DeSantis receives 6 nominees for Florida 1st District Court of Appeal vacancy

A nominating panel for one of the state's highest-profile appellate courts has sent a slate of six finalists to Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill a recent vacancy.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the 1st District Court of Appeal , headquartered in Tallahassee, held interviews Thursday and announced it had decided to recommend the following:

• Brittany O. Finkbeiner, an administrative law judge in Tallahassee.

• Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz, a circuit judge in Pensacola.

• R. Todd Harris, also a circuit judge in Pensacola.

• Joshua M. Hawkes, a circuit judge in Tallahassee.

• Lance E. Neff, a circuit judge in Tallahassee and a former general counsel for the Florida Department of Corrections.

• Ray Treadwell, a partner in the Lawson Huck Gonzalez law firm in Tallahassee and a former chief deputy general counsel for DeSantis.

It's a prestigious appointment: The 1st DCA often hears appeals in cases involving the governor and state government. Its judges, for instance, handle appeals of final decisions by state agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection and the Board of Medicine, as well as the boards of trustees for state universities.

Overall, it handles civil and criminal appeals from  five judicial circuits across north Florida .

One finalist will take the place of  Judge Brad Thomas , an appointee of Gov. Jeb Bush who was on the court since 2005 and retired as of Feb. 28.

How are appellate judges selected in Florida?

According to The Florida Bar, "They are appointed by the governor after being screened by judicial nominating commissions (JNCs). They face their first retention votes within two years and thereafter, if retained, every six years."

According to the governor's office, "Applicants interview with the JNC, which then determines by majority vote which applicants to recommend to the governor for consideration.

"The JNC ... nominate(s) no fewer than three and no more than six applicants to the Governor. The governor (then) has 60 days to appoint a judge from among the nominees."

What are judges paid in Florida?

As of the 2024-25 budget year:

• County judges, annual salary: $186,034.08

• Circuit judges, annual salary: $196,898.04

• District Court of Appeal judges, annual salary: $218,939.04

• State Supreme Court justices, annual salary: $258,957.00

Source: Office of the State Courts Administrator

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network's Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at  jrosica@tallahassee.com . Follow him on X:  @JimRosicaFL .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gov. DeSantis to review Florida 1st DCA picks from nominating panel