Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit proudly announces that Circuit Court Judge Jonathan D. Lott has been appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Judge Lott currently serves in the Circuit’s Family Division.
“It is my pleasure to appoint you to the Fourth District Court of Appeal,” Governor Ron DeSantis wrote in an Oct. 30th letter to Judge Lott. “Your appointment is evidence of my utmost confidence in your ability to serve with excellence and distinction. Congratulations and thank you for your willingness to serve the people of Florida.”
DeSantis first appointed Judge Lott to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit on Nov. 25, 2024, and he assumed the bench on Jan. 1, 2025.
“It’s an honor to have been selected by the governor,” Judge Lott said.
The last time a judge from the 17th Judicial Circuit was appointed to the Fourth DCA was in January 2008, when Judge Dorian K. Damoorgian received the appointment from Governor Charlie Crist.
“On behalf of the 17th Judicial Circuit, we congratulate Judge Lott on his appointment to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Judge Lott is a respected jurist and well-liked by his colleagues, serving in a very challenging division,” Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips said. “We are so proud of him and will miss him but know he will be an awesome addition to the Appellate Court.”
Originally from Pensacola, Judge Lott is a 2014 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and a member of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Section. A Fort Lauderdale resident, he previously worked for four years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he was assigned to the civil division.
Cooper City Commissioner Jason Smith solidified his status as front runner for the Florida House District 102 Republican nomination while Gen Z newcomer Jayden D’Onofrio surged to a big lead for the Democrat nomination according to recent campaign reports. Four candidates are currently vying to replace the term-limited Michael Gottlieb. Republicans hope to pick off the central Broward District which parts of Plantation, Sunrise and all of Cooper City.
Republican candidates for Florida House District 102
Since joining the race in April, many view Cooper City Commissioner Jason Smith as the front runner for the Republican nomination. Smith has the built advantage with all of Cooper City located
District 102. Smith hit the ground running in the money race as well. According to official campaign reports, Smith raised more than $35,000 dollars from nearly 170 contributors since April.
Between April and June 2025, the Smith campaign reported 93 contributions. In the period covering July, August and September, the Smith campaign reported 74 contributions. Smith did not report any loans to his campaign, just in-kind contributions.
That is a stark contrast with his opponent, Mery Lopez Palma, a Southwest Ranches attorney, who ran unsuccessfully for House 102 in November 2024.
Mery Lopez Palma opened her 2026 campaign in December 2024.
Mery Lopez Palma reported no contributions in her December 2024 campaign report.
For the January through March 31, 2025 campaign report, Mery Lopez Palma recorded a single contribution—a $1,000 loan from Mery Lopez Palma.
In the April to June report, the Mery Lopez Palma campaign reported raising $15, 578. 85 from just twenty-five contributions. More than $13,000 of that total amount came from additional loans by Mery Lopez Palma.
In the latest report, Mery Lopez Palma raised just $8,503.98 from eighteen contributions. Mery Lopez Palma made another $5,000 loan to her own campaign.
Broward Republican insiders are shocked by the anemic numbers from the Mery Lopez Palma campaign.
These insiders were stunned to learn that, despite being in the race since last year, she is holding her “campaign kickoff” in a Sunrise bakery tonight.
Democrat candidates for Florida House District 102 race.
On the Democrat side, dentist Michael Friend has enjoyed the backing of the seasoned establishment wing of the party. He picked up an early endorsement by the current seatholder Michael Gottlieb.
Friend’s campaign guru, the controversial Barbara Miller, helped line up endorsements from other Democrat office holders and insiders.
Since entering the race in late December, Friend raised $65,527 dollars for his campaign from 245 contributors. Another $50,000 contribution came from a loan by Friend to his own campaign.
With these numbers, Friend should be the clear favorite, right?
Well Democratic insiders tell REDBROWARD the race was reset when Gen Z candidate Jayden D’Onofrio threw his hat into the ring in July.
According to the July-September campaign report, D’Onofrio raised $22,576 from 169 contributors. There was a $25,000 loan to the campaign.
Contributions to the D’Onofrio campaign came from Florida and seventeen other states. These states include Texas, New York, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio and even Hawaii.
A political committee associated with D’Onofrio reported $80,000 in contributions. With these totals, D’Onforio, a Tallahassee college student, already surpassed Friend.
These amounts do not include other political committees associated with D’Onofrio.
These Democrat insiders believe D’Onofrio will continue to out raise Friend.
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