Retired or Appointed Elsewhere
Expected Retirement
Judge, 5th District Court of Appeal. Transferred from the 1st District Court of Appeal due to redistricting.
Judge, 1st District Court of Appeal. Appointed by Governor Rick Scott. Won the retention vote in 2018 (66.4%).
Circuit Judge, 4th Judicial Circuit Court. Appointed by Governor Rick Scott.* Ran unopposed in 2014.
* Appointed instead of running for election because of a vacancy between election cycles.
Before he became a judge, Jay had about 24 years of experience as an attorney. In that time, he argued 17 jury trials, 3 non-jury trials, 6 arbitration cases, and 2 administrative body cases. His practice also handled some appellate cases. He specialized in civil law. His main focus was defense for hospitals, physicians and nurses in medical malpractice cases and individual health care providers in litigation against the Florida Department of Health. He also handled cases of false arrest, maritime negligence, and wrongful death.
Before that, he clerked for a law office in the summer of 1985 and 1986.
This judge is a member of the Federalist Society.
This judge is a textualist, who uses an interpretation of the Constitution that is advocated by the Federalist Society.
In a 2011 application for a seat on the 4th Judicial Circuit Court, he listed a membership tot he Republican National Committee and a former membership for the National Rifle Association (NRA). He also states his judicial philosophy: "judges should not legislate from the bench nor make decisions which are contrary to established precedent or clear legislative intent".
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