10/21/2024
General Election Ballot ~ November 5, 2024 ~ Putnam County, Florida
🔹️Justice of the Supreme Court: Renatha Francis
On August 5, 2022, Gov. DeSantis appointed Renatha Francis to the Florida Supreme Court. Previously, Gov. DeSantis appointed her to the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Palm Beach County. She retained her seat for a 6-year term in 2022. She also served on the Circuit and County Courts in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade from 2017-19 by appointment to each by Gov. Rick Scott.
She was raised in Kingston, Jamaica. She attended the University of the West Indies, majoring in political science and international relations and graduated from law school in Jacksonville, Florida. She is married with two young children whom she takes to birthday parties, playdates, and spoils with her exceptional cooking skills.
Francis says she “views this position as a privilege.” Her passion for the judiciary was evident when she stated, “my commitment to the rule of law, my commitment to the people of this great state are unwavering, and I want people to know that I’m going to do my absolute best for them on each and every case that comes before me.”
https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/News-Media/Court-News/Full-Court-Press-Newsletter-Welcome-Justice-Francis
🔹️Justice of the Supreme Court: Meredith Sasso
On May 23, 2023, Gov. DeSantis appointed Meredith L. Sasso to be the 93rd justice of the Supreme Court of Florida. In August 2016, Sasso joined the Office of the General Counsel to Gov. Rick Scott, serving as Chief Deputy General Counsel. In this role, she represented the Governor in litigation before the Florida Supreme Court, the 1st District Court of Appeal, and state and federal trial courts, among other duties. In January 2019, Gov. Scott appointed her to the 5th District Court of Appeal. Gov. DeSantis recommissioned her to the newly created 6th District Court of Appeal on January 1, 2023, where she was elected by her colleagues to serve as its first Chief Judge.
She is a member of the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network and the Federalist Society.
Justice Sasso was raised in Tallahassee. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 2005 and her law degree from the University of Florida in 2008.
https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/Justices/Justice-Meredith-L.-Sasso
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: Joe Boatwright
Boatwright joined the 5th District Court of Appeal in 2023, following his appointment by Gov. DeSantis. Boatwright received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, in Washington DC, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Boatwright was a member of the Catholic University Law Review and clerked for the American Center for Law and Justice.
He earned an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and an LL.M. in Judicial Studies from Duke Law School. While at Duke, he was the editor in chief of the Judicature Law Journal and a member of the Judicature’s editorial board.
Prior to becoming a trial court judge, Boatwright practiced law for ten years in both the public and private sectors. He served as an assistant state attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit prosecuting both misdemeanor and felony cases and managed the State Attorney’s Office in Putnam County. In addition, he practiced law in the private sector representing individuals as well as local governmental entities. His practice focused primarily on the areas of family, real property, tax, and local government law. Prior to his appointment to the 5th District Court of Appeal, Boatwright served as a county court judge in Putnam County for ten years and as an acting circuit court judge in the 7th Judicial Circuit.
Boatwright was the designated administrative judge in Putnam County. While a trial court judge, he served as an associate judge on the 4th and 5th District Courts of Appeal on multiple occasions.
For over 15 years, he has taught legal courses as an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, Regent University Law School, Liberty University, and St. Johns River State College.
Boatwright is actively involved in his community by serving as a board member for the Arc of Putnam County, Project Lighthouse, Putnam County Habitat for Humanity, Putnam County Police Athletic League, University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, and Ark Youth Ministries. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Palatka, Scribes: American Society of Legal Writers, St Augustine American Inn of Court, and the Federalist Society.
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: Eric Eisnaugle
Eisnaugle was appointed to the court in 2017 by Gov. Rick Scott. He currently serves on the District Court of Appeal Conference Education Committee and previously served on the board of the Orange County Bar Association Foundation.
Before joining the court, Eisnaugle served in the Florida House of Representatives (2008 – 2012) and again from 2014 until his appointment. While in the Florida House, he served as Chairman of the Civil Justice Subcommittee and as Vice Chairman of the Rules and Calendar Committee and served as a member of numerous other committees including the Judiciary Committee and the Judicial Appropriations Subcommittee.
He served as volunteer guardian ad litem representing the best interests of children in Orange County.
Eisnaugle graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2003 with honors as a member of the Order of the Coif. During law school, he served on the board of the Journal of Transnational Law and as a member of Vanderbilt’s National Moot Court Team. He graduated summa cm laude from Florida Southern College (2000) where he majored in Business Administration and Economics.
https://5dca.flcourts.gov/Judges/Judge-Eric-J.-Eisnaugle
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: Harvey Jay
Jay was recommissioned to the 5th District Court of Appeal on January 1, 2023 by Gov. DeSantis. He was appointed to the 1st District Court of Appeal in February of 2016 by Gov. Rick Scott. Jay served as a circuit judge in Duval County, having been appointed to that position in 2011.
Jay was an equity partner at the law firm of Saalfield Shad. As a civil trial lawyer for over twenty years, Jay tried a broad spectrum of cases including actions for medical malpractice, false arrest, maritime negligence, and wrongful death. He represented hospitals, physicians, and nurses in administrative proceedings and received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for legal knowledge and ethics.
Jay was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He received his bachelor’s degree from Stetson University and his law degree from the University of Florida. He is married and has two daughters.
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: Paige Kilbane
Kilbane joined the 5th District Court of Appeal in January 2023, appointed by Gov. DeSantis. Kilbane served as a Palm Beach Circuit Court Judge in the Circuit Civil Division after being appointed by Gov. DeSantis in June 2020. Gov. Rick Scott (November 2018) appointed Kilbane to the Palm Beach County Court and served as Administrative Judge for the County Civil Division and the Civil Traffic Division.
Kilbane received both her undergraduate and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida. Kilbane currently serves on the Florida Supreme Court Civil Jury Instruction Committee and the Florida Bar Constitutional Judiciary Committee. She is also a member of the Federalist Society.
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: John Maclver
MacIver began service on the 5th District Court of Appeal in January of 2023 by Gov. DeSantis. He served as Chairman of the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
MacIver began serving in Florida state government in 2002 as a legislative assistant to Senator Bill Posey. He served as general counsel to The Florida Department of Financial Services where he was the primary legal advisor for Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. He has also served as deputy general counsel for both Gov. Scott and Gov. DeSantis; was the director of Florida’s Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform; and served as Florida’s Chief Administrative Law Judge.
A graduate from Northwestern University School of Law. At Northwestern, MacIver was a note and comment editor for the Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy. He won the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for best Speaker and the William Jennings Bryan Award for championship team at the 2010 Julius H. Miner Moot Court Competition; Served on the 2010-2011 National Moot Court team; and was a board member of the Northwestern student chapter of the Federalist Society.
MacIver was also a member of the Federal Appellate Clinic and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
MacIver received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida (2007). MacIver is a 2014 Graduate of Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy and served as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Florida Department of Lottery and the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud.
He is a member of the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: Jordan Pratt
In April 2023, Jordan Pratt was commissioned as a member of the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal, appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Before joining the court, Pratt worked as senior counsel at First Liberty Institute and served in various roles in state and federal government: as senior counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, deputy general counsel in the U.S. Small Business Administration, and deputy solicitor general in the Florida Office of the Attorney General. As deputy solicitor general, he defended Florida legislation and executive actions at every level of the state and federal court systems, with successful arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the Florida Supreme Court, and Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal.
Pratt graduated as a co-valedictorian of his undergraduate class at the University of Florida; received his J.D., magna cm laude, from the University of Florida College of Law, where he was a law review editor and president of the school’s Federalist Society and Christian Legal Society chapters. He interned for the Hon. Jeffrey S. Sutton on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
Pratt served as a law clerk to the Hon. Harvey E. Schlesinger on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division; clerked for the Hon. Jennifer W. Elrod on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
Pratt held several fellowships, including an Olin–Searle Fellowship at Florida State University’s College of Law, and has published scholarship in the Tennessee Law Review, the Nebraska Law Review, and the Mississippi Law Journal. Pratt is a member of the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies, and held several leadership roles in the organization, including serving as president of Tallahassee Lawyers Chapter from 2016 to 2019.
🔹️5th District Court of Appeal: Adrian G. Soud
Soud was appointed to the 5th District Court of Appeal by Gov. Ron DeSantis on January 1, 2023.
Soud served on the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida from 2009-2022, having been first elected in August 2008. He presided over cases in every division of the 4th Circuit. Soud served as Administrative Judge of the Circuit Felony divisions in Duval County (2020-2022). Previously, Soud presided in civil, family, felony and appellate divisions of the 4th Circuit, in Duval County. From 2015-2016, Judge Soud presided over Division A of the 4th Judicial Circuit in Nassau County, hearing civil cases, probate and guardianship cases, juvenile cases, family law cases and appeals from the Nassau County Court. Soud served as a Mentor Judge in the Judicial Mentor Program, which is designed to guide new judges on matters such as judicial administration, proper professionalism and decorum, compliance with judicial canons, and other practical matters to serve on the bench.
In 2017, Soud was appointed as the State Courts System’s representative on the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, an independent organization overseeing the accreditation of law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Florida.
His general litigation practice included work in the areas of medical malpractice defense, commercial litigation, product liability, maritime law and others. In 2002, he joined his brother in legal practice as a partner in The Soud Law Firm, representing individuals in civil matters in state and federal court.
Soud has provided lectures on such topics as the Bill of Rights and the Constitutional Pillars of Federalism and the separation of powers (as set forth in The Federalist papers). He is a member of The Federalist Society.
Soud has long served in his local Church, including as a Sunday school teacher, trustee and deacon and served as a member of the Discovery Board of The Ronald McDonald House.
Soud was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1996 from the University of Florida and his law degree, cm laude, in 1999 from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a member of the nationally recognized trial team. He and his wife Marcie have two children.
🔷️Putnam County Court Judge
(Vote for One):
Incumbent Putnam County Judge Anne Marie Gennusa is seeking re-election and faces Alex Sharp in the general election. They were the top two finishers in a three-way primary in August, where no candidate got more than 50% of the vote. This is a non-partisan race and is on the ballot for all Putnam County voters.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
2024 Voter’s Guide: Putnam County Court Judge, Group 1 (news4jax.com)
🔹️Anne Marie Gennusa
Occupation: Currently a County Judge-Putnam County, Florida;
Age: 57
Family: I am married to Bob, a retired Sargeant with SJSO, mother/bonus mom to 5, grandmother to 3 cuties with a 4th on the way.
Education: J.D 1994- Temple University School of Law
Master Level Certificates- Villanova University-Government Contracting & Human Resource Mgt. B.S, Paralegal Studies, Mercy College 1990
Political experience: I was appointed to the Putnam County bench in 2023. Currently I preside over criminal misdemeanor cases in county court and as an Acting Circuit Judge presiding over Juvenile Delinquency and Truancy cases.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. Increasing dockets due to population growth- I want to implement other court times, including a lunch court to be able to adapt to the population growth.
2. Compliance with sentencing-I have initiated longer time periods for defendants to pay their court costs and fines that they were sentenced to.
3. Keeping experience on the bench-As I am the only candidate with judicial experience, I would like to retain my seat and continue serving the people of Putnam County.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Since I am the current/incumbent judge, by allowing me to stay on the bench and keep my position will result in savings to the voters in my community. I have already received extensive education and training for my position and can continue to serve without a break in service.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope I am remembered for making a difference in the lives of those individuals that came before me and that I followed the law, not created it and upholding the constitution.
Campaign website: Www.keepjudgegennusa.com
🔹️Alex Sharp
Occupation: I am currently the General Counsel for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and a sworn deputy. Before that, I served as a felony prosecutor, a small business owner, and a police officer for the City of Palatka. I additionally served in the Army Reserves and received an honorable discharge for my service.
Age: 57
Family: I have been married to my beautiful wife for 22 years; we have four sons, three of whom are now adults, and the newest one just turned one year old on August 4th. (we adopted him as a newborn last year)
Education: I have an LL.M. (Masters of Laws) from the University of Miami Law School and my Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville.
Political experience: I have never served in any elected capacity
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
My primary and first role as a judge is to apply the law correctly. However, I also understand the need to inform the people who appear before me about the process. The second is communication, which is critical to me. My life and work experiences will allow me to communicate effectively while still effectively performing my judicial duties. Last, I will never let my emotions influence or dictate my conduct in court.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Growing up in Putnam, working and living here gives me a unique local experience of our community. Additionally, serving honorably in the military and later as a police officer gave me leadership skills, a strong work ethic, and a desire to help others. Later, I started and ran several successful small businesses, including a family-friendly restaurant. Finally, my legal experience as a former prosecutor and General Counsel with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has allowed me to work closely with victims of crime, handle various legal issues, and understand a judge’s role must always be fair and impartial.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Putnam County has been my family’s home for approximately 50 years. I have always strived to make our community a better place to raise children, start a business, or live. I hope people will remember me as a fair, unbiased, and effective judge who served his community well.
Campaign website: www.sharpforjudge.com
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