2020 Ballots – Get to know your Judges
A lot of the time, voters skip over this section on their ballot because they do not know enough about the Judges. Because these races are non-partisian (as all judges should be) there is no easy way to decide if you support them. We even found a wide range of debate over these judges within our own group of Democrats!
So, we have put together a list of judges running in Pinellas County along with a few things to note about each one. Please read through and make up your own mind. Remember, this is a job interview and these positions have consequences!
Carlos Muniz
Supreme Court Judge
- Appointed in 2019 by Governor Ron DeSantis.
- Federalist Society* member
(* The Federalist Society is an organization of conservatives and libertarians that advocate for a textualist and originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.) - Voted AGAINST the Ban Assault Weapons NOW initiative.
- Voted with majority to argue felons who have served their sentences must pay all fines and fees before being allowed to vote
- Read full Bio
Drew Atkinson
Second Court of Appeals
- Appointed by Governor Rick Scott.
- Federalist Society* member
( * The Federalist Society is an organization of conservatives and libertarians that advocate for a textualist and originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.) - Read full bio
Morris Silberman
Second Court of Appeals
- Appointed 2001 by Governor Jeb Bush.
- High level of civic engagement
- Noted as “highly respected” by the Daily Kos
- Read full Bio
Daniel Sleet
Second Court of Appeals
- Appointed 2012 by Governor Rick Scott
- Ruled in the past require parental consent for minors seeking abortion
- Voted in favor of case bolstering stand-your-ground laws which was later found unconstitutional.
- Read full bio
Andrea Teves Smith
Second Court of Appeals
- Appointed 2019 by Governor Rick Scott
- Due to her recent appointment, there is no additional information about her record.
- Read full bio
