Overview

County Court Judges serve as the chair of the County Canvassing Board, and therefore, play a role in canvassing election results. Fla. Stat. § 102.141(1)(a).

Note: It is the Circuit Court and not the County Court that hears election contests. Fla. Stat. § 34.01(5); see also Fla. Stat. § 102.168(2).

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of County Court Judges are:

1. Serving as chair of the County Canvassing Board. Fla. Stat. § 102.141(1).
2. Potentially serving as an alternate member of the County Canvassing Board to comply with the general requirement that the Chief Judge of the Judicial Circuit appoint a second County Court Judge to serve as an alternate for the County Court Judge initially appointed to serve as the chair of the Count Canvassing Board. Fla. Stat. § 102.141(e)(1).

Selection and Vacancy Information

• Elected: While not all judges in Florida are elected, most County Court Judges are. “Judicial and Merit Retention Elections FAQ.” The election for most County Court Judges will be at the primary election, but if no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the runoff election will be held at the general election. “Judicial and Merit Retention Elections FAQ”; see also Fla. Stat. § 105.051(1)(b). If a race goes to a general election because no candidate received a majority of the vote, and that election “results in a tie, the outcome [is] determined by lot.” Fla. Stat. § 105.051(1)(c).
• Makeup: Each of Florida’s 67 counties has a county court, but the number of judges in each county varies by “the population and caseload of the county.” “Florida’s Court System.”
• Term of Office: County Court Judges serve six-year terms. “Florida’s Court System.”
• Next Election: The next general election is on November 5, 2024, which will include any races for a County Court Judge in which no candidate was elected by a majority vote during the most recent primary election in Florida. “The Vote’s in YOUR COURT.” The next primary election for County Court Judges will be August 18, 2026. “The Vote’s in YOUR COURT.”
• Qualifications:
  • In counties with 40,000 or fewer people: A person is eligible to be elected or appointed to be a County Court Judge in a county with 40,000 or fewer people if that individual is a member in good standing with the Bar of Florida. Fla. Stat. § 34.021(1).
  • In counties with more than 40,000 people:
    • If an individual is to be elected a County Court Judge in a county with more than 40,000 people, the individual must be and must have been a member in good standing with the Bar of Florida for the past five years, prior to qualifying for office. Fla. Stat. § 34.021(1).
    • If an individual is to be appointed to be a County Court Judge in a county with more than 40,000 people, the individual must be and must have been a member in good standing with the Bar of Florida for the past five years, prior to his or her name being submitted to a judicial nominating commission. Fla. Stat. § 34.021(1).
  • They must be younger than 75 years old, “except upon temporary assignment.” Fla. Const. Art. V, § 8.
  • They must reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the court. Fla. Const. Art. V, § 8.

Vacancy: If a vacancy occurs during a term, the Governor appoints an individual to fill the vacancy. “Judicial and Merit Retention Elections FAQ.”