Commission seeks former Bradenton judge John Lakin's replacement

MANATEE -- The 12th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission announced this week it will fill a judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Lakin.

The commission is seeking applications for nomination to the court from eligible applicants.

On Feb. 1, the Judicial Qualifications Commission charged Lakin, 55, with misconduct for requesting and taking Tampa Bay Rays baseball tickets from the Kallins, Little & Delgado law firm, while presiding over a case the firm was litigating before him.

Lakin immediately announced his retirement.

Applicants must fulfill Florida constitutional qualifications before assuming the office of circuit court judge.

An applicant must be a member in good standing of the Florida Bar for the preceding five years, a resident of the 12th Judicial Circuit (Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto counties) and a registered voter in the state of Florida.

Application forms for the judgeship may be obtained from commission Chairman William C. Robinson Jr.

Applications can also be downloaded from the Florida Bar's website at floridabar.org.

The original and nine copies of the completed application and attachments must be delivered to Robinson no later than 5 p.m. April 6. Robinson's address is 802 11th St. W., Bradenton FL 34205.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Commission seeks former Bradenton judge John Lakin's replacement ."