Two candidates are running in this non-partisan race, which will appear on the August ballot for all Alachua County voters.
Of note, judicial candidates in Florida are bound by Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which does place some limits on what they can say during a campaign, as compared to candidates for other offices.
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News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.
Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES |
Eric Atria
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 46
Family: Married with two children
Education: Juris Doctorate - University of Florida
Bachelors of Science - University of Miami
Political experience: First time running
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. Fairness - Judges should be fair in all cases. This means looking at each case specifically without any preconceived opinions and judging the unique facts of each case in accordance with the relevant law.
2. Consistency - Judges’ rulings should be consistent so that the community knows what to expect when coming before the court.
3. Efficiency - Judges are responsible for moving their caseload ensuring everyone coming before the court is heard in a timely manner. This also saves the taxpayers money by not allowing court resources to be strained by large, slow moving caseloads.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have experience beyond my main focus of criminal defense, having practiced in most areas that would come before a county judge through my extensive pro bono work. Beyond experience, I have made a personal commitment to engage with our community by knocking on over 10,000 voters doors in every single precinct of our county, a goal which I am on pace to achieve by the end of June, showing how hard I am willing and able to work for our community.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope to make a difference in our community by being fair to all who come before me. I hope to stay engaged with the community to broaden the understanding of our court system. I hope to continue to mentor young lawyers and future lawyers, just like I have done as an attorney.
Campaign website: www.atriaforalachua.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram
AuBroncee Martin
Occupation: I currently serve as an Assistant Public Defender and a Felony Division Chief in the Eighth Judicial Circuit office of the Public Defender
Age: 58
Family: My wife, Telisha, and I have three sons: Jared, Jason, and Elijah.
Education: I earned my undergraduate degree in History from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and my Juris Doctor from The University of Florida College of Law . I am a member of the Florida Bar and the Federal Bar for the Northern District of Florida. I am also a Florida Supreme Court Certified County and Family Mediator.
Political experience: This is my third time seeking election to judicial office. I believe that reflects my longstanding commitment to serving this community and my continued respect for the role of the courts in people’s lives.
Although judicial races are nonpartisan and judges do not run on political platforms, I have remained committed to offering the voters a choice grounded in experience, fairness, and public service. My background includes more than 28 years as an attorney in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, service as a former president of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association, the Josiah T. Walls Bar Association, and the local chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I have also served in community leadership roles, including with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alachua County and other civic organizations.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Because judicial races are different, judicial candidates do not run on political issues or make campaign promises about how they would rule in any particular case. For me, the core issues in this race are experience, fairness, and public confidence in the courts.
First, experience matters. County court is often where many people first encounter the justice system, and the judge must be prepared, patient, and able to manage a courtroom effectively. My nearly three decades of courtroom experience have prepared me for that responsibility.
Second, fairness and impartiality are essential. Every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and equal consideration under the law. Decisions must be based on the facts and the law—not favoritism, politics, public pressure, or personal bias.
Third, public confidence in the courts must be protected. For many people, the judge is the public face of the justice system, and the way a judge conducts the courtroom shapes how people view the law itself. A judge should listen carefully, apply the law faithfully, explain decisions clearly when appropriate, and conduct court in a way that strengthens trust in the fairness, integrity, and impartiality of the justice system.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
What I offer is the depth and consistency of my service. I have spent nearly my entire professional life in the courtroom, representing people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. That work has taught me the importance of preparation, patience, humility, fairness, and listening.
I have also had the privilege of teaching law students and training young lawyers, which has reinforced for me the importance of preparation, professionalism, judgment, and respect for the courtroom.
But my service has not been limited to the courtroom. I have also spent a significant amount of time working in the community through organizations and efforts such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Law and Justice Youth Conference, just to name a few. Those experiences have allowed me to see the justice system not only from inside the courthouse, but also from the perspective of families, young people, and community members whose trust in the system matters.
I understand that a judge is not an advocate for either side. A judge’s role is to be fair, impartial, prepared, and respectful to everyone who comes before the court. My experience inside the courtroom, together with my work training lawyers and serving outside the courtroom, gives me a broad and practical understanding of both the law and the people it serves.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would hope to live up to the tremendous responsibility that comes with serving as a judge. After serving in this office, I would want to be remembered as a judge who was prepared, fair, patient, and respectful. I would want people to say that I listened carefully, treated everyone with dignity, applied the law faithfully, and helped maintain public trust in the courts.
Campaign website: www.amartinforjudge.com
Campaign social media: Facebook