Governor Ron DeSantis appoints four new judges across Florida circuit and county courts to fill vacancies created by retirements resignations and legislative changes
Tallahassee, Florida – Governor Ron DeSantis has announced four new judicial appointments to courts across Florida, filling vacancies in both circuit and county courts with attorneys who bring years of legal experience from prosecution, private practice, and public service.
The appointments, announced from the state capital, include selections for the Third Judicial Circuit Court, the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court, the Sumter County Court, and the Bay County Court. Each appointee steps into a vacancy created by retirement, resignation, or recent legislative changes.
One of the most notable appointments is Cary A. “Bo” Hardee III of Madison, who will serve as Judge on the Third Judicial Circuit Court. Hardee has operated his own private practice, Hardee Law Firm, since 2011, building on earlier experience as a partner at Caminez and Hardee, P.A. His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a juris doctor from Stetson University. He will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Johnson.
In another circuit-level appointment, Brian Toti of The Villages has been selected to serve on the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court. Toti currently works as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, a position he has held since 2023. Prior to that, he served in the Ninth Judicial Circuit as an Assistant State Attorney, gaining extensive courtroom and prosecutorial experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and earned his juris doctor from Barry University. His appointment fills a vacancy created by the enactment of Senate Bill 2508.
At the county court level, Shelby Senn of Wildwood has been appointed as Judge for the Sumter County Court. Senn has served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Fifth Judicial Circuit since 2017, building a steady career in criminal prosecution. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Certified Legal Intern in the same circuit’s State Attorney’s Office. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and her juris doctor from Barry University. Like Toti’s appointment, Senn’s position is also tied to changes resulting from Senate Bill 2508.
Another county court appointment goes to Alicia Carothers of Panama City, who will serve as Judge on the Bay County Court. Carothers has worked as Deputy County Attorney for Bay County since 2024, and previously served as an Assistant State Attorney in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida and a juris doctor from Faulkner University. She fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Vann.
Each of the four appointments reflects a different branch of legal experience, ranging from private practice to long-term service in state attorney offices and county legal departments. Collectively, they highlight a pipeline of attorneys moving from public service roles into the judiciary, where they will now preside over a wide range of criminal and civil matters.
Circuit courts in Florida handle more serious felony cases, major civil disputes, family law matters, and appeals from county courts, while county courts typically oversee misdemeanors, traffic cases, and smaller civil disputes. The judges appointed this week will play a central role in ensuring the smooth operation of local justice systems across their respective regions.
State officials often emphasize experience in prosecution and courtroom work when selecting judicial candidates, and all four appointees bring backgrounds rooted in litigation and public legal service. Their appointments will now move forward as they prepare to assume their roles on the bench.
The governor’s office did not issue additional remarks beyond the announcement, but the selections reflect continued efforts to fill judicial vacancies efficiently while maintaining continuity in Florida’s court system.
As these new judges step into their roles, they will join a statewide judiciary responsible for handling thousands of cases each year, shaping outcomes that affect communities across Florida’s diverse judicial circuits.
