Who is running for Second District Court of Appeal, Retention: Drew Atkinson in 2026?

Judge, Florida Second District Court of Appeal

J. Andrew "Drew" Atkinson has served on the Second District Court of Appeal since 2018, when Governor Rick Scott appointed him³⁴. He previously worked in the Florida Attorney General's office, clerked at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, was assistant general counsel to the Governor, practiced at Broad and Cassel, and served as general counsel of the Florida Department of State and the Department of Management Services; he is a U.S. Army veteran³⁴. This is a nonpartisan merit retention vote: voters decide yes or no on whether he keeps his seat for another six-year term¹⁵.

• Judge, Second District Court of Appeal, since 2018; member of the Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases and the Commission on District Court of Appeal Performance and Accountability³
• General counsel, Florida Department of State and Florida Department of Management Services; assistant general counsel to the Governor; private practice at Broad and Cassel³
• Florida Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Appeals Division and Deputy Solicitor General; judicial law clerk to Judge Melanie G. May, Fourth District Court of Appeal³
• U.S. Army, 1997 to 2001, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; left service as a sergeant⁴
• B.A., Florida State University; J.D. with honors, Nova Southeastern University³
• Appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Rick Scott in 2018³⁴. Retained by voters in November 2020 with 70.89 percent voting yes⁶. Florida law places appeals court judges on the ballot every six years for a yes or no retention vote⁵. He is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for merit retention¹².