Manatee County Judge Sniffen appointed to fill vacancy

Manatee County Judge Charles Sniffen has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to fill the vacancy to created by the resignation of Circuit Judge Janette Dunnigan.

The governor’s office revealed Sniffen’s appointment in a news release Friday evening.

Sniffen, who presides over one of the Manatee County court’s civil and criminal divisions, has served on the bench since March 2013.

In April, Dunnigan announced in a letter to Scott’s office that she intended to retire at the end of August, thereby resigning from office before the end of her term. She currently presides over one of the judicial circuit’s family court divisions in Manatee County.

Sniffen, 44, of Parrish, received his bachelor’s degree at Emory University in 1994 and received his law degree at Florida State University. Before becoming a county judge, he worked in private practice and at the State Attorney’s Office for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.

This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 7:18 PM with the headline "Manatee County Judge Sniffen appointed to fill vacancy."