The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces that the following persons have applied for the three Circuit Court Judge vacancies created by the retirement of Judge Cheryl Caracuzzo, Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen and Judge Gregory Keyser:

• Peter Bassaline
• Courtney Behar
• Karen Black
• Andrew Carrabis
• Michele Clancy
• Natasha Coyle
• Gabriel Ermine
• Sean Fahey
• Crystal Ganpath
• Thomas Hendler
• Lauren Johnson
• Ilana Marcus
• Jean Marie Middleton
• William Minton
• Sarah Sherman
• Stephanie Tew
• Storm Tropea
• Emily Walters
• James Williams

Interviews will be conducted in person on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Library Conference Room, Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401.

The interview schedule will be announced by separate release. All JNC proceedings are open to the public, except for deliberations.

If you have any questions, please contact Gordon Dieterle at (561) 734-5552, or by email at [email protected]

Please click here to view the AO.

Please click here to view the AO. 

Please click here to view the AO. 

Please click here to view the AO. 

Please click here to view the AO. 

Jeff Martz, of Palm Beach, to serve as Judge on the Circuit Court Bench

Congratulations to Jeff Martz, who was appointed to the Circuit Court Bench by Governor Ron DeSantis. Mr. Martz has worked as a trial attorney for Smith Ball Baez & Prather since 2021. Previously, he served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifteenth Circuit. Mr. Martz earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. He fills the judicial vacancy created by the resignation of Judge James Martz. Martz will receive his commission on August 7 and will take the bench presiding over Division S in late August.

Autumn Gurrola, of Palm Beach, to serve as Judge on the Circuit Court Bench 

Congratulations to Autumn Gurrola, who was appointed to the Circuit Court Bench by Governor Ron DeSantis. Ms. Gurrola has served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifteenth Circuit since 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Gurrola fills the judicial vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Caroline Shepherd. Gurrola will receive her commission on August 5 and will take the bench presiding over Division JK in late August.

Please click here to view the AO. 

Please click here to view AO. 

The Fifteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) announces three (3) vacancies for Circuit Court Judge created by the retirement of Judge Cheryl Caracuzzo, Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen, and Judge Gregory Keyser. The JNC has been asked to provide Governor Ron DeSantis with nominees for these vacancies by Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Qualifications of Applicants:

Applicants must be able to fulfill the Constitutional qualifications for circuit court judges described in Article V, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution.

Instructions for Submission:

1) The current Judicial Application form must be used and can be found at https://www.flgov.com/eog/info/judicial/applications. Applicants should ensure they are using the correct and current form.

2) Applications must be in .pdf form and submitted as follows: (i) one original copy of the application, including all attachments, (ii) one redacted copy of the application, including all attachments, excluding all exempt information under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes or other applicable public records law. The two .pdf files should be named in a “last name.first name” format. For example: Jane Smith should submit two files named: (1) Smith.Jane.pdf and (2) Smith.Jane-REDACTED.pdf. Each electronic application, including exhibits, must be a single pdf file. The Commission strongly prefers the submission of applications in a text-searchable (i.e., non-scanned) pdf format.

3) The deadline for submission of the completed application is 12:00 noon on Friday, August 14, 2026. Both the original and redacted electronic applications must be submitted by email to all Commission members at their email addresses below:

• Chair Gordon Dieterle – [email protected]
• Vice Chair Eric Levine – [email protected]
• Steve DeLorenz – [email protected]
• John Farina – [email protected]
• Kelly Hagar – [email protected]
• Barry Postman – [email protected]
• Robert Rosenberg – [email protected]
• William Shepherd – [email protected]

It is anticipated that the interviews will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

All JNC proceedings are open to the public, except for deliberations. Applications are not confidential. If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor.

If you have any questions, please call Mr. Dieterle at (561) 734-5552, or by email at [email protected].