Judge John M. Harris Appointed to Fifth District Court of Appeal By Florida Gov. Rick Scott

By  //  July 27, 2018

HARRIS IS currently Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced on Friday the appointment of Judge John M. Harris to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Judge Harris, 51, of Mims, is currently Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit and previously served as county judge for Brevard County Court.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Judge John M. Harris was appointed on Friday to the Fifth District Court of Appeal by Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Judge Harris, 51, of Mims, is currently Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit and previously served as county judge for Brevard County Court. He was appointed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in 2006 to replace Judge Kerry Evander.

The 18th Judicial Circuit covers both Brevard and Seminole Counties.

As Chief Judge, Harris’ responsibilities included carrying out the orders of the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court; administration and supervision of the courts, judges, and officers of the courts within the judicial circuit; developing and implementing plans for the efficient operation of the courts that provide prompt disposition of cases, assignment of judges and staff, control of dockets, regulation and use of courtrooms, and review of the status of inmates in local jails.

Harris was appointed to the Brevard County Court in March of 2002 and served there until his elevation to the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in 2006.

The Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Daytona Beach and was created by the 1979 session of the Florida Legislature. Judge Harris fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Thomas D. Sawaya.

The Fifth District handles cases from Orange and Osceola counties (Ninth Circuit); Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties (Seventh Circuit); Lake, Marion, Sumter, Citrus and Hernando counties (Fifth Circuit); and Brevard and Seminole counties (18th Circuit).

Judge Harris received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma University and his law degree from Florida State University College of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1991.

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