Judicial Nominating Commissions: Two lawyer vacancies for each of the 26 JNCs. The Florida Bar has the opportunity to nominate six lawyers for each Judicial Nominating Commission to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his appointment. Each appointee will serve a four-year term, commencing July 1, 2022. Applicants must be members of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of the territorial jurisdiction served by the commission to which the member is applying. Commissioners are not eligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for 2 years following completion of their term.

Applications must be submitted no later than 5:30 p.m., Monday, January 3, 2022. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Screening committees of the Board of Governors will review all JNC applications. The Executive Committee will then make recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Persons interested in applying for any of these vacancies may click here to begin the application process and download the new application form. If you require assistance, please call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5757 or email [email protected]. Completed applications must be submitted by the January 3rd deadline date.

About The Florida Bar

Founded in 1949, The Florida Bar serves the legal profession for the protection and benefit of both the public and all Florida lawyers. As one of the nation’s largest mandatory bars, The Florida Bar fosters and upholds a high standard of integrity and competence within Florida’s legal profession as an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court. To learn more, visit FloridaBar.org.

POSITION TITLE: General Counsel
STARTING SALARY: $85,915.14 annually
DEPARTMENT: Court Administration
PAY GRADE: 37
POSITION NUMBER: 22010996

SUMMARY:
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit is seeking a highly qualified attorney to serve as legal advocate and counsel for the interest of the Circuit. The incumbent will be responsible for law clerk supervision; formulating and implementing policies to comply with statutory and rule requirements; overseeing services and programs; responding to and managing public records requests and records retention inquires; drafting legal orders and Administrative orders; performing administrative functions, including reporting; and acting as legal counsel to the Chief Judge, Trial Court Administrator and on behalf of the Circuit. The position formulates long-range goals for the organization based upon legal requirements; develops policy and position papers. The General Counsel reports to the Trial Court Administrator.

The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s General Counsel’s office is headquartered in the Main Courthouse, West Palm Beach, Florida. Occasional travel to the other Circuit courthouses is required. The position is a State Courts employee and as such is eligible for:
 Significant cost-sharing on State of Florida medical benefits;
 A wide range of State benefits, including, but not limited to life insurance, dental and vision care, disability insurance;
 Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options;
 State of Florida Retirement System and Deferred Compensation Options;
 Vacation and Sick Leave and;
 Thirteen paid court holidays;

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Juris doctorate degree. Must possess seven (7) years of related experience, including extensive knowledge of Florida State Court Systems Operations, including at least two years of managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (the omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment for this classification): Provide legal advice and counsel to the Chief Judge and Trial Court Administrator on a wide range of legal issues affecting the circuit; and judges; directs or conducts legal research and writes or reviews analyses regarding duties and obligations of the Court. Supervises staff. Provides legal assistance in the interpretation and implementation of new legislation; develops, reviews, and evaluates operational policies and procedures. Assists the Chief Judge and Trial Court Administrator with planning, development, communication and implementation of the Court’s orders, rules and policies. Develops and implements legal strategies and policies to ensure the circuit’s judicial and administrative decisions and actions are based on sound legal and ethical principles. Prepares, negotiates and reviews contracts, ordinances, resolution, administrative orders, and other legal instruments for the circuit; renders opinions relative to substance, form and propriety of documents; reviews legally sensitive correspondence. Serves as liaison between the circuit and other governmental and private entities to maximize legal resources; represents or monitors representation of circuit in legal proceedings to prevent or minimize liability. Collaborates on preparation and coordination of public information for release; edits material designed for internal and external communication to ensure credibility understanding and readability, and to approve format, style, content, grammar and composition. Oversees administrative matters such as conducting legally sensitive investigations, preparing routine or special reports, preparing periodic employee performance evaluations, or assisting in preparation of training programs for judiciary and staff.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledgeable in legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, constitutional, contract, employment, administrative and business law and procedures. Knowledgeable in pertinent federal, state, and local laws, regulations and court decisions relating to the judiciary. Knowledgeable in methods of legal research. Ability to interpret local, state and federal laws, policies and procedures. Organize information and material into manageable form; apply data collected to resolve problems. Able to prepare and present effective written and oral reports, recommendations, judicial policies and procedures. Be committed to meeting the needs of the circuit promptly and effectively; adaptable and manage competing priorities successfully; demonstrated ability to engage in disciplined, thoughtful and creative legal analysis; maintain composure when faced with difficult and stressful person and/or situations. Ability to interact respectfully with others in the workplace.

COVID-19 PRECAUTION(S):
 Use of court-issued personal protective equipment required
 Temperature screenings
 Social distancing guidelines in place
 Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested parties should electronically send the completed application package to: Tammy Anton at [email protected]
Each completed package shall include the following:
 Cover Letter
 Resume
 Legal writing sample that does not exceed seven (7) pages
 State of Florida application form, available at the following link:
www.floridasupremecourt.org/employment/application_writeable.pdf

NOTICE:
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, September 27. Submission of an application does not guarantee the applicant an interview. Applicants will be subject to a criminal background check. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on any of the protected classes.

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in the interviewing process once selected, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Tammy Anton, Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, Palm Beach County Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway West Palm Beach, Florida 33401; telephone number (561) 355-4380 at least 7 days before your scheduled either in-person or telephonic interview; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711.”

To view the AO, please click here.

To view this AO, please click here.

Please click here to view the AO. 

Section 102.141(1), Florida Statutes (2021), specifies that a county court judge shall chair the county canvassing board. The statute also specifies that the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located shall appoint a county court judge as an alternate member of the county canvassing board and shall also appoint substitute members of the board in certain circumstances.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority conferred by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215, it is ORDERED as follows:

1. The Honorable Leonard Hanser, a County Court Judge in and for Palm Beach County, is appointed to serve as a member of the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board and shall chair the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board.

2. The Honorable Sara Alijewicz, a County Court Judge in and for Palm Beach County, is appointed to serve as an alternate member of the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board pursuant to section 102.141(1)(e)1.

DONE AND SIGNED, in Chambers, in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, this 9th day of September, 2021.
___________________________________
Glenn D. Kelley, Chief Judge
cc: Judge Sara Alijewicz
Judge Leonard Hanser
Wendy Link, Supervisor of Elections
*supersedes administrative order 12.501-08/20

Please click here to view the AO. 

It is necessary for the prompt dispatch of the business of the circuit and county courts, that circuit judges be temporarily assigned to duty in the county court and that county judges be temporarily assigned to duty in the circuit court.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority conferred by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215, it is ORDERED as follows:

1. Each circuit judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida is hereby assigned and designated to hear, conduct, try and determine county court cases that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the Palm Beach County Court, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including emergency and duty judge matters for the next six months.

2. Further, each county court judge of Palm Beach County is hereby assigned and designated to hear, conduct, try and determine circuit court cases that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including emergency and duty judge matters for the next six months.
DONE and SIGNED in Chambers at West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, this 1st day of September 2021.
___________________________
Glenn D. Kelley, Chief Judge
*supersedes Admin. Order No. 11.110 –3/2021

Please click here to view the AO.

The Court has entered administrative orders establishing the office of magistrate in family law matters (Administrative Order 5.104), juvenile matters (administrative order 5.104) and mental health matters (Administrative Order 6.304).

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority conferred by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215, it is ORDERED as follows:
The following are hereby appointed to serve as magistrates with all of the authority, responsibility and power conferred by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, Florida Rules of Probate Procedure and Florida Statutes.

Thomas Baker, Esq.
Peter Bassaline, Esq.
Judette Fanelli, Esq.
Diane M. Kirigin, Esq.
Jennifer Klee, Esq.
Jennifer Printz, Esq.
James Williams, Esq.
Maxine Williams, Esq.

DONE and SIGNED in Chambers at West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, this 1st day of September, 2021, nunc pro tunc to August 30, 2021.

Glenn D. Kelley, Chief Judge
*supersedes admin. order 11.203-10/19