In Florida, judges on the state’s six appellate courts, as well as the justices on the state Supreme Court, are appointed by the governor, following screenings by a Judicial Nominating Committee. However, after their nomination, they must go before voters for a merit retention vote, in order to remain in their position. Newly-appointed judges go on a general election ballot within three years of their appointment. If they are retained, they serve a six-year term, and face retention votes at the end of each term. If a judge is not retained, they will be replaced in the same manner they were appointed.
As the Florida Bar points out on its website, The Vote’s In Your Court, you can learn about judges in retention races by reading their voluntary disclosure forms, and about their past case decisions.
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Florida’s Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and six other justices. This year, one justice, Justice Carlos Muniz, faces a merit retention vote. The merit retention race will appear on every ballot in the state.
Justice Carlos G. Muniz
- Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on January 22, 2019
You can read all of the Florida Supreme Court’s opinions here.