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Stephen Zaccor
Stephen J. Zaccor is the former Group 8 judge on the Broward County Court in Florida. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) on January 28, 2015. Zaccor was defeated in the primary election on August 30, 2016, where he sought election to a full six year term.
Biography
Zaccor received a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University and a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University. Prior to his judicial appointment, Zaccor was a prosecutor at the Broward State Attorney's Office, which he joined in 1998. He had been handling homicide cases since 2009.[1][2]
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. Kathleen McCarthy defeated incumbent Stephen Zaccor in the Group 8 primary election for the Broward County Court.[3]
| Broward County Court, Group 8 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Kathleen McCarthy |
61.88% | 95,482 |
| Stephen Zaccor Incumbent | 38.12% | 58,809 |
| Total Votes | 154,291 | |
| 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.[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]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Prosecutor Stephen Zaccor named Broward County judge," January 28, 2015
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Stephen Joseph Zaccor - Lawyer Profile," accessed February 2, 2015
- ↑ Broward County Supervisor of Elections, "2016 Announced Candidates," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 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
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
