Circuit Judge, 9th Judicial Circuit, Group 1
Circuit judges hear felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family and probate matters. This seat is elected by voters across the 9th Circuit (Orange, Osceola). Nonpartisan; a candidate needs a majority, and this contest was not decided in August. Term: 6 years.
How we verified who is on the ballot
Candidate list taken from the Florida Division of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list on 2026-09-18 ; both candidates are marked Qualified, which for a nonpartisan seat means the August vote did not produce a majority winner (or the seat is decided only in November). Positions have not been researched; check the county Supervisor of Elections sample ballot.
Candidates
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Temika Hampton-Johnson
Hampton-Johnson is an Orlando-area attorney in private practice who previously worked as a public defender and, before that, as a probation and parole officer. She holds a J.D. from the Florida A&M University College of Law and an MBA and a BBA in accounting from Stetson University. She co-chairs the City of Orlando C…
Charles Hart
Hart practices criminal and guardianship law from an office in Sanford and opened a mediation practice after being certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a family law and county court mediator. He previously served as an assistant state attorney and as a public defender in the 18th Judicial Circuit, and taught acco…
Why there are no issue positions here
Judicial candidates in Florida are bound by the Code of Judicial Conduct, which bars them from making statements that commit them on issues likely to come before the court. This guide therefore does not code positions for them and does not score them in the matching tool. Compare them on experience, background and the record below instead.
Other issues the candidates have raised
Priorities each candidate has brought up on their own, beyond the major-issue list above.
Temika Hampton-Johnson
- Judicial approach — In her 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Hampton-Johnson says she would decide matters on the facts, evidence and binding precedent, free from political influence or personal bias, and would treat every person the same regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation or economic status.
- Policy positions declined — Hampton-Johnson says judicial canons prohibit her from taking positions on political policy issues, and that within the court system she is focused on improving access to the courts and restoring public trust in the judiciary.
Charles Hart
- Judicial approach — In his 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Hart says judges should follow the law rather than personal agendas or outside pressure, and that he would approach each case with an open mind and apply the law consistently.
- Policy positions declined — Asked what areas of public policy he is passionate about, Hart said a judge's responsibility is not to advance a personal policy agenda but to follow the law and decide each case impartially.