In a political shocker full of intrigue, Leon Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey submitted her resignation letter to the Governor’s Office, a step that closed the door on her 2026 reelection campaign – and could short-circuit the election for her seat.
The move came a day after the Tallahassee Democrat reported on an impressive fundraising haul by Talley Kaleko, a Tallahassee attorney who filed last month to challenge Dempsey. It also came just before the weeklong qualifying period for judicial office starts on April 20.
The Florida Division of Elections website indicates that Dempsey, who filed for reelection last year, and Kaleko have been “removed” from the 2nd Circuit’s Group 16 race. Neither the race nor the two candidates are listed as active anymore.
Dempsey’s resignation, however, is not effective till Dec. 28. Normally, an empty judicial seat means that the governor appoints a replacement. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited, leaves office Jan. 5, 2027, which would seem to give him a week-long window to make an appointment.
In 2023, Dempsey recognized what’s known as “executive privilege” in Florida law to allow DeSantis to avoid disclosing the identities of the “legal conservative heavyweights” he consults before selecting state Supreme Court justices.
Elizabeth Garber, court administrator for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, confirmed that Dempsey wrote a resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis but was unsure of the date.
“I can confirm that she resigned effective Dec. 28, 2026,” Garber said.
In an April 15 article, the Democrat reported that Kaleko, a first-time candidate, raised nearly $120,000 in the first quarter of 2026, all within the span of less than three weeks.
Dempsey raised roughly $25,000 over the same time frame, bringing her total to just under half of Kakeko’s donations.
Dempsey, who is assigned to the Civil Division, was appointed to the bench in 2005 by Gov. Jeb Bush and was first elected in 2008. She was re-elected in 2014 and 2020.
Kaleko said she couldn’t comment in any detail: “I’m stunned learning about this information,” she said.
Kaleko is a Tallahassee native and attorney who graduated from Florida State University’s College of Law. She clerked for a federal judge and has practiced personal injury and civil rights litigation in her 25 years in the courtroom.
Among other things, circuit judges handle felony and juvenile cases and civil lawsuits worth $50,000 or more. The most recent salary information shows that circuit judges are paid $200,836 a year.
Judges who are appointed must run as no party-candidates in the next general election. They then serve six-year terms.
The 2nd Judicial Circuit, based in Tallahassee, includes Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties.
This is a developing story. Check back with Tallahassee.com for more.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Judge Dempsey resigns, likely short-circuiting judicial election
Reporting by Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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