I am a Constitutional Originalist, which means I believe the law should be applied as it's written to ensure equal protection for all citizens. As Circuit Judge, I plan to move cases quickly in a respectful and timely matter. I have the real world experience that is needed in our local judicial system, and I plan to bring the same dedication to the bench that I have to my private practice.
About Zach
I am grateful to call Central Florida my home and to be a part of this diverse, resourceful and resilient community. My roots here go deep and having grown up in Lake County, I was truly blessed to meet and marry my high school sweetheart and raise our two sons together. It was with her love and support that I was able to pursue a career in law and set down this new path to the judiciary.
My legal career started in many respects while in law school and I was fortunate to intern with the State Attorney’s Office where I was able to watch talented men and women demonstrate the craft. It was through this invaluable experience that I was able to first gather invaluable insights about the practice of law and the justice system which have stuck with me even to this day.
After gaining admittance into the Florida Bar in 2010, I was offered my first job by the Public Defender’s Office where, shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues, I proudly upheld the Constitution, tried cases and gained invaluable jury trial experience.
In 2014 after my public service concluded, I ventured out and started my own law firm during the tumultuous fallout of the ‘Great Recession’. Since that time I have spent the better part of the last ten years as a civil litigator prosecuting and defending civil actions for my clients.
During this period, I have handled a diverse array of cases including breach of contract suits, intentional torts, land boundary disputes, governmental legal challenges and have served as a code enforcement magistrate. In addition to this I have served as Lake County Bar Association officer and President and have gained certification from the Florida Supreme Court as a Mediator at both the Circuit and County levels. In addition I am eligible to serve as an arbitrator within the State of Florida and I have been admitted to the United States Federal Middle District of Florida. I have been an avid supporter of the Lake County Teen Court program and have proudly handed out teen court excellence awards to several worthy teen court recipients over the years.
In 2019 Governor DeSantis appointed me to serve on the Judicial Nominating Committee and for the last two years I have served as its Chairman.
During these several years on the Commission I have had the honor of helping to select many judges within the 5th Circuit and have come to see what truly ‘makes good jurists’. This insight has meshed well with the memories I have as a child of my Grandfather who served as a Judge himself for many decades. Now, as an adult and practicing lawyer, much of what he spoke of has become much clearer and has greatly aided me in my duties on the Commission and in the practice of law.
For all of these reasons I have decided to do my part to serve my community as a circuit judge and to honor those that have come before me by striving to meet those lofty standards.
I look forward to serving residents of Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus and Marion counties, and earning your vote on August 20, 2024.