Governor Ron DeSantis Makes Four Judicial Appointments

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announces four judicial appointments to the Fifth District Court of Appeal. These appointments are to fill the four vacancies, created by the enactment of HB 7027, that take effect on January 1, 2023. 

Adrian Soud, of Jacksonville, to serve as Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal

Soud has served as a Judge on the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court since January 2009. Previously, he was a partner at The Soud Law Firm and an associate attorney at Holland & Knight, LLP. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Stetson University. 

John MacIver, of Neptune Beach, to serve as Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal 

MacIver is currently the Chair of the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Previously, he served as the General Counsel to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Deputy General Counsel for the Executive Office of Governor DeSantis, and Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his law degree from Northwestern University. 

Joseph Boatwright II, of East Palatka, to serve as Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal 

Boatwright has served as a Judge on the Putnam County Court since January 2013.  Previously, he served as the Managing Assistant State Attorney in the Seventh Judicial Circuit and an associate attorney in private practice. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, his master’s degree from Covington Theological Seminary, his law degree from The Catholic University of America, his master of laws in taxation from the University of Florida, and his master of laws in judicial studies from Duke University. 

Paige Kilbane, of Jacksonville, to serve as Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal 

Kilbane has served as a Judge on the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court since January 2021 after her appointment by Governor DeSantis in 2020. Previously, she served as a Judge on the Palm Beach County Court, an associate attorney in private practice, and an Assistant State Attorney in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. She received her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.