Exclusive: Orange-Osceola Judicial Circuit Chief addresses lack of available judges

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Lisa Munyon says her office was already in need of four judges before Judge Andrew Bain was picked to replace suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell last week.

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That decision left another opening within the Ninth Judicial Circuit for Munyon to fill.

“I’m just trying to plug holes,” Munyon said. “And we’re doing it the best we can.”

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Munyon says when Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Orange County Civil Judge Andrew Bain last week, it left the Ninth Judicial Circuit five judges short.

Four judges had already stepped off the bench between May and mid-July.

Former Chief Judge Belvin Perry says it’s the most understaffed he’s seen the circuit.

“Our judges are overworked and understaffed,” Perry said. “You have people who want their cases heard, want their cases heard quickly, but that’s not going to happen, so it has a domino effect on the administration of justice in this area.”

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Munyon says she’s been forced to reorganize judges to ensure cases aren’t delayed.

“We might be in court a little longer every day than otherwise we would have been,” Munyon said.

This past weekend, Munyon says she closed the County Civil Division Bain once oversaw, and dispersed those cases to other divisions. Two criminal divisions are without judges altogether.

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Meanwhile, some senior judges have stepped up to take on longer-term assignments on the bench while others are taking on more divisions, including Chief Judge Munyon herself.

The Judicial Nominating Commission is working to fill four of the five vacancies by the end of the month. Once they have nominees, the Governor would have to approve them.

Video: Newly appointed State Attorney Andrew Bain talks relationship with DeSantis, job priorities The man picked to replace State Attorney Monique Worrell sat down for his first interview with Channel 9 on Friday. (WFTV)

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