Seven candidates have been nominated for two judicial openings in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
The Circuit’s Judicial Nominating Commission met June 20 and interviewed 15 applicants for the vacancies created by the retirement of Polk County Judge Mary Catherine Green and the resignation of Circuit Court Judge Torea Spohr.
The commission announced the list of nominees, whose names have been forwarded to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration.
The nominees for the county judge seat are Lee Adam Cohen, a Lakeland lawyer; Allison Fox, an assistant state attorney; Julia “J.C.” Caldwell Hill, an assistant state attorney; Joseph Ravelo, an assistant U.S. attorney in Leon County; Monica Smith, an assistant state attorney; and Jennifer Steimle, a magistrate with the 10th Judicial Circuit.
The nominees for circuit court judge are Rachelle Williamson, a Polk County judge, and Hill, Smith and Steimle.
The judicial nominating commission members are Julie Landrigan Ball, chair, Walter E. Engle III, vice chair; Krista Mahalak; Frederick, J, Murphy Jr.; Robert B. Peddy; Kelvin Ready; Mattie Hardin Tondreault; Lydia Zbrzeznj; and Nicholas Zbrzeznj.
The 10th Judicial Circuit is based in Bartow and covers Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Commission nominates seven candidates for two judge openings in 10th Judicial Circuit
Reporting by Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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