List of Judges in Polk County

If you have a criminal case pending in Polk County, FL, at the courthouse in Bartow, Lakeland, or Winter Haven, FL, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm.

We created this list of the recent assignments for county court judges in Polk County, FL. The judicial assignments change periodically. You can find the most updated list in the administrative orders published on the official website for the 10th Circuit Court of Florida.

How Judges are Assigned in Polk County

In the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which encompasses Polk County and the courthouses in Bartow and Lake Alfred, FL, the assignment of judges is a highly structured process governed by Administrative Orders. These administrative orders ensure that the legal caseload is distributed fairly and that every division of the court has adequate oversight.

The primary authority for these assignments rests with the Chief Judge, currently James A. Yancey. Under Local Rule One, the Chief Judge issues specific orders that outline where each judge will preside and for what duration. The current directive, Administrative Order 1-1.68, establishes the assignments for the first half of 2026, beginning on January 5 and concluding on July 5.

One of the most critical aspects of judicial management is the “ratio” system. The Clerk of Courts in Polk County is directed to assign new cases to specific sections based on predetermined mathematical weights. This prevents any single judge from being overwhelmed while others have lighter dockets. For example, in the Polk Felony division, several judges are assigned to sections with equal caseload weights to maintain balance.

Judges in Polk County are often assigned to specialized divisions based on the nature of the legal matters involved. These divisions include Felony, Juvenile (both Dependency and Delinquency), and Specialty Courts. Within these groups, certain judges are designated as “Administrative Judges” who take on additional leadership responsibilities for their respective areas.

Beyond their regular courtroom trials, judges must participate in a rotating “Duty Judge” schedule. This system ensures that a member of the judiciary is always available to handle emergency matters and routine administrative tasks outside of standard trial hours. On regular workdays, this duty begins at 8:30 a.m. and lasts for 24 hours, except on Fridays, when the weekday duty concludes to make way for the weekend rotation.

Polk County serves as the central hub for weekend and holiday hearings for all three counties in the circuit. These sessions, held at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, focus on essential preliminary matters such as Juvenile Detention Hearings and First Appearance Hearings in felony and misdemeanor cases. Judges from across the circuit, including those typically based in Highlands or Hardee, rotate through Bartow to preside over these weekend dockets.

Finally, the assignment process includes a rigorous jury trial schedule. This schedule dictates which weeks specific felony sections are “on the clock” to empanel juries and conduct trials. While the administrative order is signed months in advance, the most recent administrative order was signed in November 2025 to allow the court system ample time for the planning and implementation of justice.

Polk County Felony Division

The Felony Division in Polk County is divided into several sections to manage a high volume of criminal cases including:

Judge Brandon J. Rafool – Section F1
Judge Mark F. Carpanini – Section F2
Judge Cassandra L. Denmark – Section F3
Judge Brenda P. Ramirez – Section F4
Judge Catherine L. Combee – Section F5
Judge Gerald P. Hill, II, – Section F6
Judge Jalal A. Harb – Section F7 which includes Violation of Probation (VOP) cases
Judge Michelle Pincket – Section F8/17, focusing on Specialty Courts such as Problem Solving Courts and Mental Health
Judge J. Kevin Abdoney handles Section F9, which is dedicated to Capital cases
Judge Michael P. McDaniel – Section J2) for Delinquency cases in juvenile court

Misdemeanor County Court Assignments in Polk County

County Court judges in Polk County have different division assignments including:

M0 Bob Grode – County General
L1 John B. Flynn – Criminal Relief – County Court Lakeland
M2 Allison C. Kaylor – County Small Claims
W3 Kevin M. Kohl – Criminal Relief – County Court Northeast in Lake Alford, FL
M4 Rachelle E. Williamson – County Criminal
M5 Stacie Kaylor – County Criminal
M6 David E. Stamey, Jr. – County Criminal
M7 TBD – County Criminal
M8 Hope M. Pattey – County Administrative (Simplified DOM/PSC/Evictions)
M9 Anne T. Gibson – County General Civil

Juvenile Detention Hearings in Polk County, FL

Juvenile Detention Hearings for all three counties in the Tenth Judicial Circuit are conducted in Courtroom 8E in the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, FL. The juvenile detention hearings are noticed for 8:00 a.m. and the assigned judge is requested to commence these hearings by no later than 8:15 a.m. on holidays and weekends.

First Appearance Hearings in Polk County, FL

First Appearance Hearings on holidays and weekends are conducted at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, FL, commencing at 9:00 a.m.

For the judges, the regular weekend duty hours are from 5:00 p.m. Friday until 8:00 a.m. Monday. Holiday weekend duty begins at 5:00 p.m. on the last regular working day and concludes at 8:00 a.m. on the next regular working day. Isolated single day holiday duty begin at 5:00 p.m. on the proceeding day and conclude at 8:00 a.m. on the day following the holiday.

This article was last updated on Thursday, May 6, 2026.