Russell Thompson
Russell Miller Thompson was a candidate for the Group 21 seat on the Broward County Court in Florida. He was defeated in the primary election on August 30, 2016.
Thompson ran unsuccessfully for the Group 16 seat on the Florida 17th Circuit Court in 2014.[1]
Thompson passed away on December 25, 2018.[2]
Biography
Thompson received his undergraduate degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1980 and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1985. From 1971 to 1997, Thompson was the CEO of Pylon Manufacturing Corporation. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1985. He practiced business and corporate law until 2001, when he opened his own firm, the Law Offices of Russell M. Thompson, where he works. He has also worked as a hearing officer for the Broward County Traffic Court since his appointment to that position in 2012. In 2013, he was appointed to serve on the Florida Bar Traffic Court Rules Committee.[1][3]
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. Deborah Carpenter-Toye defeated Russell Thompson in the Group 21 primary election for the Broward County Court.[4]
| Broward County Court, Group 21 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Deborah Carpenter-Toye |
54.77% | 83,365 |
| Russell Thompson | 45.23% | 68,846 |
| Total Votes | 152,211 | |
| Source: Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "Aug 30th 2016 Primary," September 13, 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.[5][6]
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.[7]
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.[5]
2014
See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Thompson ran for election to the 17th Circuit Court.
Primary: He was defeated in the primary on August 26, 2014, receiving 22.01 percent of the vote. He competed against Andrea Ruth Gundersen, Rhoda Sokoloff and Dennis Bailey.
[8][9]
Awards and associations
- Broward Lawyers Care - Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida 2011 Outstanding Pro Bono Service
- Florida Bar Association
- Broward County Bar Association
- U.S. Southern District of Florida Bar
- Broward County Justice Association
- Stephen R. Booher American Inn of Court
- Tracey McPharlin Dependency Pro Bono Project
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
- SCORE Certified Mentor, Broward office
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted via Judgepedia's candidate submission form on 4/21/2013
- ↑ Dignity Medical, "Russell M. Thompson," accessed December 26, 2019
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Russell M. Thompson," accessed August 26, 2016
- ↑ Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "2016 Announced Candidates," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, “Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election,” accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Circuit Court Judge primary results," accessed August 27, 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
