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Candidates sparse for judgeships

Each newly created position has attracted only one candidate, but there is time for more.

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published July 2, 2006

The newly created 5th Judicial Circuit judgeships have attracted three candidates so far.

The only candidate for the seat known as Group 30 is Mike Gourley, who practices criminal law in Ocala.

Daniel B. Merritt Jr. is the sole candidate for the new Group 31 seat. He has practiced civil law since 1990 and is now at Merritt & Keller, a Brooksville firm. He also was one of three finalists last year for the appointed Hernando County judgeship.

Edward L. Scott is the sole candidate for the Group 29 seat.

Scott, an Ocala attorney whose experience covers criminal defense and personal injury cases, represented the plaintiffs of a class-action suit that reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003.

Formal qualifying for a ballot spot will take place this month. The ballot lineup won't be set until July 21.

The races would be on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

The 5th Judicial Circuit covers Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. Voters in all five counties participate in circuit judge elections, even though circuit judges typically work in just one or two of the five.

In a recent session, the Legislature created three circuit judgeships for the circuit. Victor Musleh, the circuit's chief judge, decided that one of the new judges will serve full time in Marion and that one will split time between Citrus and Hernando counties, according to the Court Administrator's Office.

The third judge probably will sit in Sumter, allowing a current judge who splits time between Sumter and Lake to work in Lake full time.

Circuit judges handle juvenile justice, family law, felony cases and civil disputes involving more than $15,000. They are elected on a nonpartisan basis to six-year terms.

The annual salary is $139,497.

On the Sept. 5 ballot, voters in the five counties will decide a race for an existing judicial seat. Michelle T. Morley and Scott Wynn are vying for the Group 7 seat.

[Last modified July 1, 2006, 23:45:51]