HomeVolusia County Judicial Qualifying Over: Judges Belle Schumann, Christopher Kelly & Bryan Feigenbaum returned to the bench; Judge Dawn Fields challenged by Stephen Burk
Volusia County Judicial Qualifying Over: Judges Belle Schumann, Christopher Kelly & Bryan Feigenbaum returned to the bench; Judge Dawn Fields challenged by Stephen Burk
Post Date:May 5, 2018
Major League Baseball has an unwritten rule. When a batter hits a home run, any showboating at the pitcher's expense and the next time the two teams play, that better can expect to be plunked on the back by whatever pitcher is on the mound.
When it comes to running for a judgeship, the unwritten rules are similar. Incumbents do not get challenged
Any open judgeship, then it's a great opportunity to for any lawyer looking to move up from practicing in front of the bench to sitting on it to run. And once an election is over and a winner declared in an election, then the unwritten rules is they don't get challenged. Why? The unwritten rule is you don't disrespect the judger who has made. it to the top. The exception to the rule is if the judge was appointed by the governor to fill an unexpired vacancy. Then. it's back to the election process the next election.
With qualifying for county judgeships in Volusia County over at 5 p.m. Friday, Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis certified incumbents Belle Schumann, Christopher Kelly and Bryan Feigenbaum certified as re-elected without opposition.
Schumann was appointed to the bench in 2005. Prior to becoming a judge, she was an assistant attorney general in the criminal division in Daytona Beach for more than 20 years. She earned an undergraduate degree from Stetson University and a juris doctor from Florida State University. Judge Schumann presides in criminal cases at the Volusia County Courthouse Annex at City Island in Daytona Beach. Scumann qualified wihout opposition in 2006.
Kelly has been a judge since 2013. Before coming to the bench, Judge Kelly spent more than 10 years as an assistant state attorney and also worked in private practice. He earned an undergraduate degree from Florida State University and a law degree from the University of Florida.Kelly began his career in 1995 as an assistant state attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit. In 1999, he became Assistant General Counsel for The Florida League of Cities. The following year, he returned to the State Attorney's Office, where he worked until 2003. That year, he joined the firm of Law Offices of Crotty & Bartlett. He became a partner there in 2005. In 2009, he returned again to the State Attorney's Office, where he became the Managing Assistant State Attorney. He was elected to the County Court in 2012. Judge Kelly currently hears civil cases at the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand. Kelly defeated Adam Warren in the general election on Nov. 6, 2012, receiving 63.4 percent of the vote. He previously received 31.8 percent of the vote in the five-way primary election on August 14, 2012.
Feigenbaum was appointed to the bench in 2010. In the subsequent primary election on August 14, 2012, Feigenbaum defeated private attorney Michael McDermott with 50.6 percent of the vote. Before becoming a judge, he was an assistant state attorney for the Office of the State Attorney, Seventh Judicial Circuit. Judge Feigenbaum earned an undergraduate degree from Davidson College and juris doctor from the University of Florida. He currently hears criminal cases and presides over Veterans Court at the Volusia County Courthouse Annex at City Island in Daytona Beach.
Fields was elected to the bench in 2006. Before becoming a judge, she was an assistant state attorney for the Office of the State Attorney, Seventh Judicial Circuit, and a high school math teacher. She earned a master's degree from the University of Central Florida and juris doctor from the University of Georgia. Judge Fields currently hears civil cases at the Volusia County Courthouse Annex at City Island in Daytona Beach.