Dear Editor,

I trust you are doing well.

I am an African American attorney from Live Oak, Florida, and I recently applied for one of the two vacant Florida Supreme Court Justice positions. My name was not one of the nine names that the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission sent to the Governor.

Thus, as an African American, and because no qualified African American is on the list, I am seeking to have my name added to the list.

I am one of just a few Florida lawyers with a Doctor of Juridical Science, Master of Laws, and Juris Doctor degrees. I am prepared to immediately start serving as a Florida Supreme Court Justice because I have been a member of the Florida Bar for more than 36 years.

In accordance with the Florida Constitution, a lawyer is not required to be a sitting judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. In fact, I submit that someone with my broad background and experience as a practicing attorney, law professor, and businesswoman is eminently more qualified than someone who has spent most, if not all of their career as a lower court judge.

Thus, even if all of the nine nominees were qualified, because of my background and level of experience, my name should be added to the list so that the Governor will have a more diverse group of nominees from which to make his selection. The people of Florida deserve no less.

I was born in Live Oak, Florida, and raised in both Live Oak, Florida, and Gainesville, Florida. I currently reside in Tampa, Florida. I attended Douglass and Suwannee High Schools in Live Oak, Florida, and graduated from Gainesville High School. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida, my Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University College of Law, and my Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees from Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware.

As an African American and Native American Floridian with more than 36 years as a businesswoman, practicing lawyer, and law professor, I have acquired the necessary level of experience to be a tremendous benefit to the Florida Supreme Court. I am also a quick study.

I trust you will support my campaign to have my name added to the list of Florida Supreme Court Justice applicants that will be considered by Governor DeSantis.

Thank you in advance for your support and for your prompt response.

Best regards,

Dr. Belinda Noah, Attorney

(813) 808-5351