The judges of the Big Bend’s 2nd Judicial Circuit – which covers Jefferson, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties – begin their new work assignments on Monday.
The latest assignments were in a recent administrative order signed by Chief Judge Frank Allman.
Judicial assignments generally last two years. Among other things, circuit judges handle felony and juvenile cases and civil lawsuits worth $50,000 or more.
Leon County’s civil division in particular frequently handles cases of statewide importance: Because it’s headquartered in the capital, its judges are often the first to hear policy-related lawsuits involving the governor and state government.
The new assignments for Leon County include:
Criminal Division
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Division A: Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper.
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Division B: Circuit Judge Lance E. Neff.
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Division C: Circuit Judge Stephen S. Everett.
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Division D: Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh.
Everett is administrative judge for the division.
Civil Division
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Division S: Circuit Judge Angela C. Dempsey.
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Division U: Circuit Judge John C. Cooper.
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Division V: Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom.
Dempsey is administrative judge for the division.
Family Division
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Division G (Dependency Court): Circuit Judge Barbara K. Hobbs. (Dependency cases involve “allegations of abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child.” Under state law, Hobbs also serves as a voting member of the Children’s Services Council of Leon County.)
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Division H (Delinquency Court): Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes. (Delinquency cases are “illegal acts” committed by those under 18 but not prosecuted as adults.)
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Division I (Family Court): Circuit Judge Robert R. Wheeler.
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Division J (Family Court): Circuit Judge Anthony Miller.
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Division K (Family Court): Hawkes.
Wheeler is administrative judge for the division.
Probate Division
What are the other judicial assignments in the circuit?
The new assignments for the outlying counties include:
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Franklin County: Allman.
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Gadsden County: Circuit Judges Ronald Flury and David Frank.
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Jefferson County: Caloca-Johnson.
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Liberty County: Flury and Frank.
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Wakulla County: Circuit Judge J. Layne Smith.
Circuit judges often are appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the bench. They must then run in the next regular election as no-party-affiliated candidates. Circuit judges serve six-year terms.
News Director Jim Rosica can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Circuit judges in Leon, outlying counties start new assignments July 1
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