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Maureen Bell
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.
Maureen Bell is a former judge of the Orange County Court in Florida. She was first elected in 2006 and served on the court from 2007 to 2020. Bell retired from the bench in May 2020.[1]
Education
Bell received her B.A. degree from the University of Florida, her M.S. degree from St. Thomas University, and her J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law.[2]
Career
Bell worked as a general magistrate prior to her judicial election in 2006. She is also a former mediator and substance abuse counselor.[3]
Elections
2018
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Orange County Court
Incumbent Maureen Bell won election outright in the primary for Orange County Court on August 28, 2018.
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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.[4][5]
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.[6]
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.[4]
2012
Bell was unopposed and automatically re-elected following the Nov. 6, 2012 general election.[7][8]
- See also: Florida judicial elections, 2012
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Facebook.com, "Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida," May 29, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "Orange County Judge," August 27, 2006
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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
- ↑ Orange County Supervisor of Elections: 2012 candidates
- ↑ Florida judicial elections, 2012 - County Court
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
