Ricky Polston

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Ricky Polston
Florida-Supreme-Court-Justice-Ricky-Polston-2019.jpg
Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
In office
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014
Preceded byCharles T. Canady
Succeeded byJorge Labarga
Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida
Assumed office
October 2, 2008
Appointed byCharlie Crist
Preceded byKenneth B. Bell
Personal details
Born (1955-11-24) November 24, 1955 (age 66)
Dothan, Alabama, U.S.
Spouse(s)Deborah Polston
ResidenceTallahassee, Florida
Alma materFlorida State University (BS)
Florida State University (JD)
WebsiteFlorida Supreme Court bio

Ricky L. Polston (born November 24, 1955 in Dothan, Alabama) has been a Justice of the Florida Supreme Court since his appointment in 2008 and was the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court from July 2012 to June 2014.[1] He is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law.

Background[]

Polston was raised in Graceville, Florida, and graduated from Graceville High School in 1973 as valedictorian. He received an Associate of Arts from Chipola College in 1975, and a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from Florida State University in 1977. In 1986, he received his Juris Doctor with high honors from the Florida State University College of Law.

Polston is married to children's book author Deborah Ehler Polston. They have ten children, including six whom they have adopted. Described as an "active Christian" by the Miami Herald in 2013, Polston wrote of himself,  “I am a product and reflection of Florida. My children are racially diverse, which gives me a better appreciation of different cultures and how they react to each other. In short, I am not isolated as a judge.”[2]

Polston has been a certified public accountant since 1978 and worked as a public accountant from 1977–1984. After becoming an attorney, Polston was in private practice from 1987–2000. Governor Jeb Bush appointed him a judge of the First District Court of Appeal of Florida on January 2, 2001, where he served until his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court. During his service on the Court of Appeals, Polston heard over 6,000 appellate cases.[3] Since 2003, Polston has also worked as an adjunct professor at Florida State University College of Law, teaching the Florida Constitutional Law class there for several years.

Supreme Court appointment[]

Governor Charlie Crist appointed Polston to the Florida Supreme Court on October 1, 2008 to replace Kenneth B. Bell, who resigned that day to return to private practice. Polston was sworn in the next day. He was the second of Crist's four appointments to the Florida Supreme Court.

Justice Polston was elected unanimously to serve as Florida's 55th Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, starting July 1, 2012. Polston, who served a two-year term in the office, is the first Florida State Law alumn to be selected as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

References[]

  1. ^ "Chronology of the Chief Justices of Florida" (PDF). The Office of Public Information, State of Florida. June 30, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  2. ^ Bousquet, Steve (May 28, 2013). "Florida Chief Justice Ricky Polston ends practice of congratulating new Eagle Scouts". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  3. ^ The Florida Bar News, "Polston Joins the Court", October 15, 2008, p. 1.

External links[]

Legal offices
Preceded by Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida
2008–present 		Incumbent


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