Palm Beach County residents will vote in a runoff election to fill a rare open seat on the Palm Beach County Court bench during the November general election. The vacancy in the Group 2 seat is due to the retirement of County Court Judge Ted Booras, who was appointed to the bench in 2006.
The nonpartisan election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5 with two attorneys still seeking the position — Lourdes Casanova and Jean Marie Middleton. They were the top two vote-getters in the August primary, which also included attorney Douglas Leifert, who came in third and was eliminated. Casanova topped the initial balloting with 37.92 percent, while Middleton took 33.86 percent.
Casanova worked as a prosecutor and is now in private practice. Middleton is currently employed by the School District of Palm Beach County.
Lourdes Casanova — Casanova attended Palm Beach County public schools and was the valedictorian at Royal Palm Beach High School in 2005. She graduated from the University of Florida and later earned her law degree there.
“I have dedicated my career to serving our community,” she said. “As a former prosecutor, I sought justice for Palm Beach County while appearing in court daily and conducting jury trials. In private practice, I help clients navigate various areas of law within the county court system, including criminal, civil small claims, fish and wildlife, and traffic tickets. My community involvement includes Special Olympics, Latinos in Action and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Last year, I served as president of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association.”
Casanova noted that she is the daughter of immigrants who “came to America seeking freedom.”
“I have a profound appreciation for our constitutional principles of due process, separation of powers and access to courts,” she said. “My parents instilled in me a deep sense of duty to preserve our liberty, inspiring me to uphold the principles of integrity, fairness and justice in our legal system.”
Casanova said that she is the best person to serve on the county court bench because she is the candidate with the most courtroom and trial experience.
“Throughout my career, my focus and passion has been the county court,” she said. “During my time as an assistant state attorney for the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, I managed a caseload of 300 to 400 cases… My county court experience in various areas of law, in government and private practice, and in working both sides of the courtroom, makes me the candidate with the most well-rounded and relevant experience.”
She added that she is the only candidate who has run a small business. “My role as a small-business owner for nearly a decade has showcased my ability to make tough decisions, multi-task and successfully address new issues and circumstances while serving the people of Palm Beach County,” Casanova said.
A key issue in this race is ensuring fairness and objectivity, she said. “As judge, I will seek equal treatment under the law, ensuring our courts remain free from prejudice of any kind,” Casanova explained.
She also vowed to run an efficient and accessible courtroom.
“As a former prosecutor who has managed high-volume caseloads and a small-business owner who wears many hats, I will bring my experience as a multi-tasker and decisionmaker to the courtroom to ensure our judicial system continues to serve the people in the most efficient and effective way,” Casanova said.
She added that working weekly in the county court system, Casanova sees firsthand the need for greater public understanding of the judicial system.
“Many individuals, often representing themselves, are unaware of how the system works,” she said. “As judge, I will instill confidence and understanding in the judicial process by upholding the rule of law, ensuring courts are accessible, conducting fair and transparent procedures, and managing my caseload efficiently. Temperament and approachability are also crucial in demystifying the court process for everyone.”
Should she be elected, Casanova looks forward to serving the people of Palm Beach County while also mentoring young attorneys.
“The county court involves everyday matters that have a direct impact on our local residents. As a people person, I enjoy interacting with the public and place importance on the issues that affect our residents daily,” she said. “Many of the lawyers practicing in our county court system are recent law school graduates and are new to the legal profession. I am committed to making a positive impact on the legal profession and our community by mentoring young attorneys at the beginning of their journey in a rewarding career.”
Casanova noted that Hispanics represent the fastest-growing population in Palm Beach County. “It is crucial for our elected leaders to reflect the communities they serve,” she said. “I would be the first Hispanic woman elected by the voters to serve as a judge in Palm Beach County.”
She added that her campaign has received a number of key endorsements from county organizations and from more than 300 legal and community leaders.
“I am the most prepared candidate to lead a courtroom, bringing a diverse range of experiences essential for a county court judge,” Casanova said. “I am the only candidate who has simultaneously practiced law, served as president of a nonprofit/professional organization and run a small business. As a former prosecutor and now an attorney in private practice, I have both public and private sector legal experience.”
Visit www.casanovaforjudge.com to learn more about Casanova’s campaign.
Jean Marie Middleton — Middleton earned her bachelor’s degree and law degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She has 38 years of practice in both the public and private sectors.
“I have been married to Ellis Middleton for 19 years. We have one daughter and four grandchildren,” Middleton said. “I have been committed to serving Palm Beach County citizens both professionally and personally through my community service of 24 years as a voluntary Youth Court judge serving in a quasi-judicial capacity handling criminal misdemeanor matters committed by first-time juvenile offenders. I am the current president-elect of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and for the past 22 years, I have served as registration coordinator for His Daily Bread Food Bank. On the professional side, I have been a Florida Supreme Court certified circuit civil mediator since 2009.”
Middleton added that she has worked for two Fortune 500 corporations, three municipalities, two large school districts, the Legal Aid Society and in private practice. “My depth and breadth of experience is extensive,” she said.
Middleton believes that this diverse experience makes her the best person to serve on the county court bench.
“I have 38 years of complex trial experience in the areas of employment and labor, contracts, land use, bankruptcy, landlord tenant/wage claims, criminal, intellectual property and family law,” she said. “As such, I have a thorough understanding of statutory law, case law and legal principles.”
The work that she has done makes her a strong judicial candidate, she said.
“In cases where a jury is not involved, judges review evidence, listen to legal arguments, and make factual and legal determinations based on the presented information,” Middleton said. “I have successfully drafted motions and proposed orders in favor of my client in complex civil cases that have been adopted by state court judges and upheld by the appellate courts in the 3rd and 4th District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Florida.”
She has tried cases at all levels of the courts in Florida and the federal level.
“I have tried cases before administrative law judges and arbitrators in the various areas of the law,” Middleton said. “Recently, the 4th District Court of Appeal upheld the jury instructions I proposed in an employment retaliation case where there were no pattern jury instructions, making law on this issue. Knowing how to apply the appropriate jury instructions is integral to the qualifications of a judge.”
Middleton added that she has been short-listed four times and recommended to the governor for appointment to both the circuit court and county court bench.
“My management skills, supervising a staff of attorneys and paraprofessionals as an assistant general counsel for the Palm Beach County School District, and other leadership roles in the community, will serve me well in efficiently managing a court docket,” she noted.
Middleton said that voters should look for someone with well-rounded trial and legal experience, integrity, ethics, empathy and a well-balanced temperament, with a commitment to fairness, community service and public engagement — qualities that she believes she has.
The ideal county court judge should have the ability to make rulings and issue judgments that fairly and impartially apply the facts of each case to the established law, she said, while additionally making sure that all individuals have access to the court system, regardless of their economic status, background or personal circumstances. In the courtroom, Middleton said that she would maintain respect, professionalism and treat all litigants with dignity.
Being a county court judge would be “utilizing my 38 years of legal knowledge and experience to provide a service to the Palm Beach County community where I can have a tangible impact on the lives of my neighbors and contribute to the community’s well-being,” she explained.
Middleton said that her qualifications make her the best candidate in the race.
“I am the most qualified candidate with 38 years of diverse trial, legal and life experiences,” she said. “I have a strong track record of impartiality, having served as a volunteer Youth Court judge for more than 24 years and having served as a supreme court certified circuit civil mediator since 2009, and integrity, as chair of the Florida Bar Professionalism Committee and vice chair of the 15th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, which helps ensure that the legal process is fair for everyone. A vote for me will help shape the quality and nature of justice in our community in a manner that is fair and equitable for all who appear before me.”
Visit www.jeanmarieforjudge.com to learn more about Middleton’s campaign.
