Florida Supreme Court elections
There are seven justices on the Florida Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Florida judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Florida
The seven justices of the Florida Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. A judicial nominating commission consisting of nine members who are appointed by the governor to four-year terms screens potential judicial candidates.[1] The commission submits a list of three to six nominees to the governor, and the governor must then appoint a judge from the list.[2]
Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they appear in a yes-no retention election held during the next general election. If retained, judges serve six-year terms.[2] Under the Florida constitution, a judge must retire at age 75; however, a judge who reaches 75 after serving at least half of his or her term may complete that term.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the court, a judge must be:
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for 10 years before assuming the bench; and
- under the age of 75.
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for two years.[2]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends three to six qualified candidates to the governor, and the governor selects a successor from that list. The new appointee serves for at least one year before running in a yes-no retention election.[2]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
2024
- See also: Florida Supreme Court elections, 2024
Meredith Sasso's seat
General election
General election for Florida Supreme Court
Incumbent Meredith Sasso won election in the general election for Florida Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Meredith Sasso (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 5,829,960 |
| Total votes: 5,829,960 | |||
 = 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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Renatha Francis' seat
General election
General election for Florida Supreme Court
Incumbent Renatha Francis won election in the general election for Florida Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Renatha Francis (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 5,967,833 |
| Total votes: 5,967,833 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
- See also: Florida Supreme Court elections, 2022
The terms of five Florida Supreme Court justices expired in 2023. Three judicial terms expired on January 2, 2023, and two judicial terms expired on January 3, 2023. The five seats were up for retention election on November 8, 2022.
Candidates and results
Canady's seat
Florida Supreme Court, Charles Canady's seat
Charles Canady was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 64.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
64.0
|
4,358,437 | ||
No |
36.0
|
2,455,875 | |||
Total Votes |
6,814,312 | ||||
|
|
Couriel's seat
Florida Supreme Court, John D. Couriel's seat
John Daniel Couriel was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 63.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.7
|
4,305,014 | ||
No |
36.3
|
2,457,705 | |||
Total Votes |
6,762,719 | ||||
|
|
Grosshans' seat
Florida Supreme Court, Jamie Rutland Grosshans' seat
Jamie Rutland Grosshans was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 63.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.8
|
4,306,135 | ||
No |
36.2
|
2,439,942 | |||
Total Votes |
6,746,077 | ||||
|
|
Labarga's seat
Florida Supreme Court, Jorge Labarga's seat
Jorge Labarga was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 62.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
62.3
|
4,197,872 | ||
No |
37.7
|
2,535,034 | |||
Total Votes |
6,732,906 | ||||
|
|
Polston's seat
Florida Supreme Court, Ricky Polston's seat
Ricky Polston was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 63.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
63.0
|
4,240,078 | ||
No |
37.0
|
2,486,947 | |||
Total Votes |
6,727,025 | ||||
|
|
2020
- See also: Florida Supreme Court elections, 2020
The term of one Florida Supreme Court justice expired on January 5, 2021. The seat was up for retention election on November 3, 2020.
Candidates and results
Muñiz's seat
Florida Supreme Court
Carlos Muñiz was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 65.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.7
|
6,297,753 | ||
No |
34.3
|
3,281,468 | |||
Total Votes |
9,579,221 | ||||
|
|
2018
- See also: Florida Supreme Court elections, 2018
The term of one Florida Supreme Court justice expired in January 2019. That justice stood for retention by voters in 2018 in order to remain on the bench for a full twelve-year term. The retention election took place on November 6, 2018.
Candidates and results
Lawson's seat
General election candidates
- C. Alan Lawson (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
Justices not on the ballot
2016
Justices who faced retention
■ Jorge Labarga
■ Charles Canady
■ Ricky Polston
Election results
November 8 general election
Jorge Labarga was retained in the Florida Supreme Court, Labarga's Seat election with 66.03% of the vote.
| Florida Supreme Court, Labarga's Seat, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
 Jorge Labarga | 66.03% | |
| Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results | ||
Charles Canady was retained in the Florida Supreme Court, Canady's Seat election with 68.01% of the vote.
| Florida Supreme Court, Canady's Seat, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
| Charles Canady | 68.01% | |
| Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results | ||
Ricky Polston was retained in the Florida Supreme Court, Polston's Seat election with 67.80% of the vote.
| Florida Supreme Court, Polston's Seat, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
| Ricky Polston | 67.80% | |
| Source: Florida Division of Elections Official Results | ||
2012
| Judge | Incumbency | Retention vote | Retention Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|
Barbara Pariente  | Yes | 4,934,296 | 68.0% |
| Fred Lewis | Yes | 4,899,667 | 67.5% |
| Peggy Quince | Yes | 4,894,677 | 67.7% |
2010
- Main Article: Florida judicial elections, 2010
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Charles Canady
|
3,032,766 | 67.5% | ||
| Against retention | 1,457,276 | 32.5% | ||
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Ricky Polston
|
2,917,344 | 66.1% | ||
| Against retention | 1,494,754 | 33.9% | ||
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jorge Labarga
|
2,623,144 | 59.0% | ||
| Against retention | 1,825,270 | 41.0% | ||
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| James Perry
|
2,741,271 | 61.7% | ||
| Against retention | 1,700,729 | 38.3% | ||
- Click here for 2010 general election results from the Florida secretary of state.
2006
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2006 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Fred Lewis
|
2,759,763 | 67.1% | ||
| Against retention | 1,351,264 | 32.9% | ||
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2006 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Barbara Pariente
|
2,772,413 | 67.6% | ||
| Against retention | 1,328,674 | 32.4% | ||
| Florida Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2006 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Peggy Quince
|
2,787,041 | 68.2% | ||
| Against retention | 1,296,966 | 31.8% | ||
- Click here for 2006 General Election Results from the Florida Secretary of State.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Florida; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived January 13, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Florida Constitution, "Article V, Section 8," accessed September 10, 2021
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
