DeSantis signs legislation creating nine new judgeships

DeSantis signs legislation creating nine new judgeships

Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 16 signed legislation (HB 5401) creating nine new judicial positions.

The Supreme Court issued Order No. SC2023-1586 on November 30, 2023, certifying the need for one additional circuit court judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit, and five county judges — three in Orange County and two in Hillsborough County.

Lawmakers matched the Supreme Court certification and added a circuit judge in the First Judicial Circuit, and two county judges, one each in Santa Rosa and Columbia counties.

Only two years ago, lawmakers added seven new DCA judges to accommodate the creation of a new Sixth District Court of Appeal.

While the Legislature has not yet forwarded the full budget to the governor, it calls for Florida trial and appellate judges to see another round of pay enhancements.

The FY 2024-25 budget would increase a district court of appeal judge’s salary from $212,562 to $218,939 annually. A circuit judge’s salary would increase from $191,163 annually to $196,898. A county court judge’s salary would increase from $180,616 to $186,034.

The budget also calls for fully funding the court system’s $1.8 million request for 20 child support hearing officers, and “child support hearing officer resources.”

The budget would fund $4 million for additional court reporting resources, $2.6 million for “due process resources,” and $1.9 million for case processing support — about half of what the court system requested for each category.