Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 12 judicial appointments on Wednesday afternoon, including one for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court and one for the Alachua County Court.
Lorelie Brannan, of Macclenny, was selected as judge for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court to fill the vacancy left from the retirement of Judge Robert Groeb.
Brannan, whose husband is current state Rep. Chuck Brannan, was previously appointed by DeSantis to serve as judge for Baker County and has worked as an assistant state attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit since 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UF and her juris doctor from Loyola University.
Gainesville’s Lua Joy Lepianka was appointed for judicial position on the Alachua County Court, replacing Judge Jonathan Ramsey after his promotion to the circuit court earlier this year.
Lepianka has worked in the Eighth Judicial Circuit as an assistant state attorney since 2003. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and her juris doctor from UF.