TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis announced a series of appointments to Florida’s Judicial Nominating Commissions, which are responsible for vetting and recommending judicial candidates across the state.
Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission
- Jason Gonzalez from Tallahassee, a shareholder at Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC, was appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027. He holds both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida.
Second Judicial Circuit
- Nick Meros, a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP in Tallahassee, was appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027. He earned degrees from the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University Law School.
- Amanda Neff, deputy general counsel at the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, was appointed from a Florida Bar-recommended list for a term ending July 1, 2027. She holds degrees from the University of South Carolina Aiken and Florida Coastal School of Law.
- Jason Vail, a shareholder at Allen Norton & Blue, PA in Tallahassee, was also appointed from a Florida Bar list. His term runs through July 1, 2026. He graduated from the University of Central Florida and Florida State University College of Law.
Ninth Judicial Circuit
- Eric Reed from Orlando, a shareholder at Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC, was appointed from a Florida Bar-recommended list for a term ending July 1, 2027. He earned degrees from the University of Florida and Barry University School of Law.
Tenth Judicial Circuit
- Kelvin Ready, an associate at Gray Robinson, PA in Auburndale, was appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027. He received both his bachelor’s and law degrees from Florida State University.
Eleventh Judicial Circuit
- Eliot Pedrosa, a partner at Jones Day in Miami, was appointed from a Florida Bar list for a term ending July 1, 2026. He holds degrees from Florida International University and Harvard Law School.
Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
- Todd Brister, an attorney based in Lynn Haven, was reappointed from a Florida Bar list for a term ending July 1, 2027. He earned both of his degrees from the University of Florida.
- William Lewis from Panama City, managing member of his own law firm, was reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2028. He is a graduate of Auburn University and Stetson University College of Law.
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
- Loren Esposito, an attorney with McCarthy Summers Wood Norman Melby & Schultz PA in Palm City, was appointed from a Florida Bar list for a term ending July 1, 2027. She graduated from the University of Central Florida and Nova Southeastern University.
- Mark Miller, a senior attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, was appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027. He holds both of his degrees from the University of Florida.
- Barry Segal, an attorney based in Vero Beach, was appointed from a Florida Bar-recommended list for a term ending July 1, 2028. He earned degrees from Florida State University and Nova Southeastern University.
The Judicial Nominating Commissions play a crucial role in recommending candidates for judicial appointments across Florida’s courts.
