Circuit judges in Leon and other Big Bend counties start new assignments July 1

Jim Rosica, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
Leon County Courthouse
Leon County Courthouse

The judges of the Big Bend’s 2nd Judicial Circuit – which covers Jefferson, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties – begin their new work assignments on Monday.

The latest assignments were in a recent administrative order signed by Chief Judge Frank Allman.

Judicial assignments generally last two years. Among other things, circuit judges handle felony and juvenile cases and civil lawsuits worth $50,000 or more.

Leon County's civil division in particular frequently handles cases of statewide importance: Because it's headquartered in the capital, its judges are often the first to hear policy-related lawsuits involving the governor and state government.

Chief Judge Frank Allman, as seen in this 2018 file photo, at the Leon County Courthouse.
Chief Judge Frank Allman, as seen in this 2018 file photo, at the Leon County Courthouse.

The new assignments for Leon County include:

Criminal Division

  • Division A: Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper.

  • Division B: Circuit Judge Lance E. Neff.

  • Division C: Circuit Judge Stephen S. Everett.

  • Division D: Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh.

Everett is administrative judge for the division.

Civil Division

  • Division S: Circuit Judge Angela C. Dempsey.

  • Division U: Circuit Judge John C. Cooper.

  • Division V: Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom.

Dempsey is administrative judge for the division.

Family Division

  • Division G (Dependency Court): Circuit Judge Barbara K. Hobbs. (Dependency cases involve "allegations of abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child." Under state law, Hobbs also serves as a voting member of the Children’s Services Council of Leon County.)

  • Division H (Delinquency Court): Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes. (Delinquency cases are "illegal acts" committed by those under 18 but not prosecuted as adults.)

  • Division I (Family Court): Circuit Judge Robert R. Wheeler.

  • Division J (Family Court): Circuit Judge Anthony Miller.

  • Division K (Family Court): Hawkes.

Wheeler is administrative judge for the division.

Probate Division

  • Circuit Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson.

What are the other judicial assignments in the circuit?

The new assignments for the outlying counties include:

  • Franklin County: Allman.

  • Gadsden County: Circuit Judges Ronald Flury and David Frank.

  • Jefferson County: Caloca-Johnson.

  • Liberty County: Flury and Frank.

  • Wakulla County: Circuit Judge J. Layne Smith.

Circuit judges often are appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the bench. They must then run in the next regular election as no-party-affiliated candidates. Circuit judges serve six-year terms.

News Director Jim Rosica can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Circuit judges in Leon, outlying counties start new assignments July 1