Circuit judges in Leon and other Big Bend counties start new assignments July 1

The judges of the Big Bend’s 2nd Judicial Circuit – which covers Jefferson, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties – begin their new work assignments on Monday.

The latest assignments were in a recent administrative order signed by Chief Judge Frank Allman.

Judicial assignments generally last two years. Among other things, circuit judges handle felony and juvenile cases and civil lawsuits worth $50,000 or more.

Leon County's civil division in particular frequently handles cases of statewide importance: Because it's headquartered in the capital, its judges are often the first to hear policy-related lawsuits involving the governor and state government.

The new assignments for Leon County include:

Criminal Division

• Division A: Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper.
• Division B: Circuit Judge Lance E. Neff.
• Division C: Circuit Judge Stephen S. Everett.
• Division D: Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh.

Everett is administrative judge for the division.

Civil Division

• Division S: Circuit Judge Angela C. Dempsey.
• Division U: Circuit Judge John C. Cooper.
• Division V: Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom.

Dempsey is administrative judge for the division.

Family Division

• Division G (Dependency Court): Circuit Judge Barbara K. Hobbs. (Dependency cases involve "allegations of abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child." Under state law, Hobbs also serves as a voting member of the Children’s Services Council of Leon County.)
• Division H (Delinquency Court): Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes. (Delinquency cases are "illegal acts" committed by those under 18 but not prosecuted as adults.)
• Division I (Family Court): Circuit Judge Robert R. Wheeler.
• Division J (Family Court): Circuit Judge Anthony Miller.
• Division K (Family Court): Hawkes.

Wheeler is administrative judge for the division.

Probate Division

• Circuit Judge Dawn Caloca-Johnson.

What are the other judicial assignments in the circuit?

The new assignments for the outlying counties include:

• Franklin County: Allman.
• Gadsden County: Circuit Judges Ronald Flury and David Frank.
• Jefferson County: Caloca-Johnson.
• Liberty County: Flury and Frank.
• Wakulla County: Circuit Judge J. Layne Smith.

Circuit judges often are appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the bench. They must then run in the next regular election as no-party-affiliated candidates. Circuit judges serve six-year terms.

News Director Jim Rosica can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.