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Lott elected to serve as chief judge
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Chief Judge-Elect Martha Ann Lott
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The Honorable Martha Ann Lott has been elected chief judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit.
Chief Judge-Elect Lott succeeds the Honorable Frederick D. Smith. Smith has served as chief judge since 2005, and his term will expire on June 30.
Lott will assume her new post on July 1.
The chief judge is the administrative officer of the court and works closely with the trial court administrator to develop and implement court policy and procedure. The chief judge is also responsible for the assignment of judges to divisions, and represents the circuit at the local and state level.
The chief judge serves for a term of two years and is elected by the judiciary.
"I appreciate the support and confidence of my fellow judges. I look forward to working cooperatively through open dialogue. I am committed to ensuring that the 8th Judicial Circuit maintains the respect that we have been afforded for many years as an innovative and efficient circuit, built on fairness and a solid stance on the side of justice," Lott said.
Lott was elected to the Alachua County bench in 1991, where she presided over Alachua County criminal and civil cases before being elected to the circuit bench in 1997. She graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Florida in 1974, and received her J.D. from the Levin College of Law, University of Florida, in 1981.
Prior to being elected to the bench, the judge worked as a criminal and civil attorney in the 8th Circuit for 10 years.
During her time with the 8th Circuit, Lott has served as administrative judge in both family and criminal divisions. In addition to her judicial assignments, the judge is involved in continuing education for members of the judiciary, and has presented on various topics at the Advanced Judicial College, New Judges College, as well as both County and Circuit Judges Conferences in the areas of civil, family and criminal law.
Chief Judge-Elect Lott has also been instrumental in both local and statewide efforts to pass resolutions and legislation to secure funding to improve the justice system where it involves persons with mental illness, recently resulting in the award of a $1 million grant used to fund a Forensic Diversion Team in Alachua County.
Lott is currently administrative judge of the criminal division. Her assignment includes Alachua and Gilchrist criminal cases and circuit-wide post-conviction relief cases.
Lott also serves on the Public Safety Coordinating Council, the Delta workgroup, Florida's Partners in Crisis, Florida's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, and the Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Committee, among others.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2010
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