It has been certified. Source

Florida 4th District Court of Appeal

Jeffrey T. Kuntz was retained to the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 73.7% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	73.7	958,412
			No	26.3	342,775
			Total Votes		1,301,187

---

It has been certified. Source

Fifth District

Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, Eric Eisnaugle's seat

Eric Eisnaugle was retained to the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal on November 6, 2018 with 63.3% of the vote.

			Retention  Vote	%	Votes
		✔	Yes	63.3	1,119,140
			No	36.7	649,102
			Total Votes		1,768,242

---

It has been certified. Source

Click [show] at the right to view more past election results.

2016 First District James Wolf was retained in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Wolf's Seat election with 62.52% of the vote. Florida First District Court of Appeal, Wolf's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes James Wolf 62.52% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Ross L. Bilbrey was retained in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Bilbrey's Seat election with 63.25% of the vote. Florida First District Court of Appeal, Bilbrey's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Ross L. Bilbrey 63.25% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results T. Kent Wetherell was retained in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Wetherell's Seat election with 62.23% of the vote. Florida First District Court of Appeal, Wetherell's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes T. Kent Wetherell 62.23% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Lori S. Rowe was retained in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Rowe's Seat election with 63.53% of the vote. Florida First District Court of Appeal, Rowe's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Lori S. Rowe 63.53% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Susan Kelsey was retained in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Kelsey's Seat election with 64.94% of the vote. Florida First District Court of Appeal, Kelsey's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Susan Kelsey 64.94% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Thomas D. “Bo” Winokur was retained in the Florida First District Court of Appeal, Winokur's Seat election with 61.52% of the vote. Florida First District Court of Appeal, Winokur's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Thomas D. “Bo” Winokur 61.52% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Second District Stevan Northcutt was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Northcutt's Seat election with 67.50% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Northcutt's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Stevan Northcutt 67.50% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Nelly Khouzam was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Khouzam's Seat election with 67.37% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Khouzam's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Nelly Khouzam 67.37% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Patricia Kelly was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Kelly's Seat election with 72.24% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Kelly's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Patricia Kelly 72.24% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Douglas Wallace was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Wallace's Seat election with 69.92% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Wallace's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Douglas Wallace 69.92% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Craig Villanti was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Villanti's Seat election with 69.74% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Villanti's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Craig Villanti 69.74% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Robert J. Morris Jr. was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Morris' Seat election with 69.38% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Morris' Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Robert J. Morris, Jr. 69.38% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Marva Crenshaw was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Crenshaw's Seat election with 68.82% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Crenshaw's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Marva Crenshaw 68.82% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Matthew C. Lucas was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Lucas' Seat election with 70.76% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Lucas' Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Matthew C. Lucas 70.76% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Samuel Salario was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Salario's Seat election with 69.81% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Salario's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Samuel Salario 69.81% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results John L. Badalamenti was retained in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Badalamenti's Seat election with 69.34% of the vote. Florida Second District Court of Appeal, Badalamenti's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes John L. Badalamenti 69.34% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Third District Linda Ann Wells was retained in the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, Wells' Seat election with 74.72% of the vote. Florida Third District Court of Appeal, Wells' Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Linda Ann Wells 74.72% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Edwin A. Scales, III was retained in the Florida Third District Court of Appeal, Scales' Seat election with 71.77% of the vote. Florida Third District Court of Appeal, Scales' Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Edwin A. Scales, III 71.77% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Fourth District Robert Gross was retained in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Gross' Seat election with 72.74% of the vote. Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Gross' Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Robert Gross 72.74% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Cory Ciklin was retained in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Ciklin's Seat election with 73.79% of the vote. Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Ciklin's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Cory Ciklin 73.79% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Melanie May was retained in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, May's Seat election with 76.12% of the vote. Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, May's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Melanie May 76.12% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Dorian Damoorgian was retained in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Damoorgian's Seat election with 72.75% of the vote. Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Damoorgian's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Dorian Damoorgian 72.75% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Jonathan D. Gerber was retained in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Gerber's Seat election with 74.70% of the vote. Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Gerber's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Jonathan D. Gerber 74.70% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Spencer D. Levine was retained in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Levine's Seat election with 73.02% of the vote. Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, Levine's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Spencer D. Levine 73.02% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Fifth District Jay Cohen was retained in the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Cohen's Seat election with 67.95% of the vote. Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Cohen's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Jay Cohen 67.95% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Vincent Torpy was retained in the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Torpy's Seat election with 68.33% of the vote. Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Torpy's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Vincent Torpy 68.33% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Brian D. Lambert was retained in the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Lambert's Seat election with 68.85% of the vote. Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Lambert's Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes Brian D. Lambert 68.85% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, Edwards' Seat, 2016 Name Yes votes James A. Edwards 69.43% Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results

Selection

See also: Judicial selection in Florida

Like Florida's supreme court justices, judges of the district courts of appeal are nominated by the state's judicial nominating commission and then appointed by the governor. They serve six-year terms and are re-elected through retention elections.

Qualifications

To be considered for appointment, a candidate must be:

• a qualified elector;
• a Florida resident;
• admitted to practice law in Florida for at least 10 years;
• no more than 75

See also

Florida	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Florida Florida Court of Appeals Florida Supreme Court	Elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Florida	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Florida District Courts of Appeal

Footnotes

Florida courts

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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

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