Two candidates are seeking election to an open seat on the bench in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit, which includes Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. Nancy Cleaveland and Ashley Wells Cox are on the ballot in this non-partisan race, meaning it is on the ballot for all voters in the three counties, regardless of party affiliation.
News4Jax reached out to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. They will be posted prior to the opening of early voting.
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Note: Candidates are sorted alphabetically and their responses, once received, will be published exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
| NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES |
Nancy Cleaveland
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 43
Family: Husband - Michael Cleaveland
Children - Olivia and Hannah Cleaveland
Education: University of Florida, B.A.
Florida Coastal School of Law, J.D.
Political experience: I have over 15 years of experience as an attorney, focusing primarily on family law. I also serve on the Florida Bar Family Law Rules Committee and the Florida Bar Government Advocacy Committee, and am a member of the Florida Family Law American Inn of Court where I served on the executive committee for the last 5 years. The seat for which I am running is currently in family court.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
It is vital that judges have integrity, rule impartially regardless of their personal opinions, and follow the law as it is written. I have tremendous integrity. I will listen to all sides of an issue and consider all admissible evidence presented when presiding over a case, and will rule impartially. I will follow the law as it is written and apply that law equally to all who come before me, regardless of race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, or political affiliation.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I strongly believe in fairness and equal justice under the law. It is imperative to the protection of our freedom that judges follow the law and apply the law equally to everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, or political affiliation.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope to be remembered for my integrity and fairness.
Campaign website: www.NancyCleavelandForJudge.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Ashley Wells Cox
Occupation: Attorney with Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe, P.A.
Age: 48
Family: I am married to Jeremy Cox and we have three teenagers, ages 15, 15 and 17.
Education: I graduated from Duke University Magna Cum Laude and from Northwestern School of Law top ten percent of my class.
Political experience: None
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1.Integrity and Impartiality – If elected, I will treat everyone with dignity and respect and apply the law equally to all people.
2. Protecting Individual Rights - I will listen to the citizens that appear before me, study the law diligently, and ensure that the rights of citizens are enforced pursuant to the laws and the Constitution.
3. Upholding the Constitution and the Laws of the State of Florida – I will faithfully and strictly apply the law in the State of Florida and the Constitution. It is not the job of the judiciary to make the laws – that is the role of the legislature. The separation of powers is crucial to our democracy.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
(No response)
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
My diverse legal experience, my academic achievements, and my life-long commitment to public service qualify me to help voters as the best candidate running for Circuit Judge. I graduated magna cum laude from Duke University and top ten percent of my class from Northwestern law school. Between college and law school, I volunteered for two years with the Inner-City Teaching Corps teaching on the south side of Chicago. After law school, I wanted to continue work in the public interest, so I applied for and received a two-year Skadden Fellowship to practice at Atlanta Legal Aid Society where I designed and implemented a consumer advocacy project representing low-income consumers taken advantage of by predatory lending practices. From Atlanta, I moved to Jacksonville and became an Assistant State Attorney, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases and I worked on a high-profile grand jury investigation. In 2006, I joined the Bedell firm practicing criminal defense, administrative law, and representing lawyers before The Florida Bar, and for the last eight years I have focused primarily on family law. I continued my service to the community by becoming a volunteer Guardia ad Litem and I volunteered weekly at the Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministries. I am the chair of the Providence School Parent Council, a past chair of the Atlantic Beach Elementary School Advisory Council, and a past president of Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary. My 22 years of legal experience, hard work in academics and service to the community uniquely qualify me in this race.
Campaign website: www.ashleycoxforjudge.com
Campaign social media: Facebook