03/13/2026
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION NOTICE OF CIRCUIT COURT AND COUNTY COURT
VACANCIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13th, 2026 CONTACT: Steven E. Martin, Chair
Judicial Nominating Commission, Twentieth Judicial Circuit
E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 239-443-1094
Governor Ron DeSantis has announced one Circuit Court judicial vacancy and one County Court judicial vacancy in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit resulting from the resignation of Judge Krier
and the elevation of Judge Bocelli. Accordingly, the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for these vacancies.
Applicants must be able to fulfill the Constitutional qualifications before assuming the office of County Court Judge, which requires a person to be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar for
the preceding five (5) years, a registered voter in the State of Florida, and a resident of the territorial jurisdiction of the court at the time she or he assumes office.
The current application may be downloaded from the following websites: Honorable Ron DeSantis, 46th Governor of Florida at www.flgov.com or The Florida Bar at www.floridabar.org.
Any person wishing to be considered for appointment must submit the following:
● One (1) digital (electronic) signed copy of the original application (in .pdf format) with
attachments, including the executed FDLE form; and
● One (1) digital (electronic) signed copy of the application (in .pdf format) with personal
information, not subject to public disclosure, redacted as permitted by F.S. 119.071.
The submitted application must include the required financial disclosures, a writing sample, and a color photograph in .jpg or .gif format. The .pdf applications should be titled in the name of the
applicant (Doe.Jane.pdf) and labeled "original" or "redacted" as applicable. Applicants are also
required to submit the FDLE form.
All questions in the application must be FULLY and COMPLETELY answered. Applications must also include CURRENT contact information, including email addresses, for all judges, co- counsel,
opposing counsel, and references, to facilitate the background investigation that members of the Commission will conduct.
Applications must be delivered to the Chair, Steven E. Martin, by email at [email protected] no later than 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026. Please "cc" Kelly Arroyo at [email protected] and Cyanna Jodway at [email protected].
NOTICE: Incomplete applications, submission of obsolete forms of the application, and applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
An interview date has been reserved for May 8th, 2026. The list of candidates who will be interviewed, the schedule of interviews, and the location, will be announced on April 24th, 2026 following an Organizational Meeting at 11:00am via ZOOM.
All proceedings of the Judicial Nominating Commission are open to the public except for deliberations. Accordingly, applicants should NOT expect their applications to remain confidential. If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application shall be submitted to the Governor's Office.
Members of the judiciary, bar, and the public are encouraged to contact members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.
Any person who wishes to submit a letter regarding any applicant must submit that letter in .pdf format by e-mail to the Chair at: [email protected]. The Chair will disseminate all letters
to members of the Commission. All correspondence constitutes a public record pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
Members of the 20th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission are: A complete listing for each member is available from The Florida Bar's website or from the Chair.
Mark A. Boyle, Esq.
Michael Carr, Esq.
Katherine Cook, Esq.
Paul Giordano, Esq., (Vice Chair)
Steven Leskovich, Esq.
Steven E. Martin, (Chair)
Richard J. Montecalvo, Esq.
Michael D. Randolph, Esq.
Apply to a Gubernatorial AppointmentThe Appointments Office supports the Governor in meeting his major obligation to appoint qualified, representative and appropriate people to a large number of important leadership roles throughout the State.
