Familiar names on list of picks for state's judicial nominating boards

It’s no surprise Gov. Ron DeSantis’ latest list of appointments boasts a healthy number of picks from the political in-crowd. DeSantis’ office on Friday announced 38 people to serve on the state’s judicial nominating commissions, or JNCs, the panels that recommend lawyers for judgeships. To those who follow the Florida scene, it was a game of “recognize the names.”

For instance, three appointees are with the new Lawson Huck Gonzalez law firm. Formed earlier this year by former state Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, the firm quickly became a go-to for the DeSantis administration. Amber Nunnally was picked for the JNC for the First District Court of Appeal (DCA), Paul Huck Jr. for the Third DCA, and Ray Treadwell, the firm’s newest member and formerly DeSantis’ chief deputy general counsel, for the Second Judicial Circuit.

Also, Charbel Barakat was picked for the Florida Supreme Court JNC. DeSantis previously had appointed Barakat – regional general counsel for homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc. – to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the successor to Disney’s Reedy Creek district. Barakat is vice president of the Tampa Bay chapter of The Federalist Society and happens to be a “Jeopardy!” champion.

Michael A. Sasso was appointed to the JNC for the Sixth DCA. He’s the husband of Supreme Court Justice Meredith Sasso and also was a Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board member but stepped down in May after his wife – who had been the Sixth DCA’s chief judge – became a justice. And Florida Department of Management Services Secretary Pedro Allende was tapped for the 11th Judicial Circuit.