Johnathan Lott to fill circuit judicial opening in Fort Lauderdale
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Johnathan Lott to serve as a judge on the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County.
DeSantis appointed him on Nov. 25 and the announcement was Wednesday.
Lott, of Fort Lauderdale, has served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida since 2020.
Previously, he was an associate attorney at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.
He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 2011 and his juris doctor from the University of Chicago in 2014.
Lott fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Murphy III on Aug. 1 after 20 years on the bench.
He will begin his service on Jan. 1.
Lott will take over Judge Francis Viamontes' division in family court and Viamontes will move to a felony criminal division.
"I am honored to have been appointed by the Governor to the Seventeenth Circuit Court," Judge Lott said. "I have spent most of my career in public service, and look forward to this new and exciting opportunity to serve the people of Broward County."
Four courthouses comprise the 17th circuit in Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach, Plantation and Hollywood.
