Governor Ron DeSantis announces ten new judicial appointments across Florida courts

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced ten judicial appointments, filling vacancies on circuit and county courts across several parts of the state.

The appointments include judges moving from county courts to circuit courts, attorneys taking their first judicial positions and legal professionals with experience in state government, prosecution, private practice and the U.S. military.

The new appointments affect courts in Broward, St. Lucie, Martin, Sarasota, DeSoto, Orange and Santa Rosa counties. Several of the vacancies were created by the retirement of sitting judges, while others opened after judges were elevated to higher courts.

Among the appointments are two new judges for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County. David Arthmann and Jeremy Franker, both of Fort Lauderdale, were selected for those positions.

Arthmann has been serving as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles since 2023. Before joining the agency, he worked as Director of Human Resources for the Florida Department of Corrections.

His legal and government background will now take him to the bench in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Arthmann earned his bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University before receiving his juris doctor from Florida State University.

He will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rebollo.

Franker is also based in Fort Lauderdale and already has judicial experience. He has served as a County Court Judge for Broward County since being appointed by DeSantis.

Before becoming a judge, Franker worked as a Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division. His education includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a juris doctor from St. Louis University.

Franker will take over the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Haury.

Another circuit court appointment will bring Jeffrey Hendriks of Port St. Lucie to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court.

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Hendriks has been a County Court Judge for St. Lucie County since his appointment by DeSantis. Before taking the judicial position, he served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his juris doctor from Stetson University. Hendriks will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Roby.

The governor’s appointments also include Daniel Mittleman of Palm City, who will serve as a judge on the Martin County Court.

Mittleman has worked as an Assistant State Attorney for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit since 2020. His legal education includes a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a juris doctor from Stetson University.

He will fill the position previously held by Judge Roberts, whose retirement created the vacancy.

In Sarasota, DeSantis appointed Megan Leaf to serve on the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court. Leaf already has experience on the bench, having served as a County Court Judge for Sarasota County since her appointment by the governor.

Before becoming a county judge, Leaf worked as an Assistant State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and her juris doctor from Stetson University.

Leaf’s new appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Smith.

DeSantis also selected two people for county court positions in Southwest Florida.

Parker Hall of Arcadia was appointed to serve as a judge on the DeSoto County Court. Hall has worked as an Associate at Silverio & Hall P.A. since 2018.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his juris doctor from Stetson University. Hall will fill the vacancy created when Judge Flowers was elevated to another judicial position.

Kaylin Humerickhouse, of Sarasota, was appointed to serve as a judge on the Sarasota County Court.

Humerickhouse has worked as an Associate at Bentley, Goodrich, Kison, P.A. since 2022. Before that, she served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

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She earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and her juris doctor from Stetson University. Her appointment fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Legler.

Two of the new appointments will be on the Orange County Court in Central Florida.

Stephanie Vargas of Orlando has been selected to serve as a judge after building a legal career that includes work in county government, prosecution and the U.S. military.

Vargas has served as an Assistant County Attorney for the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners since 2024. She has also served as a Judge Advocate for the United States Army since 2019.

Earlier in her career, Vargas worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and her juris doctor from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Vargas will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Skipper.

The second Orange County appointment is Elvis Santiago, also of Orlando.

Santiago has served as an Assistant Chief Counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2007. His background also includes service as a Judge Advocate for the United States Air Force.

Santiago earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. He will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Bain.

The final appointment announced by DeSantis is Patrick King of Jay, who will serve as a judge on the Santa Rosa County Court.

King has been an Assistant State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit since 2018. Before that, he worked as a Supervising Attorney for the Department of Children and Families.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his juris doctor from Samford University. King will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Gordon.

Taken together, the ten appointments bring new judges to courts in different regions of Florida, from South Florida and the Treasure Coast to Central Florida and the state’s Panhandle.

The group also represents a range of legal backgrounds. Some of the appointees have already served as judges, while others come directly from roles as prosecutors, government attorneys or private-sector lawyers.

Several have worked for state or federal agencies, and two have served as Judge Advocates in the U.S. military. The appointments also include attorneys with experience in criminal law, government administration, immigration matters, county government and private practice.

The changes are expected to fill court vacancies created either by retirements or by judges moving into other judicial positions. For the newly appointed judges, the selections mark the beginning of new roles on courts that handle cases within their respective counties and judicial circuits.