It may not happen in 2026, but in the future Florida voters will likely see more people running for district court seats.
Last month, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a plan to add 25 new trial court judges to the state. Thirteen cases will be added at the circuit court level and 12 cases will be added at the county court level.
“Depending on the schedule, it will probably be appointed by the governor and then at the end of the six-year term, judicial districts and counties will be decided by voters,” said Lindsey Bullock, an election lawyer and analyst.
The state court said the move to increase the number of judges was to weight cases and to address parts of the state experiencing population growth.
The state court said the number of cases filed with the court has also increased, resulting in an increased demand for additional legal work to accommodate the additional court time required. Furthermore, the expansion of problem-solving courts requires further judicial engagement with participants and increases the complexity of claims, particularly in the civil and family sectors.
Additional judges may be added in some locations.
Walton County in northwest Florida. Highland and Lee counties along southwest Florida, and Hillsborough on the west coast.
Population growth in Central Florida could lead to the addition of more judges in Orange County, as well as in Duval County in North Florida.
“The court is mindful of the state’s current fiscal situation and anticipated budget shortfalls in the upcoming fiscal year and recognizes that the creation of new judges will have operational and potential financial implications for partners in the justice system, including circuit court clerks, state attorneys, and public defenders,” the state court said.
Lindsey Bullock said many of the new positions will be based on funding from the state Legislature.
“It’s also a question of efficiency,” Block says. “State courts have recognized that increasing the number of judges in the state will allow cases to move through the system more quickly.”
