A second county judge is coming to Columbia County.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 11 bills Thursday, including HB 5401 which adds nine county and circuit judges across the state. One of the new judicial seats created by the bill is for an additional county judge in Columbia County.
Sara Carter is currently the county’s lone county judge.
Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) filed an amendment to the bill in early March that added the local position. He said then the position was “long overdue.”
The other new judgeships are for a county judge in Santa Rosa County, three in Orange County, two in Hillsborough County and circuit judges in the 1st Judicial Circuit and 20th Judicial Circuit.
The new positions will be created July 1 and initially filled by a gubernatorial appointment. The appointees would then fill the role until the position comes up for election.