Submitted by Sallie James
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The 17th Judicial Circuit announced today that Chief Judge Jack Tuter would retire from the bench on May 1, 2025. Judge Tuter notified Gov. Ron DeSantis of his pending retirement in a letter on Monday.
“This is to advise I intend to retire from the bench and enter private practice effective May 1, 2025,” Judge Tuter wrote in the Feb. 10 letter to DeSantis. “It has been my honor to serve the people of the State of Florida and Citizens of Broward County for the past 20 years.”
Judge Tuter has served as Chief Judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit for the past eight years.
Upon retirement, Judge Tuter will participate in arbitrations and expert witness work. Judge Tuter could not comment further at this time due to the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct.
(Then) Governor Jeb Bush appointed Judge Tuter to the bench in 2005. He was subsequently elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2014 and 2020. Judge Tuter is retiring one year before his sixyear elected term ends. Gov. DeSantis will appoint a replacement to complete his term.
Judge Tuter’s term as Chief Judge officially ends on June 30th. Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips will follow Judge Tuter as Chief Judge. Her fellow jurists unanimously elected her to the position of Chief Judge on February 3, 2025.
“I join my colleagues and the legal community in thanking Chief Judge Tuter for his leadership, perseverance and wish him much success in his future endeavors. His commitment, involvement in the community and State, has led the 17th Judicial Circuit through enduring times. We appreciate him, I appreciate him, and his friendship and we will miss him,” Judge Phillips said.
The Chief Judge is the administrative officer of the courts within the Circuit and directs the formation and implementation of policies and priorities for the operation of all courts and officers within the Circuit. The Chief Judge has administrative supervision over all the judges and court personnel and is responsible to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
ABOUT THE SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA
The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida is the court for Broward County, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It is the second largest circuit court in the state. Broward County has 90 judges. Of those, 32 are county court judges and 58 are circuit judges. Four courthouses comprise the 17th circuit and include the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, and three satellite courthouses: the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach, the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation and the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood.
