Vote the PersonNot the party
Candidate

Daniel H. Sleet

Independent · Incumbent

Judge, Florida Second District Court of Appeal

Daniel H. Sleet was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Rick Scott in December 2012 after serving on the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit bench in Hillsborough County, to which Governor Jeb Bush appointed him in 20053. He was an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County from 1987 to 1991 and then a civil trial lawyer and partner at Barr, Murman and Tonelli in Tampa3. This is a nonpartisan merit retention vote: voters decide yes or no on whether he keeps his seat for another six-year term14.

  • Judge, Second District Court of Appeal, since December 2012; chair of the court's Legislative Committee; the court's chief judge until his successor took office July 1, 202536
  • Circuit Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County), 2005 to 2012; re-elected without opposition in 20083
  • Associate and later partner, Barr, Murman and Tonelli, Tampa, personal injury defense, 1991 to 20053
  • Assistant State Attorney, Hillsborough County, 1987 to 19913
  • Adjunct professor of trial advocacy, University of Tampa, since 20163
  • B.A. in History, Furman University, 1984; J.D., Cumberland School of Law, 19873
  • Appointed to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit by Governor Jeb Bush in 2005, then to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Rick Scott in December 20123. Retained by voters in November 2020 with 70.96 percent voting yes5. Florida law places appeals court judges on the ballot every six years for a yes or no retention vote4. He 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 Daniel H. Sleet (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. Second District Court of Appeal home page (notes Chief Judge Matthew C. Lucas succeeded Daniel H. Sleet on July 1, 2025)Florida Second District Court of Appeal
  7. News releases index (checked Sept. 30, 2026; no 2026 merit retention poll release listed)The Florida Bar
  8. Judicial Qualifications Commission cases archive (formal charges filed since about 2000; checked Sept. 30, 2026)Florida Supreme Court
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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