Matthew Lufrano

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Matthew Lufrano

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Episcopal High School

Bachelor's

University of Florida, 2006

Law

University of Florida, 2009

Personal

Birthplace

Chicago, Ill.

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Matthew Lufrano ran for election for judge of the Duval County Court in Florida. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Lufrano completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Matthew Lufrano was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 2006 and a law degree from the University of Florida in 2009. His career experience includes working as an attorney.

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Jacksonville, Florida (2024)

General election

General election for Duval County Court

Shayla Lee defeated Matthew Lufrano in the general election for Duval County Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shayla Lee (Nonpartisan)	57.2	223,635
		Matthew Lufrano (Nonpartisan)	42.8	167,396

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 391,031
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Duval County Court

Shayla Lee and Matthew Lufrano defeated Andrew Bonderud and Marcus Isom in the primary for Duval County Court on August 20, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shayla Lee (Nonpartisan)	31.5	36,090
✔		Matthew Lufrano (Nonpartisan)	28.3	32,395
		Andrew Bonderud (Nonpartisan)	24.1	27,620
		Marcus Isom (Nonpartisan)	16.2	18,565

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 114,670
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lufrano in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matthew Lufrano completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lufrano's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Matthew Lufrano is a candidate for Duval County Court Judge Group 9 and he is proud to call Jacksonville his home. Having moved to Duval County at the age of six, Mr. Lufrano and his family have been part of the Duval community for well over thirty years. As a young man Mr. Lufrano’s parents instilled in him the importance of hard work and education. In 2006 Mr. Lufrano graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Psychology. Three years later Mr. Lufrano graduated from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law, with a Juris Doctor. Upon passing the bar in 2009, Mr. Lufrano immediately leapt into the courtroom and began practicing law at the Duval County Public Defender’s Office. In 2012 Mr. Lufrano was awarded Trial Attorney of the Year for the 4th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office. Then in 2014 Mr. Lufrano went into private practice, opening his own firm, which he has owned and operated for over ten years. During his career Mr. Lufrano has tried over 80 cases to verdict before juries for offenses ranging from DUI to murder. Today Mr. Lufrano continues to practice law in Duval County and hopes to serve the County and its citizens as its next elected Duval County Court Judge.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am the longest practicing and thus most legally experienced attorney running for this judicial seat. I have also spent my career in the courtroom, both as a Public Defender and then as an attorney in private practice. To date I have tried over 80 cases to verdict before juries.
• I am recognized as a Board Certified Expert in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar, which is the highest level of excellence an attorney in Florida can achieve within a particular legal field. I am also the only candidate in this race to have become Board Certified in any area of law.
• I am the only candidate in this race to have been endorsed by our Fraternal Order of Police and our Jacksonville Association of Firefighters.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a judicial candidate we are prohibited from taking positions on issues that could come before us if elected to serve. However, I believe strongly in the responsibility that judges have to follow the constitution and the law.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Humility is a core value for any Judge to possess as Judges should be servants of the people, sworn to uphold the constitution and the law.

Drive is also an incredibly important characteristic for a Judge to possess. The reason why drive is so crucial to a judicial candidate is that the work load associated with serving as a County Court Judge is very high and in order to do the job right, one must be prepared to sacrifice their own time to fulfill those duties.

Patience is a third very important characteristic for a county court judicial candidate to possess. Patience is particularly important for County Court Judges as they will more regularly encounter citizens who have never had contact with the legal system and may be unfamiliar with its procedures. But a Judge who has patience will be able to ensure that all who come before them are offered a chance to be heard.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe that I am humble, driven, patient, and even tempered.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The most fundamental responsibility of any judge is to follow and uphold the constitution and the law.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a Judge who upheld his oaths to follow the constitution and the law.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first real summer job was working as a roofer. But my first legal job was as an assistant public defender and I held that position for four and a half years.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

As Judicial Elections in Florida are Nonpartisan all candidates are prohibited from espousing a particular political leaning or political philosophy.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

Just as there are limitations on judicial candidates endorsing a particular political leaning, it is my belief that judicial candidates are similarly prohibited from trying to circumvent this bar by connecting their candidacy with a preference for a particular judge.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

It is my firm belief that empathy is an important quality that all citizens should possess. However, judges are required to ensure that they dutifully follow and uphold the requirements of the law regardless of personal feelings.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

I am Board Certified by the Florida Bar as an Expert in Criminal Trial Law.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Service has always been central to my life and I am running to be the next elected County Court Judge in Duval County because I want to serve my fellow citizens of Duval County. Further a Judge has the ability to serve there community in a multitude of ways. The first and most obvious way in which a Judge can serve is by ensuring that that they uphold the constitution and laws. This is not only a duty Judges are sworn to uphold but it also helps to inspire confidence in the judicial process. Beyond that Judges can also take steps to ensure that legal practitioners that appear before them adhere to the required levels of professionalism and collegiality expected. Additionally, County Court Judges have the unique privilege of often mentoring younger more inexperienced attorneys who may appear before them. Finally, Judges have the ability to educate residents of Duval County outside the courtroom to ensure that everyone better understands the system.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

As a candidate for Duval County Court Judge my only goal is to seek to be the best County Court Judge possible.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

In order to be Board Certified as an expert in a particular area of the law an applicant must first meet basic eligibility criteria related to length of practice, number of trials, and percentage of practice in a particular area. Then if eligible an applicant is then vetted by members of the bar specialization committee. This vetting process requires receiving reviews of an applicant from attorneys they have practiced with, attorneys they have practiced against, and the judges they have appeared before. Then if an applicant passes that hurdle they must then pass a six hour intensive examination that covers the entirety of the legal discipline.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The laws in the State of Florida currently require County Court Judges to disclose on an annual basis their personal finances. They also prohibit judges from receiving items of value from people who appear before them.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

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Candidate

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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