Four new judges are stepping into roles across Florida following appointments announced today by Governor Ron DeSantis. The decisions fill vacancies on both circuit and county courts, pulling legal professionals from private practice, state attorney offices, and county government.
Moving into the top-tier trial court level, Cary A. “Bo” Hardee III has been named to the Third Judicial Circuit Court. Based in Madison, Hardee has run his own practice, the Hardee Law Firm, since 2011. Before launching his firm, he was a partner at Caminez and Hardee, P.A. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and earned his law degree from Stetson University. Hardee takes over the bench left empty by the retirement of Judge Johnson.
The Fifth Judicial Circuit Court is adding Brian Toti of The Villages to its roster. Toti has been working as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit since 2023, following a prior stint in the same role for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. A Rutgers University alumnus, he obtained his law degree from Barry University. Toti’s seat is a newly created position established by the state legislature through Senate Bill 2508.
That same piece of legislation, Senate Bill 2508, also created a new opening on the Sumter County Court, which will be filled by Shelby Senn of Wildwood. Senn brings a long history with the local prosecutor’s office, having served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit since 2017.
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She originally got her start there as a Certified Legal Intern. Senn graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a law degree from Barry University.
Further west in the Florida Panhandle, Alicia Carothers of Panama City has been appointed to the Bay County Court. Carothers transitioned to county government in 2024, serving as a Deputy County Attorney for Bay County. Before that role, she worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. She is a graduate of the University of West Florida and earned her law degree from Faulkner University. Carothers takes over the seat vacated by the resignation of Judge Vann.
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