Incumbent circuit judge wins another term after close six-county contest covering Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla and Franklin counties.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh has won the race for Group 13 of Florida’s 2nd Judicial Circuit, narrowly defeating challenger Rashad Green in Tuesday’s nonpartisan election.

Florida Election Watch results showed Marsh receiving 43,330 votes, or 50.94%, compared with 41,738 votes, or 49.06%, for Green.

That amounts to a difference of just 1,592 votes out of more than 85,000 cast across the six-county circuit.

The results remain unofficial until the canvassing process is completed.

CIRCUIT COURT ELECTION RESULTS

Race covers six Big Bend counties

The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla and Franklin counties, meaning voters throughout much of the Big Bend participated in the contest.

Judicial races are nonpartisan, so voters were able to participate regardless of political party affiliation.

Marsh entered the election as the incumbent, while Green sought to unseat him.

Marsh scores big win in Wakulla County

Wakulla County provided Marsh with one of his strongest performances.

Unofficial results showed Marsh receiving 5,071 votes, or 70.88%, compared with 2,083 votes, or 29.12%, for Green.

All 12 Wakulla County precincts had reported, although the county’s election results indicated some vote-by-mail reporting remained incomplete at the time of the update.

Those margins proved important in what became a much tighter circuitwide race.

Experience a major issue in campaign

Marsh and Green both have deep Tallahassee ties but entered the race with different legal backgrounds.

Marsh has served on the circuit bench for approximately eight years. Before becoming a judge, he served in the U.S. Navy as a judge advocate general officer and later worked as an assistant attorney general in Florida.

During a candidate forum, Marsh pointed to his years on the bench as a key distinction between himself and his challenger.

Green argued that his experience across different parts of the legal system prepared him for the circuit court.

His background includes serving as a federal appellate law clerk and working as an assistant state attorney. He has also practiced criminal defense and personal injury law and served as president-elect of the Tallahassee Barristers Association.

Candidates address public trust in courts

The campaign also focused on judicial independence, integrity and declining public confidence in the court system.

During a June candidate forum, Green argued that trial courts can improve public trust through transparency, independence and equal application of the law.

Marsh emphasized the ethical restrictions placed on judges and his experience applying the law from the bench.

What does a circuit judge do?

Florida’s circuit courts handle some of the state’s most significant trial-level cases.

Circuit judges preside over felony criminal cases and major civil disputes, along with family law, juvenile, probate and other matters depending on their assignments.

Unlike partisan races appearing on Tuesday’s ballot, judicial candidates do not run as Republicans or Democrats.

Marsh’s victory keeps him on the bench in the 2nd Judicial Circuit following one of the closest judicial races in the Big Bend during Tuesday’s primary election.

With the unofficial count at 50.94% to 49.06%, fewer than two percentage points separated the two candidates.