Here are the 7 people vying for Bradenton area judge’s seat on 12th Judicial Circuit
Seven candidates — local attorneys and judges — are vying to fill the upcoming vacancy on the 12th Judicial Circuit when Circuit Judge Debra Johnes Riva retires this summer.
After 15 years on the bench, Riva notified Gov. Ron DeSantis in Feb. 1-dated letter that she will be retiring at the end of the day July 1, resigning her seat on the bench before the end of her term.
DeSantis will have to appoint someone to complete that term which runs through January 2025 — a common practice in Bradenton that doesn’t allow for residents to elect their judges.
The 12th Judicial Circuit includes Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties.
On Thursday, the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission will interview the seven applicants who have applied to fill the upcoming vacancy. Those interviews will be held in the 6th floor conference room of the Sarasota Criminal Justice Center, 2071 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota.
Interviews are open to the public. The schedule of applicant interviews is as follows:
- 9 to 9:45 a.m. Kaylin Humerickhouse, Assistant State Attorney in 12th Judicial Circuit
- 10 to 10:45 a.m. David Ryan Felix, Assistant State Attorney in 12th Judicial Circuit
- 11 to 11:45 a.m. Danielle L. Brewer, DeSoto County Court judge
- 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. Adria M. Jensen, certified mediator and law partner at Shumaker Loop and Kendrick
- 1:10 to 1:40 p.m. Dana M. Moss, Sarasota County Court judge
- 1:50 to 2:20 p.m. Kristy Guy Zinna, private practice attorney
- 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. Andrea M. Johnson, private practice attorney
The commission will later deliberate between 3 and 4 p.m.
Anyone with questions or comments can contact Bonnie Lee A. Polk, the chair of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission at 941-552-5548 or bpolk@williamsparker.com.
