Richard Orfinger, longest tenured judge with 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach, among 6 who qualified Friday for the 2020 Elections

Headline Surfer photo illustration / 5th DCA Judge Richard B. Orfinger is shown above.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Richard B. Orfinger, the longest-tenured judge on the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach, is among six jurists who qualified Friday to appear on the ballot for the 2020 Elections. 

Orfinger has been on the appeals court since 2000 and served as the chief judge fronm 2013 to 2015.

Prior to his ongoing tenure  with the 5th DCA, Orfinger was a  judge with the 7th Judicvial Circuit in Daytona and its chief judge during the latter three years.

Besides Orfinger, five others who qualified were Chief Judge Kerry I. Evander, and Judge Jamie Grosshans, Judge John M.Harris, Judge Meredith Sasso, and Judge F. Rand Wallis.

Court News & General Info

Due to ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 5th District Court of Appeal has canceled all oral argument sessions scheduled through the end of April. 

Additionally, the Law Day oral argument sessions scheduled for May 7, at the Citrus County Courthouse and May 21, at the Marion County Courthouse, will be relocated to the 5th DCA's courthouse here in Daytona Beach. 

As to those cases in which a scheduled oral argument is canceled, the panel assigned to hear that case will determine whether to reschedule the oral argument or to decide the case without oral argument.  

Did You Know?

The 5th District Court of Appeal was created by the 1979 session of the Florida Legislature. At that time the Florida Supreme Court had recommended to the Legislature "the creation of a fifth appellate district" that would encompass the 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th and 18th Judicial Circuits. Ground for a new courthouse was broken on July 24, 1981. The new courthouse was constructed for $5.3 million and the court left its first home the Army Reserve building and moved into its new quarters on Oct,19, 1982. The building is located at 300 South Beach Street, Daytona Beach, Florida. It was significantly enlarged in 2000-2001.

There was a political dispute in the Legislature as to whether to locate the new court headquarters in Orlando or Daytona Beach, but Volusia County's Legislative delegation won the fight. This was due to the strong influence of Democratic House Speaker Hyatt Brown, State Sen. Edgar Dunn and Majority Leader Sam Bell.

Brown, the billionaire insurance mogul and chairman of Brown and Brown Insurance, is among the three Daytona Influential Ibsiders, so designated by Headline Surfer. The other two, also billionaires, are Lesa France Kennedy, a principal owner of NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway, and Mori Hosseini, owner of ICI Homes. Brown and Hosseini serve on the Speedway's board of trustees with France-Kennedy. The three are major campaign contributors to select candidates for public office in Daytona, Volusia County, as well as state and federal offices from greater Daytona.