The Seventh Judicial Circuit welcomes two new Circuit Judges and announces changes to judicial assignments for several sitting judges.
Christopher Ferebee, who was appointed to fill a vacant circuit judge position, and Linda Gaustad, who won election as a circuit judge, are joining the bench.
Judge-designate Ferebee will begin Dec. 26 and will preside in a unified family court division at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in November and had been the managing assistant state attorney in St. Johns County for the Seventh Circuit State Attorney’s Office. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. He fills the judgeship previously occupied by Scott DuPont.
Judge-elect Gaustad begins a six-year term of office on Jan. 8, 2019 and will preside in a unified family court division at the Volusia County Courthouse Annex at City Island in Daytona Beach. She was previously an assistant public defender in the appellate division and had been in private practice since 2002. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and her law degree from the University of Florida. She fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge J. Michael Traynor.
The circuit also announces several changes to judicial assignments and locations, effective Jan. 7, 2019.
In Putnam County, Circuit Judge Howard McGillin will move to the criminal division.
In St. Johns County, Circuit Judge Lee Smith will move to the civil division.
At the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand:
· Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols will move to a criminal division. She will continue to preside in Volusia County Drug Court for west Volusia.
· Circuit Judge Kathryn Weston will move to a civil division.
· Circuit Judge Karen Foxman will move to a family law division.
At the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach:
· Chief Judge Raul A. Zambrano and Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch will move to criminal divisions. Judge Upchurch will also preside in Volusia County Drug Court for east Volusia.
At the Volusia County Courthouse Annex at City Island in Daytona Beach:
· Circuit Judge Stasia Warren will move to a family law division.
· Circuit Judge Leah Case will move to a civil division.
· Volusia County Court Judges Dawn Fields and Judith Campbell will switch divisions, with Judge Fields moving to a county civil division and Judge Campbell moving to a county criminal division.
A vacancy created by the untimely passing of Judge Clyde E. Wolfe is due to be filled by gubernatorial appointment in the coming weeks. The incoming judge will be assigned to a unified family court division in St. Johns County.
Voter says
It’s disgusting that crooked term limited Rick would appoint to fill DuPonts replacement with someone from the State Attorney Office knowing this State Attorney has had more turnover for many years than any other state attorney office in the state and because there were far more qualified applicants. We can only hope DeSantis will be a Governor for the people and not for his own personal gain. I wouldn’t appoint anyone out of this 7th Judicial State Attorney office for any position. Larizza needs to be voted out of office—it still saddens me Stasia Warren didn’t do it in years past. When it comes to voters you just can’t fix stupid. DIRTY POLITICS!!!!!
Pogo says
@Nothing is too good for Republicans, that’s what they aim for – nothing.
Florida Coastal School Of Law Remains Accredited Despite ABA Issues
By Melissa Ross • Oct 3, 2018
“InfiLaw, the Florida Coastal School of Law’s holding company, filed three lawsuits in May in federal court against the American Bar Association after the ABA found InfiLaw’s three law schools out of compliance with admission and accreditation standards.
Charlotte School of Law closed in August and Arizona Summit’s accreditation was rescinded in June by the ABA…”
http://news.wjct.org/post/florida-coastal-school-law-remains-accredited-despite-aba-issues
desantis used to put his position as a lecturer at FCSOL on his resume, but later, not so much. crooked rick and slippery ron never fail to contribute to the Republican pollution of the judiciary at any and all levels.
And so it goes.