AO 2026-011

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR COLUMBIA, DIXIE, HAMILTON, LAFAYETTE, MADISON, SUWANNEE AND TAYLOR COUNTIES, FLORIDA
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2026-011

APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL PROFESSIONALISM PANEL MEMBERS AND REAPPOINTMENT OF CHAIR

WHEREAS, on July 6, 2023, the Florida Supreme Court issued Opinion No. SC2023-0884, adopting the Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals; and
WHEREAS, The Florida Supreme Cout ordered the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit to create and maintain in continuous operation a Local Professionalism Panel to receive, screen, and act on any referrals of claimed unprofessional conduct and to resolve those referrals informally, if possible, or refer them to The Florida Bar, if necessary; and
WHEREAS, on December 21, 2023, this Court entered Administrative Orders 2023-004 and 2023-005, which, respectively, established the Third Judicial Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel, and appointed members to the Local Professionalism Panel; and
WHEREAS, the terms of Christina N. Seifert and James Matthew Roland established in Administrative Order 2023-005 are appropriate for review and renewal.
THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in the Chief Judge pursuant to Article V, section 2(d) of the Florida Constitution, section 43.26, Florida Statutes, Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215, and under mandate from the Florida Supreme Court, and pursuant to Administrative Order 2023-004,
IT IS THEREFORE,
ORDERED that Christina N. Seifert is re-appointed as a member and as the Chair of the Local Professionalism Panel, nunc pro tunc to July 1, 2026, and continuing through June 30, 2029. All actions of the Chair within the scope of her applicable authority taken before this date are hereby ratified.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that James Matthew Roland is hereby re-appointed as a member of the Local Professionalism Panel commencing with the entry of this Order and continuing through June 30, 2029.
DONE AND ORDERED in Columbia County, Florida, this 19th day of October, 2026.
____________________________________
Melissa Gates Olin, Chief Judge

Copies to:
Third Judicial Circuit Local Professionalism Panel Chair
All Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit
All Magistrates and Hearing Officers of the Third Judicial Circuit
All Clerks of Court of the Third Judicial Circuit
Trial Court Administrator of the Third Judicial Circuit
Clifton “Cliff” W. Wilson Jr., Public Defender, Third Judicial Circuit
John Durrett, State Attorney, Third Judicial Circuit
Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association