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Candidate

Andrea Teves Smith

Independent · Incumbent

Judge, Florida Second District Court of Appeal

Andrea Teves Smith was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Rick Scott on January 7, 2019 and began serving February 1, 2019, after five years as a circuit judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit311. Before the bench she spent nineteen years at Peterson and Myers in Lakeland, where she became a shareholder handling commercial litigation and appeals3. This is a nonpartisan merit retention vote: voters decide yes or no on whether she keeps her seat for another six-year term14.

  • Judge, Second District Court of Appeal, since February 1, 2019; member of the District Court of Appeal Performance and Accountability Commission and the Supreme Court Standard Jury Instructions Committee (Civil)3
  • Circuit Judge, Tenth Judicial Circuit, appointed 2013 and retained by election in 2014; served in civil, family and felony divisions and as administrative judge for the civil division3
  • Shareholder, Peterson and Myers, P.A., Lakeland, commercial litigation and appeals, nineteen years3
  • Past chair and vice chair, Florida Supreme Court Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity3
  • B.S. in Business Administration, University of Florida; J.D., Stetson University College of Law3
  • Appointed to the Tenth Judicial Circuit in 2013 and retained by election in 2014; appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Rick Scott on January 7, 2019, filling the seat of Judge Marva Crenshaw, and began serving February 1, 2019311. Retained by voters in November 2020 with 74.98 percent voting yes5. Florida law places appeals court judges on the ballot every six years for a yes or no retention vote4. She is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for merit retention12.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (11)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. All Races Sample Ballot, November 3, 2026 General ElectionHillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
  2. Justice Muñiz and 22 DCA judges to stand for merit retention (April 29, 2026)The Florida Bar News
  3. Judge Andrea Teves Smith (official biography)Florida Second District Court of Appeal
  4. Merit Retention Election: 2026 judges standing for merit retention (biographies page)The Florida Bar
  5. Justice Muñiz, 23 appellate judges win merit retention contests (Nov. 4, 2020)The Florida Bar News
  6. News releases index (checked Sept. 30, 2026; no 2026 merit retention poll release listed)The Florida Bar
  7. Judicial Qualifications Commission cases archive (formal charges filed since about 2000; checked Sept. 30, 2026)Florida Supreme Court
  8. State Supreme Court Justices Francis and Sasso, up for retention votes, may as well have lifetime tenure (Oct. 2024; reports that the Bar ended its merit retention poll, quoting a Bar spokesperson)Florida Bulldog
  9. Editorial: End of Bar poll means less accountability for judges (Oct. 31, 2024; used only for the fact that the Board of Governors ended the poll in 2023)Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel via Yahoo News
  10. Bar launches the 2026 The Vote's in Your Court website and Guide for Florida Voters ahead of November elections (July 14, 2026; no member poll mentioned)The Florida Bar News
  11. Appointments by Governor Rick Scott for Monday, January 7, 2019 (Governor's Office appointment release, republished)Capital Soup