Miriam Valkenburg
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2017 - Present
2029
8
Miriam Valkenburg is a judge of the Hillsborough County Court in Florida. Valkenburg assumed office on January 3, 2017. Valkenburg's current term ends on January 2, 2029.
Valkenburg won re-election for judge of the Hillsborough County Court in Florida outright in the general election on November 8, 2022, after the primary and general election were canceled.
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Hillsborough County, Florida (2022)
General election
The general election was canceled. Miriam Valkenburg (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
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. Miriam Valkenburg defeated Shelton Bridges in the Group 10 primary election for the Hillsborough County Court.[1]
| Hillsborough County Court, Group 10 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Miriam Valkenburg |
61.37% | 83,038 |
| Shelton Bridges | 38.63% | 52,272 |
| Total Votes | 135,310 | |
| Source: Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, "2016 Primary Election," September 6, 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]
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Miriam Valkenburg did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, "Local Candidates," accessed June 20, 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
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