Four judges currently serve Walton County through Florida’s First Judicial Circuit. Three sit on the circuit court — Jeffrey E. Lewis, J. Ryan Love (the county’s Administrative Judge), and Jonathan Schlechter — and handle felonies, family law, probate, guardianship, and civil lawsuits over $50,000. One county court judge, Kelvin C. Wells, handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and civil disputes up to $50,000.1First Judicial Circuit of Florida. Judges Which judge you get depends almost entirely on the type of case and, for civil matters, the dollar amount at stake.
The Three Circuit Judges
Circuit court is where the county’s heaviest cases land. Walton County shares the First Judicial Circuit with Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties, which means the circuit draws from a larger pool of judges and some rotation between counties occurs.2Florida Courts. Trial Courts – Circuit Most local proceedings take place at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs, with some hearings at the South Walton Annex in Santa Rosa Beach.
Felonies
Every felony prosecution in Walton County is heard by a circuit judge, from third-degree felonies through capital cases.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 775.082 – Penalties and Applicability of Sentencing Structures
Family Law, Probate, and Guardianship
Divorces, child custody, paternity, and domestic violence injunctions go to a circuit judge. So do probate estates, guardianships, and determinations of incapacity — Florida gives circuit courts exclusive jurisdiction over those matters.4FindLaw. Florida Statutes Title V Section 26.012 – Jurisdiction of Circuit Court
Civil Cases Over $50,000 and Extraordinary Writs
Any civil claim above $50,000 belongs in circuit court: personal injury, medical malpractice, larger contract fights, and real property litigation. Circuit judges also issue extraordinary writs, including habeas corpus petitions challenging the legality of detention and mandamus orders compelling a government official to perform a required duty.4FindLaw. Florida Statutes Title V Section 26.012 – Jurisdiction of Circuit Court
The County Court Judge
Kelvin C. Wells is the sitting Walton County Court judge. He was appointed in 2024 after the retirement of Judge David Green, who held the seat for 27 years, and had previously served as a First Circuit judge since 2004.1First Judicial Circuit of Florida. Judges For most residents, county court is where they will actually see a judge.
Misdemeanors and Traffic
First-degree misdemeanors (up to one year in county jail), second-degree misdemeanors (up to 60 days), and traffic infractions from speeding tickets to driving on a suspended license are all handled here. The docket moves faster than circuit court and the procedures are less formal.
Small Claims and Civil Up to $50,000
Small claims — cases worth $8,000 or less — follow simplified rules designed so a person can appear without a lawyer.5Florida Courts. Small Claims The wider county civil docket goes up to $50,000 and covers debt collection, landlord-tenant disputes, and breach of contract claims.6Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 34 Section 01 – Jurisdiction of County Court That $50,000 cap is locked in until at least 2030, when it is scheduled to be adjusted for inflation. County court shares jurisdiction with circuit court over landlord-tenant matters even when the dollar amount might otherwise push the case up.
Finding Out Which Judge Has Your Case
The Walton County Clerk of Courts maintains a searchable case database at waltonclerkfl.gov. Enter your case number and you can see the assigned judge, scheduled hearings, and filed documents.7Walton County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller. Walton County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller
The First Judicial Circuit’s site at firstjudicialcircuit.org lists all judges currently assigned to Walton County with biographies and courtroom procedures.1First Judicial Circuit of Florida. Judges Each judge’s chambers set their own rules on scheduling motions and submitting documents, so the fastest way to get a specific answer about an upcoming hearing is to call the judicial assistant directly. Assignments can rotate, so check the directory before making a trip to the courthouse.
If You Think the Judge Cannot Be Fair
Two different tracks exist depending on what the problem is.
Motion to Disqualify
If you believe the judge assigned to your specific case is biased or has a personal or family connection to a party or attorney, Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.330 lets any party file a written, sworn motion to disqualify. The motion has to describe specific facts — a general feeling of unfairness will not carry it. You have 10 days from discovering the grounds to file, and your attorney must separately certify that the motion is made in good faith. The judge is required to rule on it promptly.
Complaint to the Judicial Qualifications Commission
If the concern is misconduct or a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct rather than bias in your particular case, the complaint goes to the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, an independent state agency that investigates allegations against all Florida state judges.8Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission You submit a signed complaint form; the commission’s Investigative Panel reviews it for jurisdiction and, if a potential violation appears, invites the judge to respond. The panel then decides whether probable cause exists. If it does and the judge agrees to a sanction, the matter can be resolved there. Otherwise, a full evidentiary hearing follows and the commission sends a discipline recommendation to the Florida Supreme Court.
How Walton County Judges Get on the Bench
Both circuit and county judges in Florida are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan elections.9The Florida Bar. Judicial and Merit Retention Elections FAQ To qualify, a candidate must be a registered voter, a Florida resident, and a member in good standing of The Florida Bar for at least five years before qualifying.10Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 34.021 – Qualifications of County Court Judges Florida’s constitution also sets a hard ceiling: no judge may continue serving after turning 75, except through temporary assignment.11Florida Senate. The Florida Constitution
When a seat opens between elections through retirement, resignation, or death, the governor appoints a replacement instead of triggering a special election. A Judicial Nominating Commission solicits applications, interviews candidates, and forwards three to six names to the governor. The commission has 60 days from convening to send its recommendations.12Executive Office of the Governor. Judicial That is the path Judge Wells took onto the county bench after Judge Green retired.