Past Chief Judges

Donald A. Myers, Jr.

• Chief Judge: 2019-2021    
• Born: Oceanside, Ca
• 2018-2019 Circuit Judge, Orange County Domestic Relations   
• 2015-2019 Administrative Judge, Appellate

Frederick J. Lauten

• Chief Judge: 2014-2019
• Born: Chicago, Il
• Orange County Judge: 1994-1999
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge: 1999-2019

Belvin Perry, Jr.

• Chief Judge: 1995-1999, 2001-2014
• Born: Orlando, FL
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge: 1992-2014

Ted P. Coleman

• Chief Judge: 1999-2001
• Born: Emanuel County, GA
• Died: November 22, 2017
• Orange County Judge: 1972-1976
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1982-2003

R. James Stroker

• Chief Judge: 1993-1995
• Born: Oshkosh, WI
• Died: January 2, 2022
• Orlando Municipal Judge: 1974-1976
• Orange County Judge: 1977-1982
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1982-2021

Frederick T. "Fritz" Pfeiffer

• Chief Judge: 1991-1993
• Born: Cleveland, Oh
• Died: April 30, 2013
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1973-2007 (elected September 1972)

Emerson R. Thompson Jr.

• Chief Judge: 1989-1991
• Born: Jacksonville, FL
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1980-1993
• Senior Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit: 2008-present
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal: 1993-2008
• Chief Judge, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal: 2000-2003

William C. Gridley

• Chief Judge: 1987-1989
• Born: Orlando, FL
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1972-2007

George N. Diamantis

• Chief Judge: 1983-1987
• Born: Schenectady, NY
• Died: March 12, 1995
• County Judge: 1972-1973
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1973-1990

William Rogers Turner

• Chief Judge: 1981-1983
• Born: Tallahassee, FL
• Died: September 2, 2018
• Criminal Courts of Record: 1968-1972
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1973-1991

Thomas Emmett Kirkland

• Chief Judge: 1979-1982
• Born: Oklahoma
• Died: 1982
• Orlando Municipal Court: 1953-1967
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1972-1982

Richard B. Keating

• Chief Judge: 1977-1979
• Born: Florida
• Died: August 18, 1982
• Circuit Judge: 1965-1982
• Chief Judge: 1977-1979

Bernard C. Muszynski

• Chief Judge: 1974-1977
• Born: Bayonne, N.J. 
• Died: October 25, 2021
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1968-1990

Claude Edwards

• Chief Judge: 1973-1974
• Born: Chester, S.C.
• Died: November 11, 2002
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1968-1987

Richard H. Cooper

• Chief Judge: 1971-1973
• Born: Birmingham, Al
• Died: November 16, 1990
• Orange County Judge: 1959-1966
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1966-1982

Roger A. Barker

• Chief Judge: two-year term, circa 1960s
• Born: Orlando, FL
• Died: November 24, 1998
• Orange County Judge: 1955-1957
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge: 1957-1979
• Senior Judge: 1979-1995