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UPDATE: GENERAL MAGISTRATE TESHA BALLOU
APPOINTED TO 18TH CIRCUIT BENCH

Judge Ballou Will Replace Retiring Judge Tonya Rainwater

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Did Local Judicial Nominating Commission Chairman's
Email Comments Bias The Governor's Office,
Regarding A Pending Judicial Appointment?


The Folly Of Political Patronage In Judicial Appointments



Original:
May 10, 2019

Updated:
June 5, 2019
"It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive." - Earl Warren



UPDATE: June 5, 2019

VolusiaExposed.Com has been advised that Governor DeSantis has appointed General Magistrate, Tesha Ballou to the 18th Circuit bench.

Judge Ballou will replace retiring Judge Tonya Rainwater.

You are encouraged to read our earlier article (see below) on how the Judicial Nominating Commission selected the judicial nominees - that were forwarded to Governor DeSantis' - for his consideration in his final appointment of Judge Ballou.

END OF UPDATE


As was reported within our April 24, 2019 article, this publication attended, and video recorded, the interviews of eleven (11) judicial candidates in front of the 18th Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC). (see bottom of article for interview videos & judicial applications)

This pending judicial appointment is to fill the seat opened by the pending retirement of Circuit Court Judge Tonya Rainwater. Initially, the JNC ONLY forwarded Governor DeSantis the names of four (4) nominees for his consideration in this judicial appointment.
Click Here To Read Governor DeSantis' News Release Regarding Judge Ballou's Appointment



18th Judicial Nominating Commission Alan Landman's
Email To Governor DeSantis' Office
Regarding Judge Michelle Naberhaus' Qualifications.

Click On Image
To Download A FULL SIZE PDF Copy

Per an April 29, 2019 email, that this publication received from JNC Chairman, Alan Landman - Governor DeSantis requested that two (2) additional judicial nominees be added to the list, for his consideration in this judicial appointment.

JNC Chair Landman complied with Governor DeSantis' request, by reconvening the 18th JNC, and by forwarding the names of two (2) additional judicial nominees (Bookhardt & Ballou).

Our CONCERN: Probable Violation Of JNC Procedural Rules.
Was JNC Chairman, Alan Landman's Email Comments To The Governor's Office An Inappropriate Endorsement Of County Judge Michelle Naberhaus' Possible Appointment
To The Circuit Court Bench?


As was published, in our April 30, 2019 article, this publication voiced it's OPINION that the addition of two judicial nominees may have been in violation of the "ranking" prohibition within JNC procedural rules (see April 30, 2019 article for particulars)

Additional Concerns Surface


After several days of deliberations, the editorial staff of this publication reached the OPINION that an April 24th, 2019 email from JNC Chairman Landman to this publication * may have been an inappropriate endorsement of County Judge Naberhaus, for the pending gubernatorial appointment to the circuit court bench.

*Email was carbon copied to Governor DeSantis and his administrative staff.


This publication in no way infers that Chairman Landman did this with purposeful intent. However, in his passion to defend Judge Naberhaus, regarding our concerns, as posted within our April 24, 2019 article (our concerns are also highlighted below), it is the OPINION of this publication, that Chairman Landman's email comments equated to a de facto endorsement of a particular judicial candidate, outside the perimeters of JNC procedural rules.

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Other VolusiaExposed.Com Articles Of Similar Interest

September 18, 2017
Is The Judicial Qualifications Commission Process Too Secretive?


November 8, 2017
JQC - Hiding Judicial Misconduct From The Public

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Our OPINION Regarding The "Honorable" Michelle Naberhaus


As per our October 8, 2018 article, this publication is of the OPINION that the "Honorable" Judge Michelle Naberhaus, was less than "honorable" regarding her participation in an August 2018 political rally.

We suspect that her participation in this political rally was in violation of Florida Judicial Canons. Feel free to review our earlier article for the particulars on this subject, and then decide for yourself, whether Judge Naberhaus is "honorable" enough to sit on the bench within the 18th Judical Circuit?

Our Viewpoint
The Folly Of Political Patronage In Judicial Appointments


It is folly to believe that ANY of Florida's twenty-eight (28) judicial nominating commissions have the best interests of most Floridians in mind, as they select judicial nominees.

In reality, political patronage appears to be the driving force behind the selection of judicial nominees, and in the end, judicial appointments.

Judge Naberhaus was appointed to the Brevard County bench in May 2016, by then Governor Rick Scott.
Judge Naberhaus Attending An
August 2018 Political Rally


Naberhaus' Attendance At This Political Rally Appears To Be In Violation Of Florida Judicial Canons

Was she the best qualified for the job? Well, according to her own judicial application (see page 4 of application she carried a C+ G.P.A in law school. Was that the best, that the local JNC, and then Governor Rick Scott could provide Brevard County at the time, a C+ judge?

Now, this C+ County Court judge, after engaging in what certainly appears to be violations of Judicial Canons, seeks an appointment up to the Circuit Court bench. Sadly, but with no surprise, the 18th JNC has given their blessing for her appointment.

We (VolusiaExposed.Com) suspect that Judge Naberhaus will gain Governor DeSantis' appointment from County Court to Circuit Court. Why, well because it provides the governor with two opportunities to afford political patronage - one in the appointment of Naberhaus to the circuit bench, and another in appointment of someone to replace her on the county court bench.

Upon her predicted appointment, Judge Naberhaus should blend in well within the 18th Judicial Circuit. The 18th Judicial Circuit is well known for it's allegations of judicial corruption - as was detailed within a November 22, 2014 Orlando Sentinel article.

ORLANDO SENTINEL - 11/22/2014
"The 18th Judicial Circuit is small. It's made up of Seminole and Brevard counties and has just 43 judges, about 4 percent of the state's total, yet there's one area where it leads the state: Judges formally charged with ethics violations"
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ANOTHER RELATED ARTICLE ON TOPIC

VOLUSIAEXPOSED.COM
JANUARY 8, 2019

POLITICAL PATRONAGE TRUMPS JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Governor Rick Scott Appoints His Deputy Chief Counsel To The 5th District Court Of Appeal


The staff at VolusiaExposed.Com wishes the nominees the best of luck in the "selection process". We will notify our readers of Governor DeSantis' choice, when that information becomes available. If you are so inclined, email the governor's office, and his support staff with your suggestions and input regarding the nominees. Until then, stand by to stand by ..... there is surely more to come of this.....

VIDEOS OF THE JNC NOMINEES INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BELOW.


Hon. Michelle Naberhaus


Naberhaus' Judicial Application
Suzanne Taylor


Taylor's Judicial Application
Marielena Tynan


Tynan's Judicial Application


Sam Bookhardt


Bookhardt's Judicial Application
Kathryn Speicher


Speicher's Judicial Application
Tesha Ballou


Ballou's Judicial Application


VIDEOS OF THE OTHER JNC APPLICANTS WHO WERE INTERVIEWED, BUT WERE NOT
SELECTED AS JUDICIAL NOMINEES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BELOW.
Eric Woodward


Woodward's Judicial Application
Michael W. Dwyer


Dwyer's Judicial Application
Stephen Henderson


Henderson's Judicial Application


Patrick Lepore


Lepore's Judicial Application
Kimberly Rezanka


Rezanka's Judicial Application



We look forward to your comments on this situation.
Drop us a line to let us know what you think.

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