Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Kafi Kennedy Swanson
Kafi Kennedy Swanson was a candidate for the Group 4 seat on the Orange County Court in Florida. Kennedy Swanson was defeated in the primary election on August 30, 2016.
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. Thomas Wade Young and David Johnson defeated Kafi Kennedy Swanson in the Group 4 primary election for the Orange County Court.[1]
| Orange County Court, Group 4 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Thomas Wade Young |
45.60% | 50,489 |
| David Johnson |
30.74% | 34,038 |
| Kafi Kennedy Swanson | 23.66% | 26,199 |
| Total Votes | 110,726 | |
| Source: Orange County Supervisor of Elections, "Official Results - August 30, 2016," October 8, 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.[2][3]
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.[4]
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.[2]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Orange County Supervisor of Elections, "County Candidates for the 2016 Election," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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
