How can I find out the party or political affiliation of a judge or judicial candidate? For example, is Judge Joe Perkins a Democrat or a Republican?

In Florida, judicial candidates are elected in strictly non-partisan elections. Florida law requires judicial elections to be non‐partisan to preserve the impartiality of the judge’s position.  

Indeed, judicial election rules are much stricter than other non-partisan election rules, such as those for mayors and commissioners, where although the candidates do not appear on the ballot as associated with a political party they may privately share their political affiliation. Unlike those candidates, judicial candidates are expressly prohibited from publicly or privately disclosing their political party affiliation. These rules are interpreted so strictly that a judicial candidate commits ethical misconduct by injecting partisan politics into a judicial race even when the candidate does not expressly reveal partisan affiliation. For example, the Florida Supreme Court has held, as part of a finding of “egregious” misconduct, that a judicial candidate acted unethically by merely noting the party affiliation of the Governor who appointed her opponent to the bench.

In sum, if a judicial candidate refuses to share his or her political affiliation with you, the candidate is acting ethically. If a judicial candidate ever shares his or her political affiliation you or otherwise injects partisan politics into the race, even in private conversation, the candidate is committing ethical misconduct.

Even if we don’t know their political affiliation, why don’t judges campaign on platforms? How can voters know how a judge will rule on issues?

Judicial candidates are prohibited from making predictions and promises about issues that could arise once they are on the bench because a judge’s job is to make impartial decisions that relate to the law in the cases before the judge.  Judges must consider the facts of each case and apply the appropriate law at that time without regard to their personal views or beliefs.  

That said, judicial candidates certainly campaign on platforms regarding what they will bring to the judicial office and why they believe they will serve our community effectively. Candidates often maintain campaign websites containing such information and also often provide such information to local periodicals or other organizations. They may also complete surveys from the Florida Bar or other organizations. Voters may consider perusing such materials when deciding how to vote. These materials may be available through a quick Internet search. (To maintain his neutrality and comply with rules governing judicial ethics, Judge Joe Perkins does not link to such materials on this website.)

How can I find out the district in which a particular judge is running in Miami-Dade County?

The district is countywide. All voters in Miami-Dade County can vote for all judicial candidates, whether for circuit or county court, in Miami-Dade County.

When and where can I vote?

The 2022 primary election is on August 23, 2022, and the deadline to register to vote in the primary is July 25, 2022. Voters can vote at early voting locations for the two weeks leading to the election and can vote by mail for the approximately six weeks leading to the election.

Voters can vote for judges on the same ballot and at the same location where they vote in the primary for governor, legislators, and commissioners, and voters do not need to be registered with a political party to vote for judges in the primary election.

Why are trial judges elected? I thought they were appointed?

In Florida, judges are both elected and appointed. The primary method of selecting circuit and county judges is by election.  If a circumstance arises where there is a mid‐term vacancy  ‐‐ for example, if a judge retires, resigns or dies before the end of the judge’s term ‐‐ the governor fills the position by appointment, but the appointee must run in the next election to maintain the seat.

Who are the current candidates for judge?

Candidates for Circuit Court

  • Group 03: Teressa Maria Cervera v. Lody Jean

  • Group 20: Brenda Guerrero v. Robert Watson

  • Group 34: Mark Blumstein v. Ariel Rodriguez

  • Group 52: Jason Edward Bloch v. Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts

Candidates for County Court

  • Group 05: Renier Diaz de la Portilla v. Fred Seraphin

  • Group 19: Lissette De La Rosa v. Jeffrey Kolokoff

  • Group 42: Alicia Garcia Priovolos v. Scott Janowitz