The 2024 General Election is right around the corner, and it is shaping up to be an interesting one to say the least. High profile candidates and hot button issues litter the ballot from top to bottom. With mere weeks before citizens cast their votes, the Sun is back to shine a light on the judges to be (or not to be) retained.
First up, Judge Joe Boatwright was appointed to the Fifth District Court of Appeal by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. According to his page on the district’s website, Boatwright earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida before graduating Summa Cum Laude with his Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School Law in Washington DC.
He then earned his LLM in Taxation, and later in Judicial Studies, from UF and Duke Law School, respectively. He would then practice law for a decade, serve as an assistant state attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, and hold the role of county court judge in Putnam County before joining the Fifth District at the governor’s behest. Judge Boatwright is also involved with many community groups such as the Arc of Putnam County and the Rotary Club of Palatka, the website added.
Judge Eric Eisnaugle is the second of the seven judges that are looking to be retained. Appointed by former Governor Rick Scott in 2017 following the elevation of Justice C. Alan Lawson, he now serves on the court’s Conference Education Committee. He graduated summa cum laude in Business Administration and Economics from Florida Southern College before graduating with honors from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2003.
Following his studies, his page on the District Court’s website noted that he operated a private practice and served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2008-2012 and 2014-2017. During this time, he served on several committees while chairing and vice-chairing the Civil Justice Subcommittee and the Rules and Calendar Committee, respectively. He was also given the Orange County Legal Aid Society’s New Attorney Award of Excellence in 2010 due to his role helping children as a volunteer guardian ad litem.
Judge Harvey Jay was appointed to his current role in February of 2016 by the former governor and recommissioned to the Fifth District on January 1, 2023, by Governor DeSantis. Born in Jacksonville, he earned his bachelor’s from Stetson University before receiving his law degree from the University of Florida.
Before his most recent position, he was a civil trial lawyer for two decades and served as an equity partner at the law firm of Saalfield Shad, the judge’s page stated. He has represented hospitals, nurses, and physicians and received the Jurist of the Year Award in 2015.
Also appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in January 2023, Judge Paige Kilbane is the second “Double Gator” on our list. She serves on the Florida Supreme Court Civil Jury Instruction Committee and Florida Bar Constitutional Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Federalist Society. After receiving her undergraduate and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida, Kilbane was appointed as a judge with the Palm Beach Circuit Court by both the current and former state governors.
She also served “as an Assistant State Attorney in the 19th Judicial Circuit, as a complex commercial and intellectual property litigator and finally as staff counsel for an insurance company handling a broad range of auto and property matters,” her District Court page added.
Judge John MacIver was yet another to be appointed by Governor DeSantis early in 2023. He received his education from the University of Central Florida, where he graduated in 2007 and graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 2011. While in law school, he was an editor for the Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy and received a pair of awards while attending: the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award and the William Jennings Bryan Award.
According to his page, Judge MacIver began serving with the Florida state government as far back as 2002 as a legislative assistant. He has acted as a general counsel to the Florida Department of Financial Services and most recently chaired the Florida Gaming Control Commission prior to his current role.
Appointed by Governor DeSantis in April 2023, Judge Jordan Pratt received his education two times over from UF as well. After graduating as a co-valedictorian in undergraduate and receiving his J.D., magna cum laude, he served as a law clerk for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division. Judge Pratt has held various other roles including senior counsel at First Liberty Institute and the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a deputy solicitor general in the Florida Office of the Attorney
General.
“As a deputy solicitor general, he defended significant Florida legislation and executive actions at every level of the state and federal court systems, with successful arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Florida Supreme Court, and Florida’s First District Court of Appeal,” the District Court’s website stated.
The last such individual on the November ballot, Judge Adrian Soud served on the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida from 2009 until his appointment to the Fifth District by Governor DeSantis on January 1, 2023. Like most of those on this list, Judge Soud received his bachelor’s degree from UF in 1996 before graduating cum laude from Stetson University College of Law in 1999, his District Court of Appeal page noted.
The judge started his legal career at Holland & Knight LLP and delivered lectures on topics including the Bill of Rights, federalism, and the separation of powers. Judge Soud has served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon with his local church and he and his wife, Marcie, have two children, Emily and Elizabeth.
With the election set for November 5, the Sun will also be providing coverage for the various amendments to help voters stay informed on the issues at play.
