The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) takes pleasure in certifying the following nominees to fill the vacancies for two County Court Judge positions created by the retirements of Judge Mark T. Eissey and Judge Leonard Hanser:

1. Alex Braunstein
2. Lauren Godden Burke
3. Lourdes Casanova
4. Santo DiGangi
5. James Sherman
6. Danielle Sherriff
7. Darren Shull
8. Stephanie Tew
9. Schnelle Tonge
10. Lawonda Warren

A list of members of the Fifteenth Circuit JNC is available at https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/.
If you have any questions, please contact Robert Harvey at (561) 303-2918, or by email at [email protected]

Please click here to view AO. 

The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces that the JNC received applications from the individuals listed below to fill the vacancies for a Circuit Court Judge position created by the retirement of Judge Joseph Marx, and two vacancies for a County Court Judge position created by the retirements of Judge Mark Eissey and Judge Leonard Hanser. The applicants will be interviewed on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at the times indicated below:

9:00 a.m.               Judge Melanie Surber

9:12 a.m.               Daniel Paige

9:24 a.m.               Judge John Parnofiello

9:36 a.m.               Jaianna Seaborne

9:48 a.m.               Thomas Berger

10:00 a.m.             Schnelle Tonge

10:12 a.m.             Magistrate Thomas Baker

10:24 a.m.             Lindsay Warner

10:36 a.m.             Break

10:48 a.m.             Alex Braunstein

11:00 a.m.             Stacey Ibarra

11:12 a.m.             Santo DiGangi

11:24 a.m.             Kelly Bennett

11:36 a.m.             Caryn Siperstein Klein

11:48 a.m.             Lourdes Casanova

12:00 p.m.             Stephanie Tew     

12:12 p.m.             Joseph Maryuma

12:24 p.m.             Lunch

1:00 p.m.               James Sherman

1:12 p.m.               Adriana Lopez

1:24 p.m.               Lauren Godden Burke

1:36 p.m.               Danielle Sherriff 

1:48 p.m.               Jean Marie Middleton

2:00 p.m.               Jonathan Picard

2:12 p.m.               Ilana Marcus

2:24 p.m.               Break

2:36 p.m.               Kevin Walsh

2:48 p.m.               Darren Shull

3:00 p.m.               Alcolya J.L. St. Juste

3:12 p.m.               Elizabeth Castro

3:24 p.m.               Steven Phillips

3:36 p.m.               Lawonda Warren

3:48 p.m.               Andrew Carrabis

4:00 p.m.               JNC Deliberations

The above interviews will be conducted in person at the Library Conference Room, Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401.

Each interview will be ten minutes long, including a two minute opening statement. The interviews will be transcribed by Phipps Reporting pro bono.

JNC proceedings are open to the public, except for deliberations. A list of members of the Fifteenth Circuit JNC is available at https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information.

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

Please click here to view AO.

Please click here to view the AO. 

Please click here to view the AO.

Please click here to view the AO. 

The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces two County Court vacancies created by the retirements of Judge Mark T. Eissey and Judge Leonard Hanser. The JNC has been asked to provide Governor Ron DeSantis with nominees for the vacancies by February 27, 2022.

Qualifications of Applicants:

Applicants must be able to fulfill the Constitutional qualifications for circuit court and county court 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. No paper applications will be accepted.

3)            The deadline for submission of the completed application is 1:00 p.m., February 11, 2022.  Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.  Both the original and redacted electronic applications must be submitted by email to [email protected].  Please state in your email whether you are applying for the pending Circuit Court Judge vacancy, a County Court Judge vacancy, or both.

Please ensure the Application is complete, including all required responses (including references, case style and contact information regarding recent cases, and class standing and degree information regarding education), and all required attachments (writing sample, financial disclosure, photograph).  Incomplete applications may not be considered.  

4)            Pending Circuit Court Vacancy. The JNC is currently accepting applications for a Circuit Court Judge position created by the retirement of Judge Joseph Marx. The deadline for submission of the completed application for the Circuit Court vacancy is now extended to 1:00 p.m., February 11, 2022.

Additional Information:

The JNC will publish on the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s website www.palmbeachbar.org and Governor Ron DeSantis’ judicial webpage https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/   the date and location of any interviews that the JNC chooses to conduct. 

The JNC anticipates that any interviews for all three (3) pending vacancies will be held the week of February 21, 2022.

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.

A list of members of the Fifteenth Circuit JNC is available at https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/.Members of the bench, the Bar and the public are urged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.

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

The deadline to apply for the 2022-2023 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Leadership Academy Class X has been extended to February 11.

The Leadership Academy is open to all Florida Bar members who are in good standing. In an effort to achieve diversity among the participants, qualified individuals will be sought from different backgrounds, large and small law firms, the private and public sectors, different practice areas, and different geographical areas of the state.

This is a multi-session training program designed to assist a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers in becoming better leaders within the legal profession while enhancing their leadership skills.

The goals of the Leadership Academy include:

• To enhance leadership skills of a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers;

• To identify, nurture, and inspire effective leadership within The Florida Bar and the legal community;

• To enhance the diversity of leaders within The Florida Bar; and

• To raise the level of awareness and engagement among lawyers regarding issues facing the legal profession through the study of ethical, professional and public service issues.

There will be seven required meetings, which will include up to 14 business days throughout the year including graduation at The Florida Bar Annual Convention in Orlando in June 2023. The dates of each training session are included in the application. Continuing legal education credits will be awarded for most sessions

To apply, click here. All applications must be received on or before February 11. For more information, please visit: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/bar-accepting-applications-for-class-x-of-the-wm-reece-smith-jr-leadership-academy/

The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces one vacancy for a Circuit Court Judge position created by the retirement of Judge Joseph Marx. The JNC has been asked to provide Governor Ron DeSantis with nominees for the vacancy by February 19, 2022.

Qualifications of Applicants:

Applicants must be able to fulfill the Constitutional qualifications for circuit court and county court 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. No paper applications will be accepted.

3) The deadline for submission of the completed application is 1:00 p.m., February 4, 2022.  Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.  Both the original and redacted electronic applications must be submitted by email to [email protected].

Please ensure the Application is complete, including all required responses (including references, case style and contact information regarding recent cases, and class standing and degree information regarding education), and all required attachments (writing sample, financial disclosure, photograph).  Incomplete applications may not be considered.  

Additional Information:

The JNC will publish on the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s website www.palmbeachbar.org and Governor Ron DeSantis’ judicial webpage https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/  the date and location of any interviews that the JNC chooses to conduct.  The JNC anticipates that any interviews will be held the week of February 14, 2022.

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.

A list of members of the Fifteenth Circuit JNC is available at https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/. Members of the bench, the Bar and the public are urged to contact the members of the Commission concerning applicants for judicial positions.

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