Four finalists recommended to Gov. Rick Scott to replace former Judge John Lakin

BRADENTON -- Four applicants have been recommended to Gov. Rick Scott to be considered to fill a vacancy on the 12th Judicial Circuit Court bench.

The 12th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission announced Thursday the four applicants it recommended to Scott to fill the judge vacancy in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court created by the sudden retirement of Senior Circuit Court Judge John Lakin in early March.

Lakin stepped down amid an investigation into his taking baseball tickets from a law firm that had a case pending before him.

The recommendations:

Don T. Hall, DeSoto County court judge since 1995.

Renee L. Inman, a Manatee County family law magistrate since 2010.

Fred E. Moore, partner at the law firm Blalock Walters in Bradenton.

Anthony G. Ryan, private practice attorney in Sarasota.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 11:24 PM with the headline "Four finalists recommended to Gov. Rick Scott to replace former Judge John Lakin ."