Criminal defense attorney Matt Lufrano wins Duval County court judge race

Criminal defense attorney Matt Lufrano will take the bench as Duval County's newest county court judge after winning one of two open seats in Tuesday's primary election. Lufrano, who operates a private practice in Jacksonville, defeated family and personal injury attorney Latoya Williams Shelton with nearly 57% of the vote.

Lufrano captured 79,217 votes to fill the County Court Judge Group 1 seat for a six-year term, while Williams Shelton garnered 61,041 votes, or about 43% of the total. The seat was previously held by retiring Judge Scott Mitchell.

What's happening

The County Court Judge Group 1 race was one of two open judicial seats on Duval County's ballot in the August 2026 primary. County courts in Florida handle limited jurisdiction matters including misdemeanor criminal cases, civil contract disputes, traffic violations, and family and probate matters.

Lufrano began his legal career at the Duval County public defender's office before launching a private criminal defense practice in 2014. He previously sought a judicial seat in 2024. Outside the courtroom, he serves as president of the board of directors for Jewish Family and Community Services and provides pro bono legal work through Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, known as JALA.

Williams Shelton opened her own firm in 2010, focusing on family and personal injury law. She also served on JALA's board, according to information provided by her campaign.

The six-year term carries judicial authority over what are known as Florida's "people's courts" — the trial courts where most residents interact with the justice system through traffic cases, small claims disputes, landlord-tenant matters, and misdemeanor prosecutions.

What this means for Duval County residents

County courts process the highest volume of cases in Florida's judicial system, handling the everyday legal matters that directly affect Jacksonville residents. From traffic tickets and DUI cases to small claims disputes and eviction proceedings, county judges make decisions that touch thousands of Duval County residents each year.

The makeup of the county court bench shapes how justice is administered in these high-volume proceedings. Judges with criminal defense backgrounds like Lufrano bring a different perspective to the bench than prosecutors or civil attorneys, though all judges take an oath to apply the law impartially regardless of their prior practice areas.

County court judges also serve a critical role in the local legal community's pro bono and access-to-justice efforts. Both candidates in this race highlighted their work with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in landlord-tenant, family law, and consumer protection cases. Judicial leadership and participation in these programs affects whether vulnerable residents can navigate the court system effectively.

How Duval's county courts function

Duval County's county courts sit below the circuit court in Florida's two-tier trial court system. While circuit judges handle felonies, divorces, and larger civil cases, county judges manage the matters that make up the bulk of court filings: misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail, civil cases involving $30,000 or less, and violations of county and municipal ordinances.

County judges also conduct first appearances for people arrested on felony charges, set bail, and issue warrants. In practice, the county court bench serves as many residents' only direct experience with the judicial system, whether they're contesting a traffic ticket, pursuing a security deposit dispute, or facing a misdemeanor charge.

The administrative structure of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties, determines how judges are assigned to courtrooms and specialized divisions. County judges may rotate through criminal, civil, and traffic divisions or be assigned to handle specific case types based on the circuit's needs and their experience.

What happens next

Lufrano will be sworn in to begin his six-year term following the certification of election results by the Duval County Supervisor of Elections. Florida county court judges serve six-year terms and must run for retention if they wish to continue serving beyond their initial term.

The new judge will join Duval County's county court bench during a period of continued growth in case filings driven by Jacksonville's expanding population. The Fourth Judicial Circuit has added judgeships in recent years to manage increasing caseloads across Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties as Northeast Florida's population growth creates demand for additional judicial capacity.

The second open county court seat in Tuesday's election will add another new judge to the bench, further shaping how Duval County's people's courts operate in the coming years as Jacksonville continues its role as one of Florida's largest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The composition of the county court bench affects everything from how quickly cases move through the system to the tenor of justice in the courtrooms where most residents encounter the law.