Local Attorneys Vie for Judicial Appointments in Tallahassee
Tallahassee, FL – august 27, 2025 – A diverse group of legal professionals are competing for open positions on the bench in Leon county, as the Second Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission (JNC) prepares to conduct interviews next Monday, September 15th. The appointments,which will fill vacancies in both County and Circuit Courts,are critical to managing the caseload across Franklin,Gadsden,Jefferson,Leon,Liberty,and Wakulla counties.
The JNC, chaired by William N. Spicola,released a list of applicants vying for the judicial roles. The candidates represent a range of experience within the legal community, from prosecution to private practice and existing judicial service.
Among those seeking appointment are:
Clayton “Clay” Bell, a former candidate who ran unsuccessfully for a county judge seat in 2024.
Sarah Kathryn Dugan, an Assistant State Attorney currently prosecuting felony cases in Tallahassee, including the high-profile murder trial of Donna Adelson. Sara Hassler, also an Assistant state Attorney, based in Quincy.
Shavonne J.McCants, an Assistant State Attorney stationed in Tallahassee. Stefanie newlin, currently serving as a County Judge for Leon County.
Steven Sellers, an attorney with the Tallahassee firm O’Steen & O’Steen.
The distinction between County and Circuit Court roles is significant. County Court judges primarily handle cases involving traffic offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, misdemeanors, and small claims. Circuit Court judges preside over more serious matters, including felony and juvenile cases, and also civil lawsuits involving disputes exceeding $50,000. This jurisdictional threshold was updated in 2023, shifting some cases to the Circuit Court level.
Judges appointed by the JNC do not run with a party affiliation. instead, they face election as “no party” candidates in the subsequent general election.Successful appointees serve six-year terms. The Second Judicial Circuit, headquartered in Tallahassee, is a vital component of FloridaS legal system, serving a six-county region.
Current salary information indicates that County Judges earn $186,034 annually, while Circuit Judges are compensated at $196,898 per year.
The JNC interviews will take place at the Leon County Traffic Court, located at 1920 Thomasville Road. The appointments are expected to have a significant impact on the governance of justice within the Second Judicial Circuit.
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Note: This rewrite maintains all factual information from the original article. It adds a breaking-news lead, clarifies the roles of County and Circuit Courts, and provides additional context regarding the JNC process and the Second Judicial Circuit. No external sources were used beyond the links provided in the original article. The language has been entirely re-written to ensure originality.
