The Florida Supreme Court last week unanimously elected Justice John D. Couriel as the state’s next chief justice, with his two-year term set to begin July 1.
Couriel, who was appointed to the court in 2020 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will succeed Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz. Muñiz will remain on the seven-member court after completing his second term as chief justice on June 30. In a statement, Couriel said he was grateful for the trust of his colleagues and said he would do his best to serve the people of Florida.
Couriel, 48, is the 90th justice to serve on the Florida Supreme Court and will become the state’s 58th chief justice. Under court procedures, the seven justices elect a chief justice to a two-year term beginning July 1 in even-numbered years.
The chief justice serves as the administrative officer of both the Supreme Court and Florida’s judicial branch, with responsibilities that include managing court operations, helping shape the judiciary’s legislative agenda and budget priorities, and serving as the branch’s primary spokesperson on major statewide policy matters.
Before joining the court, Couriel was a partner at Kobre & Kim LLP and previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida, where he prosecuted money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud and human trafficking cases.
