Duval County Judges: Biographies

Bruce R. Anderson

Circuit Judge Bruce Anderson was elected in August 2016 and took the bench in January 2017. He was reelected in 2022. His first Judicial assignment was in a Duval County Felony Criminal Division. He is currently assigned to a Duval County Civil Division. Judge Anderson moved to Jacksonville Beach when he was 2 years old. He graduated from Duncan U. Fletcher High School, received his undergraduate degree from Jacksonville University, graduating cum laude in 1984 and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1988.
Judge Anderson began his legal career serving as an Assistant State Attorney in Jacksonville under State Attorney Ed Austin. He practiced law in Jacksonville for approximately 28 years and was a partner in the Terrell Hogan Yegelwel law firm before starting his service as a Circuit Judge. While practicing law, his peers accorded him the highest (AV-Preeminent) Martindale Hubbell rating for competence and ethics. As an attorney, Judge Anderson achieved Board Certification in Civil Trial Law from the Florida Bar. Board Certification evaluates attorneys’ special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of the law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Less than 5% of Florida’s attorneys have earned board certification status from the Florida Bar.
During his term, Judge Anderson has served on the Education Committee for the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges.  Judge Anderson was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court Standard Jury Instruction (Civil) Committee for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2022, and reappointed to the Committee for a second three-year term that begins on January 1, 2025.  In 2021, Judge Anderson joined the Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section Advanced Trial Advocacy Course faculty.  Judge Anderson joined the Florida Judicial College faculty in 2023.
After being selected by the Florida Supreme Court’s Covid-19 Workgroup to participate in the Remote Civil Jury Trial Pilot Project in May 2020, Judge Anderson led the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Workgroup that developed protocols and procedures to successfully conduct two fully remote civil jury trials to binding verdicts using the Zoom videoconferencing platform and submitted a written report detailing its findings and recommendations to the Chief Justice. As a result of the Workgroup’s efforts, the Fourth Judicial Circuit earned the distinction of being the first Court in Florida and the United States to successfully conduct a fully remote civil jury trial to a binding verdict.
The National Center for State Courts (“NCSC”) awarded the Fourth Circuit a $10,000.00 grant in early 2021 to participate in their Proof-of-Concept Pilot Project on remote jury selection.  Judge Anderson continued to lead the Fourth Circuit’s Remote Project Workgroup to develop a scalable hybrid civil jury trial process consisting of a remote jury selection and in-person jury trial, compliant with the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Covid-19 restrictions. Judge Anderson and the Remote Project Workgroup developed a scalable hybrid remote model resulting in the Fourth Circuit successfully conducting two hybrid remote civil jury trials to binding verdicts in April and May 2021 with jury selection conducted remotely via Zoom videoconferencing and the in-person trials successfully completed in the Duval County Courthouse in compliance with the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Covid-19 restrictions in place during that time, i.e., social distancing, plexiglass, facemasks. In March and June 2022 Judge Anderson and the Remote Project Workgroup successfully completed two hybrid remote civil jury trials to binding verdicts.
In June 2021, the Jacksonville Bar Association presented Judge Anderson with its Professionalism Award.  The American Board of Trial Advocates Jacksonville Chapter presented its 2020 Jurist of the Year Award to Judge Anderson.

Senior Judge - Roberto Arias

County Judge Arias has served on the bench since 1995. Judge Arias received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Florida International University and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Ohio State University. He has served as an Assistant Public Defender for the Fourth Judicial Circuit and has been in private practice, covering criminal and civil cases. He has diverse interests in his community that include the Hispanic American Business Association, Mentor-Justina Road Elementary, Hubbard House, and Lutheran Social Services. Judge Arias became a Senior Judge in March 2024.

Kevin Blazs

Judge Kevin Blazs was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to Florida's 4th Judicial Circuit Court in June 2011 and is currently assigned to the Criminal Division, having previously served in Civil and Criminal Divisions. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush, he served on the Duval County Court from 2006 - 2011. Before taking the bench, he practiced law as a partner with the civil litigation firm of Gobelman, Love, Gavin, Blazs and Wasilenko in Jacksonville, served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army Reserve, taught private international law as a professor at universities throughout the People's Republic of China, and prosecuted crime in Duval County under State Attorney Ed Austin as an Assistant State Attorney and Division Chief. Throughout law school and until being admitted to the Florida Bar, Judge Blazs worked as a legislative aide with the Michigan State Senate, 30th District, on the staff of Senator Alan Cropsey.
In 2019, he received the Doctor of Judicial Science degree in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law, having studied under his Dissertation Supervisor, Professor Jack Knight and Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia. Judge Blazs holds a Master of Laws in International Business Law from the University of London and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He also obtained a graduate Certificate of Advanced Studies degree in Discrimination, Health, and Human Rights from the Université de Genève Faculté de Médecine and has completed further post-graduate legal study at Duke, Northwestern, Oxford, and Harvard. Also having received a Master of Studies degree in Jewish-Christian Relations and an undergraduate Certificate in Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge, he holds a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics and Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Liberty University. While serving in the military, Judge Blazs also obtained a Diploma for the Armor Officer Advanced Course from the United States Army Armor School along with a Diploma for the Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course and Certificate in the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, after attending the United States Air Force Academy and majoring in International Affairs. Currently, Judge Blazs is a candidate for the undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics offered by the University of Cambridge.

Mark Borello

Circuit Judge Mark Borello was born in Florida in 1962.  He graduated from The Florida State University College of Law in 1987, and began working for the State Attorney’s Office under Ed Austin that same year.
In 2012, Judge Borello was elected to take the seat of retiring Circuit Judge Charles Arnold.  His first Judicial assignment was in Clay County, handling Family, Civil and Probate Cases.
Judge Borello is currently assigned to the Felony Criminal Division in Duval County.  He is currently the Administrative Judge for the Felony Divisions and the Problem-Solving Courts. He is married and has four children.

Senior Judge - Hugh A. Carithers

Judge Carithers is a native of Jacksonville, and a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University in 1969. After serving on active duty with the U. S. Navy, including serving in Vietnam, he received his law degree from the University of Florida in 1974.
Judge Carithers practiced law in Jacksonville for more than 18 years before assuming the bench in February 1993. He has since served in all divisions of the Circuit Court, and as Administrative Judge of the Family Law Division. He also sat as an associate judge on the First District Court of Appeals.
Judge Carithers served on the Executive Committee of the Conference of Circuit Court Judges and as Chair of its Civil Section. He was a member of the Florida Court Education Council and the faculty of the College of Advanced Judicial Studies. He also served on the Florida Family Law Rules Committee and the Sexual Assault Advisory Council. He is currently the Director and officer of The Florida Bar Foundation (FFLA).

Meredith Charbula

Judge Charbula has been a member of the Florida Bar since October 15, 1987. A native Texan, she attended college in Texas on an Army ROTC scholarship. Upon graduation, she was named Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. After serving five years on active duty as a Military Police officer, Judge Charbula attended law school at Florida State University. She was a member of the Law Review, was named to the Order of the Coif, and graduated with high honors.
After law school, Judge Charbula returned to active duty as an Army Judge Advocate for nine more years. Among her many assignments on active duty in the Judge Advocate General Corps, including two deployments to the Former Yugoslavia, Judge Charbula served as a Senior Defense Counsel, Chief of Justice for the 8th Infantry and First Armored Division, and finally as the Chief of Administrative Law at West Point. Among her military decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Parachute Badge. She retired from the United States Army Reserve in December 2003.
Upon leaving active duty in 1997, Judge Charbula was appointed Deputy General Counsel at the Florida State University and was later an elbow clerk to the Honorable Ricky Polston at the First District Court of Appeal. For nearly ten years, Judge Charbula was an Assistant Attorney General in the Capital Appeals division of the Office of Florida’s Attorney General. She was counsel of record in more than 200 capital and criminal cases before the First District Court of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court and has presented some 50 oral arguments in both state and federal appellate courts. Before moving to Jacksonville in 2013, Judge Charbula taught Employment Discrimination, Florida Criminal Procedure and Criminal Justice Ethics as an adjunct professor at the Florida State University College of Law. She is the former chair of the Florida Bar’s Rules of Criminal Procedure Committee and a current member of the Florida Supreme Court’s Criminal Instructions Committee.
Judge Charbula is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is Board certified in Criminal Appellate Law. Judge Charbula was appointed to the County Bench by Governor Rick Scott and assumed office on November 1, 2017. Judge Charbula was appointed to the Circuit Bench by Governor Ron DeSantis and assumed office on June 30, 2019. She now presides over one of the eight felony divisions in Duval County.

Senior Judge - Mallory D. Cooper

In December 2005, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Judge Mallory Cooper to the Circuit Court bench. Judge Cooper had served as a County Court Judge in Duval County beginning in January 1997. As a County Court Judge, she presided over criminal, civil, small claims, and traffic court cases. In addition, she completed a two-year special assignment to the Circuit Court Dependency Division and Juvenile Drug Court. In Circuit Court, Judge Cooper presided over the Repeat Offender Court and multiple high-profile cases. When Judge Cooper retired in 2015, she was the Administrative Judge for the Felony Division.
Judge Cooper’s leadership, insight, and determination were instrumental in the building of the new Courthouse, as she served on the Courthouse Planning Committee.  Additionally, Judge Cooper served on the Jacksonville Bar Association Children's Needs Committee, and has been a member of The Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Judges Association, the Conference of County Court Judges, and Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity.
Judge Cooper received her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law in 1986. Upon graduation, she served as an Assistant State Attorney for ten years prior to her election to County Court. As an Assistant State Attorney, she served as the Juvenile Division Chief and also worked for two years in the Special Assault Unit where she won the Mayor's Victim Assistance Advisory Council's Victims’ Rights Award

Angela M. Cox

Judge Angela Cox has served as a member of the Florida Judiciary for 19 years. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 2014 by Governor Rick Scott. She has served in all divisions of the Circuit Court currently presiding in Dependency Court. Judge Cox previously served as a County Court Judge after being appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2005. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Cox practiced as a criminal prosecutor. Judge Cox has served as the Dean for the Florida Judicial College and has been on the faculty of the college for more than 17 years. She is also a faculty trainer for the Florida Judicial College. The Florida Judicial College presents a variety of educational programs for new judges, experienced judges, and some court staff. Judge Cox has also served on the faculty for the National Judicial College since 2019. Judge Cox received the Jurist of the Year Award in 2022 from the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. In 1998, Judge Cox received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis School of Law and is a graduate of Tennessee State University.

Senior Judge - Pauline Drake

Judge Pauline M. Drake was appointed to the County Court bench in 1998 by the late Governor Lawton Chiles to fill the unexpired term of Judge June Blackburn. She presided over cases involving civil, criminal, small claims, and traffic cases involving injuries. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Tuskegee University in 1974, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Alabama in 1978 and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Florida in 1984. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1986. Previous experience includes Assistant State Attorney, Regional Legal Advisor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and private practice. She was also a certified Federal, Circuit, Family and County Court Mediator.
Judge Drake was involved with the County Court Conference of Judges. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Education Committee. She chairs the Professionalism Committee and has actively been involved with professionalism in The Florida Bar and Jacksonville Bar Association. She actively participates in Justice Teaching in the public school system and volunteers with various civil organizations.

Kelly Eckley-Moulder

Judge Kelly Eckley-Moulder was appointed to the Duval County Court bench in April 2016. She graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with degrees in Criminology and Psychology and received her law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2001. She began her career in Miami, Florida as an Assistant State Attorney from 2001-2005 and then practiced civil litigation from 2005-2007. In 2007, she was hired by the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution where she rose to the position of North Florida Bureau Chief before taking the bench in 2016.
In addition to her duties as a County Court Judge, Judge Eckley-Moulder presided over Mental Health Court in 2017 and was instrumental in creating the Mental Health Offender Program in 2021. Additionally, she serves on the Board of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Judge Eckley-Moulder is married and has three stepchildren, a grandson, and two fur babies.

Steven M. Fahlgren

Steven M. Fahlgren is the Administrative Judge for Nasau County. When in Duval County, he was assigned to the Family Law Division and presided over domestic violence cases. Governor Rick Scott appointed Judge Fahlgren to the Circuit Court bench on January 28, 2015. He took office on February 25, 2015, to replace the Honorable E. McRae Mathis. At the time of his appointment to the Bench, Judge Fahlgren was the Town Attorney for the Town of Hilliard and had a private practice.
After serving active duty with the U.S. Army, including service in South Korea, Judge Fahlgren graduated from the University of Florida in 1991 and from the University of Florida College of Law with Honors in 1994. In 2014, he served as the Board President of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. While in private practice, Martindale-Hubbell accorded him its highest rating for competence and ethics. Judge Fahlgren was also certified as a Circuit Civil Mediator and as an Appellate Mediator.
Judge Fahlgren is a member of The Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association, and is Chair of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee. Judge Fahlgren serves his community by, among other things, being a mentor to young men and speaking to groups of young people about the importance of faith, education, and not getting involved in drugs. In 2017, the Jacksonville chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates recognized Judge Fahlgren with the Civility Award for his efforts to elevate the standards of honor, integrity, and courtesy. He is married with three children.

Gary P. Flower

Judge Flower is a Commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) and a member of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC).
Judge Flower is a Graduate of Leadership Florida where he has been Chairman of the Statewide Selection Committee, Regional Chair and a member of the Northeast Regions Leadership team. He is also a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville where he has been a Program Day Chair, and has been a member of both the Adult, Next Generation and Youth Selection Committees.
Judge Flower is a Past President of The Conference of County Court Judges, Past Education Chairman, and serves as the Chair of the Conferences Administration and Management Committee. He is an instructor at Florida Judicial College Phases I & II as well as DUI Adjudication Lab where he was formally Vice Dean.  Judge Flower is a former Co-Department Head of the Advance College of Judicial Studies where he has also taught.
Judge Flower serves his community in part y on many boards and committees including Vice Chair of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, The Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, The Scouts Executive Committee, The Gator Bowl Committee, The Florida Bar Association where he serves on several committees the Jacksonville Bar association and the Chamber of Commerce. He is a regular speaker at numerous Civic Organizations, Clubs and Schools throughout Northeast Florida.

John I. Guy

Judge Guy is the Administrative Judge for the Family Law Division in Jacksonville and has served in that Division since his appointment to the Circuit Court bench in December 2015. He is a member and past president of the Florida Family Law American Inn of Court and a member of The Chester Bedell American Inn of Court. Judge Guy is the Fourth Judicial Circuit Mentor Coordinator and the Fourth Judicial Circuit’s designated Hague Conference Judge. He serves as faculty for the Florida Judicial College, the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, and the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies. He is also a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Judicial Relations Committee and the Fourth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee.
Judge Guy serves his community by speaking and volunteering frequently at local schools, his church and other organizations. He is also a mentor with the Take Stock in Children program. Judge Guy taught a Trial Practice course as an adjunct professor at the Florida Coastal School of Law from 2002 until 2019. Judge Guy has also served as a faculty member for the National District Attorneys Association from 2002 to 2010. Judge Guy has lectured for the American Prosecutors Research Institute APRI, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association FPAA, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys APA, and the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys NCCDA.
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Guy was an Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit for more than 22 years after graduating from the University of Florida College of Law in 1992. He attended Alfred I. DuPont Middle School and Samuel W. Wolfson High School in Jacksonville. Judge Guy graduated from the University of Florida with High Honors. He is married and has three children.

Senior Judge - Ronald P. Higbee

Judge Higbee received a Bachelor's of Science in Criminology cum laude in 1975 from Florida State University and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Florida with honors in 1978. He was a member of the United States Navy serving in the Judge Advocate General's Corps both on active duty and in the Reserves attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander before separation from the Reserves. He was an Assistant State Attorney in Jacksonville from 1984 until 1986 and served in the private sector from 1986 until 1988. He was an Assistant Public Defender from 1988 until 2002 where he served in the felony, special defense, and homicide divisions. In addition, he was a supervisor for three years of all the County Court attorneys for the Public Defender's Office. He was appointed by Governor Bush to fill a new County Court division and became a judge on January 2, 2002. In June 2002 he was appointed to the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee for the Florida Bar.  Judge Higbee retired on June 30, 2021, and is now a senior judge.

Michael A Kalil

Circuit Court Judge Michael A. Kalil was born and raised in Jacksonville. Judge Kalil attended Wolfson High School, graduating as a member of the National Honor Society in 2001. Upon graduation, he attended the University of North Florida, majoring in philosophy. While at UNF, Judge Kalil served as the Chief Justice of the Student Government. While in college, Judge Kalil chaired a statewide judicial council among all Florida public universities, which then led to his participation in College Leadership Florida, a program of Leadership Florida. Judge Kalil also participated in the pre-law and mock trial programs while at the University of North Florida, and upon graduation in 2005, attended Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. While attending Stetson Law, Judge Kalil focused on Stetson’s Trial Advocacy program. He also served as the Student Bar Association class representative and was awarded the Stetson College of Law Certificate in Leadership Development. Upon graduation in 2008, Judge Kalil was awarded the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award for over 200 pro bono service hours. While in law school, he gained invaluable experience as a certified legal intern at the Office of the Public Defender. Upon graduation, he joined the Duval County Office of the Public Defender as an Assistant Public Defender in 2009. While serving the citizens of Duval County, Judge Kalil tried 29 cases and practiced various areas of criminal law, including juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases. In 2011, Judge Kalil joined the Law Offices of John Kalil, P.A., in Jacksonville where he continued his career as a civil trial lawyer and focused on serious personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.
In 2017, Judge Kalil was appointed by Mayor Lenny Curry and confirmed by the Jacksonville City Council to the Civil Service Board, a quasi-judicial review board, and elected to Vice-Chairman of the Board in 2018, serving on the Board until April 2020. He is an active member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, and Leadership Florida.
Judge Kalil was elected to the Circuit Court bench in 2020 and sworn in on January 5, 2021. Upon taking the bench, Judge Kalil presides over juvenile delinquency and dependency cases. Since 2022, Judge Kalil has served as the Administrative Juvenile Court Judge for Duval County. In 2022, Judge Kalil became co-chair of the Circuit Advisory Board of the Department of Juvenile Justice, advising the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Since 2022, Judge Kalil has also served as the Adoption Committee Chairperson of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
In 2023, Judge Kalil was awarded the Justice of the Year award by the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center for his work reducing the number of girls involved in the juvenile justice system. Judge Kalil enjoys presiding over the holiday adoption events held at the Duval County Courthouse that celebrate the adoptive families and the permanency for children involved in foster care.

Michelle Kalil

Judge Michelle Kalil was elected to the Duval County Court bench in November 2012. She is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, having graduated from Wolfson High School. She received her bachelor's and juris doctorate degrees from the University of Florida. Judge Kalil began her legal career serving as an Assistant Public Defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit. While at the Public Defender's Office, she represented clients in every aspect of criminal law and eventually served as a division chief. During her years as a division chief, Judge Kalil supervised and mentored other attorneys. As an Assistant Public Defender, Judge Kalil effectively and successfully defended numerous individuals and participated in more than 50 jury trials. Judge Kalil has been active as a leader in the Jacksonville community. She volunteered with the Duval County Teen Court Program as well as with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.  Judge Kalil is active with the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville as well as local tennis leagues.

London M. Kite

London Kite is a Circuit Judge serving in the Felony Criminal Division in Duval County.   In the Felony Division, Judge Kite presides over the Gun Violence Offender Court (G-VOC).  Judge Kite previously served in the Juvenile Division, hearing both delinquency and dependency matters.  
Before being elevated to Circuit Court in 2021, Judge Kite began her judicial career in County Court.  Governor Ron DeSantis appointed London Kite in July of 2020.  As a County Court Judge, she presided over misdemeanors and civil cases.  

Judge Kite has extensive trial experience.  She has tried over 50 jury trials as a Circuit Judge and manages hundreds of criminal cases.  As an attorney, Judge Kite tried 141 felony jury trials in her 17-year career at the Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.  She handled complex criminal litigation, including multi-codefendant, gang-related, and capital homicides.
    
Judge Kite is active in the local and Statewide legal community.  Locally, Judge Kite is a long-serving member of the Chester Bedell American Inn of Courts, where she has been selected as the Group Chair multiple times.  Judge Kite is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association and the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.  Judge Kite has served as a panelist and speaker on various topics in both organizations.
    
Regularly, Judge Kite participates in programs aimed at educating middle and high school students about the criminal justice system.   For many years, Judge Kite has judged the Final Mock Trial Competition for the Raines-Ribault Future Lawyer Program, where many Federal and State Judges partner with local attorneys to mentor these high school students.  Judge Kite regularly hosts students in the courthouse and gives them access to the criminal justice system in an educational way.  

This love of mentorship and education has continued into Judge Kite’s judicial career since she was a middle school special education teacher in Tampa, Florida.   Judge Kite graduated from the University of South Florida, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in education.  In 2002, Judge Kite graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with a Juris Doctorate.  In 2023, Judge Kite was selected to serve on the University of Florida Law School Alumni Board.  
    
Judge Kite has been an active member of The Florida Bar and served on multiple committees.  Currently, Judge Kite is on the Executive Board of the Criminal Law Section and Chair of the Capital Cases Committee.  Additionally, Judge Kite is a Code and Rules of Evidence Committee member.
    
On a personal note, Judge Kite married a Jacksonville native and graduate of Raines High School.  She is a proud wife and loving mother.  Judge Kite enjoys traveling with her family, boating, and fishing.  Judge Kite has lived in Jacksonville for over 20 years and has dedicated her entire professional career to serving the community.

Mark H. Mahon

Circuit Judge Mark Mahon is a native of Jacksonville and a third-generation attorney. He graduated from Florida State University in 1978 with a degree in business and from Florida State University College of Law in 1981. Judge Mahon worked as an Assistant State Attorney from 1981-1984 then joined the private practice of law with his father Lacy Mahon, Jr. He subsequently practiced law with his father, and they were joined in private practice by now Circuit Court Judge Russell L. Healey. While in private practice, Mahon was named to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and served as chair for two years. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000. In 2007, Mahon left the private practice of law and the Legislature after being appointed Circuit Court Judge by Governor Charlie Crist. Judge Mahon served as Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2023.

Scott F. Mitchell

Judge Mitchell graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1979, before obtaining his law degree from Florida State University College of Law in 1982. After graduation, he was an Assistant State Attorney in the Fourth Judicial Circuit under State Attorney Ed Austin until 1986, when he entered private practice with the law firm of Coxe & Schemer. From 1995-2010, he was in partnership with former Circuit Court Judge Don H. Lester.
Judge Mitchell was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the County Court Bench in March 2012. He was re-elected without opposition for his current term, which began January 1, 2015.

Audrey McKibbin Moran

Rhonda Peoples-Waters

Judge Rhonda Peoples-Waters began her judicial career on January 5, 2021, and presides over a Duval County Court in Jacksonville, FL. Before becoming a judge, she tried over 75 non-jury and jury trials. She was the lead trial counsel in more than half of those cases. She has been licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Florida since 1999, after graduating from the University of Florida School of Law where she studied under an academic scholarship. Judge Peoples-Waters began her career at the Public Defender’s Office in Jacksonville, FL. She has been counsel in thousands of cases, including misdemeanors and felonies. The Judge was at the Public Defender’s Office for seven years and served as the Division Chief of the Repeat Offender Divisions in Duval County.
In 2007, Judge Peoples-Waters entered private practice with a small firm practicing Criminal Law and Personal Injury Law. With the experience in public service practice and private practice, in 2008 Rhonda opened Rhonda Peoples-Waters P.A. Her firm specialized in civil and criminal litigation. Her legal experience is very diverse and wide-ranging. As a small business owner for over 12 years, the Judge learned valuable lessons beyond the practice of law such as time and employee management, successful customer service, and professional skills to deal with all types of people and circumstances.
In addition, Judge Peoples-Waters has served as a legal analyst for News4Jax and other local stations for several years. Her legal advice and opinions are valued and trusted throughout the community. Her service to the community is demonstrated through her leadership roles as a City of Jacksonville Ethics Commissioner, Past President of Daniel Webster Perkins Bar Association, NAACP-Jacksonville Branch Board Member, Past PTA President, Past President of the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Board of Directors, and Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee.
Judge Peoples-Waters applied to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission for appointment to the judicial bench 16 times, from 2009 to 2020. She also ran for county judge unsuccessfully in 2012. After 17 NOs, the Judge’s YES came on August 18, 2020, when she became the first-elected black female judge in an area covering over a million people. She received the most votes of any candidate on the ballot. Her perseverance and outstanding qualifications have made her election to the bench an asset to this community and opened more doors toward judicial diversity.
The Judge is a proud graduate of Fisk University, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a faithful member of her church.

Tatiana R. Salvador

Tatiana Radi Salvador was appointed to the Circuit Court by Governor Rick Scott on November 30, 2012, and took office on January 8, 2013. Judge Salvador has served as a Circuit Court Judge in the Felony and Civil Divisions. Additionally, she was the sole judge presiding over all postconviction cases in 2018 and was the Administrative Judge for the Felony Division in 2023. Since 2018, Judge Salvador has been a faculty member of Florida’s Judicial College, annually teaching Evidence to all new state judges and magistrates.
Judge Salvador began the practice of law in 1994 serving as an Assistant State Attorney in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, prosecuting all types of crimes from misdemeanors to murders in Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties. Thereafter in 2001, she entered private practice with the law firm of Rogers Towers, P.A. Her legal practice primarily focused on civil litigation, including commercial, banking, probate, estate and family law. In 2004, she became a shareholder in the firm and remained at the firm until she ascended to the bench in 2013.
In addition to her legal and judicial practice, Judge Salvador has been involved in numerous community organizations and in various leadership capacities, including as current member and past president of the Chester Bedell American Inn of Court; current vice-chair of the Board of Trustees for The Bolles School; current national board member and past chair of Duke University’s Hispanic/Latino Alumni Association; past vice-chair of the City of Jacksonville Ethics Commission; founding member and past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of N.E. Fla.; past board member of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid; past president and board member of OneJax, Inc.; past president and board member of Leadership Jacksonville, and graduate of the Class of 2004.
Judge Salvador was born in Providence, Rhode Island and moved to Jacksonville, Florida when she was 7 years old. Judge Salvador spent her childhood in Jacksonville and graduated from The Bolles School. She attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While at Duke, she studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium and focused her studies on world affairs. She then attended law school at the University of Florida, College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor degree.

Michael Sharrit

Circuit Court Judge Sharrit was elected to the bench in 2014. He has served in both Clay and Duval Counties; and has presided over civil, felony, family, juvenile dependency and probate cases. The Judge received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, graduating cum laude in 1988 and his juris doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law, graduating cum laude in 1991. He completed internships with the State Attorney’s Office in Tampa and the US Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville. Prior to the bench, he practiced law for 22 years, attained an AV peer rating, and was a partner with the Terrell Hogan Law Firm. He was Board Certified in Civil Trial law by the Florida Bar in 2010 and was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2013. He serves on the Florida Supreme Court’s Civil Jury Instructions Committee and previously served on the Florida Bar Rules of Evidence Committee and Rules of Judicial Administration Committee. He has served as a visiting associate judge on the First District Court of Appeal. Judge Sharrit and his wife, Lisa grew up in Jacksonville, have three children, and are active members of Mandarin Presbyterian Church.

Julie K. Taylor

Judge Julie K. Taylor grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and attended the University of Florida where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in December of 1992. She then attended the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University where she was a member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy and the Mock Trial Competition Team. After graduating in May of 1996, Judge Taylor began her career as an Assistant Public Defender where she litigated cases in County Court, Juvenile Court, Circuit Court and Repeat Offender Court. In January of 2000, she entered private practice and continued to specialize in criminal defense in state and federal court. She later became a partner with the firm of Stone, Taylor and Associates and remained there until she was asked to join the Office of the State Attorney as the Senior Division Chief of the Juvenile Division in January of 2009. Judge Taylor was promoted to the position of Director of County Court and Juvenile Court where she supervised 17 County Court Divisions and 3 Juvenile Divisions. In February of 2017, she became General Counsel of the Fourth Judicial Circuit and, in June of 2021, was appointed to be a County Court Judge in Duval County by Governor Ron DeSantis. Judge Taylor is currently assigned to Division O where she handles criminal and civil cases and is also appointed to handle circuit civil and juvenile cases.

Waddell A. Wallace, III

Judge Wallace was appointed to the Circuit Court by Governor Jeb Bush in December 1999. He is a native of Jacksonville and a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. He obtained a B.A. with High Distinction from the University of Virginia in 1975 and a J.D. with High Honors from the University of Florida School of Law in 1978. While in law school, he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.
Judge Wallace practiced law with the firm now known as Smith Hulsey & Busey for over 21 years, concentrating in the area of commercial and business litigation. He is a past President of the Jacksonville Bar Association and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
As a Circuit Judge, Judge Wallace served in a criminal felony division, family law division, and a juvenile division hearing both delinquency and dependency cases. He currently presides over civil cases and is the Administrative Judge for the Civil Division. He was an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law teaching Florida Constitutional Law. Judge Wallace was recognized in 2006 as Judge of the Year by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In April 2006 the Victims Advisory Council of the City of Jacksonville presented Judge Wallace with the Frank Carrington Champion for Victims Award. He was named the Judicial Advocate of the Year in 2005 by the Guardian ad Litem Program for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Judge Wallace also received the Pro Bono Service Award by the Florida Supreme Court for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in May 1986. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges. He is a Master and past President of the Florida Family Law Inn of Court, President of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, and has served as a board member of the Florida Crime Laboratory Council and the Sexual Assault Advisory Council for the City of Jacksonville. He has served as a deacon, elder and trustee, and Clerk of the Session at Riverside Presbyterian Church and is chair of the Judicial Business Committee of the Presbytery of St. Augustine. Judge Wallace has been active as president, board member and coach in youth baseball and basketball leagues and is a member of the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville.

Senior Judge - Michael R. Weatherby

A native of Jacksonville, Judge Weatherby is a product of the public school system.  He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and his JD degree.  After approximately 17 years as an Assistant State Attorney and in private practice, he was elected to the Circuit bench in 1990.
During the course of his judicial career Judge Weatherby served in the Civil, Family, and Felony Divisions.  The last 10 years of his service was as the Administrative Judge for the Felony Division.
Judge Weatherby was on the faculty of the Handling Capital Cases judicial education course for 17 years. He also served on the Florida Supreme Court’s Criminal Court Steering Committee and Jury Instructions Committee.  Locally, he variously served on the Technology and New Courthouse committees.
After taking Senior Judge status in early 2010, Judge Weatherby continued judicial service as the Administrative Judge for the Duval County Foreclosure division until dissolution of the division in the summer of 2024.