15TH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION OF NOMINEES

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The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) takes pleasure in certifying the following nominees to fill the vacancy for a Circuit Court Judge position created by the retirement of Judge Laura Johnson:

  1. Alex Braunstein
  2. Jeremy Franker
  3. James Sherman
  4. Schnelle Tonge
  5. Lawonda Warren

If you have any questions, please contact Robert Harvey at (561) 303-2918, or by email at [email protected].

THE FIFTEENTH CIRCUIT MOURNS DEATH OF RETIRED CIRCUIT JUDGE RONALD V. ALVAREZ / CONDOLENCES DETAILS

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WEST PALM BEACH – It is with great sadness that the Circuit announces the passing of the Honorable Ronald V. Alvarez on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. A native from Gary, Indiana, Judge Alvarez graduated from Indiana University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, and in 1969, graduated from the Indiana University School of Law with his Juris Doctor degree. Upon completion of law school, Judge Alvarez went on to serve in the United States Army until 1971.

Judge Alvarez operated his own firm until his appointment to the Circuit Court Bench in 1993, by then-Governor Lawton Chiles. During his time with the Fifteenth Circuit, Judge Alvarez held assignments in the Civil, Family and most notably, the Juvenile Divisions, and was responsible for establishing the Juvenile Drug Court. He was also instrumental in implementing the Circuit’s Caring Canines Therapy Dog program. Judge Alvarez retired from the bench on September 30, 2014.

Judge Alvarez will be remembered for his work on and off the bench and for his compassion for those he interacted with. He will be greatly missed by his former colleagues as well as the staff of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.

He is survived by his immediate family, Elaine, and their two sons Mark and Chad. There will be a small private service in the near future.

If you wish to send a condolence/sympathy card, the address is 127 West Lake Drive West Palm Beach, FL 33406.

15TH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION LIST OF APPLICANTS

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The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces that it has received applications from the following persons for nominations to fill one vacancy for a Circuit Court Judge position created by the retirement of Judge Laura Johnson: 

  1. Ira Bergman
  2. Alex Braunstein
  3. Diva Casas
  4. Gabriel Ermine
  5. Jeremy Franker
  6. Kristen Grimes
  7. James Sherman
  8. Sorraya Solages-Jones
  9. Schnelle Tonge
  10. Kevin Walsh
  11. Lawonda Warren

The JNC anticipates conducting interviews on August 14, 2023, in person at the Library Conference Room, Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401.

All JNC proceedings are open to the public, except for deliberations.  Applications are not confidential.  If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor.

If you have any questions, please call Mr. Harvey at (561) 303-2918, or email at [email protected].

15TH CIRCUIT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION NOTICE OF VACANCY AND ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS

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The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces one vacancy for a Circuit Court Judge position created by the retirement of Judge Laura Johnson.  The JNC has been instructed to provide Governor Ron DeSantis with nominees for the vacancy by Monday, August 14, 2023.

Qualifications of Applicants:

Applicants must be able to fulfill the Constitutional qualifications for judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution.

Instructions for Submission:

1) The current Judicial Application form must be used and can be found at https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/. Applicants should ensure they are using the correct and current form.

2) Applications must be in .pdf form and submitted as follows: (i) one original copy of the application, including all attachments, (ii) one redacted copy of the application, including all attachments, excluding all exempt information under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes or other applicable public records law. The two .pdf files should be named in a “last name.first name” format. For example: Jane Smith should submit two files named: (1) Smith.Jane.pdf and (2) Smith.Jane-REDACTED.pdf. Each electronic application, including exhibits, must be a single pdf file. The Commission strongly prefers the submission of applications in a text-searchable (i.e., non-scanned) pdf format.

3) The deadline for submission of the completed application is 5:00 p.m., Monday, July 24, 2023. Both the original and redacted electronic applications must be submitted by email to all Commission members at their email addresses below:

                Chair, Robert Harvey [email protected]

                Vice Chair, Gordon Dieterle [email protected]

                William Shepherd [email protected]

                Sarah Cohen [email protected]

                Kelly Hagar [email protected]

                James Sallah [email protected]

                Eric Levine [email protected]

                Robert Rosenberg [email protected]

                Steven DeLorenz [email protected]

After the deadline for submitting applications, the JNC will determine which applicants will be interviewed. It is anticipated that any interviews will be held in person the week of August 7, 2023, although this date is subject to change.

All JNC proceedings are open to the public, except for deliberations.  Applications are not confidential.  If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor.

If you have any questions, please call Mr. Harvey at (561) 303-2918, or by email at [email protected]