Four finalists remain for 4th DCA position

Four judges are on the list of finalists to replace retiring 4th District Court of Appeal Judge Gary Farmer.

They are Palm Beach Chief Circuit Judge Peter D. Blanc; Palm Beach Circuit Judge Elizabeth T. Maass, who is serving in family court after extended service in business court; Palm Beach Circuit Judge Jack Cox, who killed an attorney general’s subpoena last month for records from foreclosure law firm Shapiro & Fishman; and St. Lucie Circuit Judge Burton Connor, administrative judge in the civil division.

Judges who finished out of the running are Broward Circuit Judges Marina Garcia-Wood and Jack B. Tuter Jr., Palm Beach Circuit Judges Glenn D. Kelley and Janis Brustares Keyser, Okeechobee Circuit Judge Robert Belanger and Miami compensation claims Judge Kathryn S. Pecko.

If Gov. Charlie Crist is like most other lame ducks, he’ll rush to fill judicial vacancies before leaving office in January.