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12th Judicial Circuit

Lon Arend to become 12th Circuit judge

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Lon S. Arend will be the next judge onĀ the 12thĀ Judicial Circuit bench for DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Gov. Rick Scott‘s office announced the pick Wednesday. Arend, 46, of Palmetto, is the circuit’sĀ Chief Assistant State Attorney, or top deputy prosecutor, having joined that office in 1995. “During his time with the State Attorneyā€™s Office, Arend has served in numerous capacities including Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney, Homicide Division Chief, and Felony Division Chief,” a press release said. Arend gotĀ his undergraduateĀ degree…

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Judge who took Rays tickets from law firm quits bench

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TheĀ Bradenton trial judge who accepted baseball tickets from a law firm representing a woman whose personal injury case he was presiding over has resigned from the bench. Circuit Judge John F. LakinĀ resigned Monday from theĀ 12thĀ Judicial Circuit. It servesĀ DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The news was first reported ThursdayĀ by Law360. Lakin, elected in 2012, was facing a judicial conduct inquiryĀ by the state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), which saidĀ he demonstrated ā€œa present unfitness to serve.ā€ Because he quit, the state dismissed the…

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Judicial conduct panel charges Bradenton judge over Rays baseball tickets

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A Bradenton trial judge was charged Monday with accepting baseball tickets from a law firm representing a woman whose personal injury case he was presiding over. Circuit Judge John F. Lakin was accused of violating the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), which saidĀ he demonstrated “a present unfitness to serve.” The JQCĀ investigates allegationsĀ of judicial misconduct. Lakin called Kallins, Little & Delgado, the plaintiff’s law firm, and asked for tickets for a Tampa Bay Rays and…

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