Two circuit judge seats in Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit will be on the August primary election ballot for Southwest Florida voters. Incumbent judge Erik Leontiev is being challenged by Tracey L. Redd for the Group 6 seat. Incumbent judge Elizabeth Krier is being challenged by Michael Colombo for the Group 28 seat.
All voters in the 20th Judicial Circuit, which serves Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties, may vote in the nonpartisan elections for one candidate for each seat. The winners will be decided on Election Day, August 20.
For information about Florida judges’ jurisdictions, qualifications, terms of office, and compensation, please read The Judicial Branch: A Soapbox Primer.
What Makes a Good Judge?
According to the Florida Bar Association:
“Judges must be impartial and fair and understand the law. Knowledge in one particular area is not more important than the other. Judges should be selected based on their legal abilities, temperament and commitment to follow the law and uphold the law regardless of their personal view.”
– Guide for Florida Voters
Ask yourself, “Given what I can learn about the candidates, who would I rather have on the bench if I or someone I care about was in her/his courtroom?”
Sources of Information
Below are summaries from my Sparker’s Soapbox questionnaires, the candidates’ own websites, the candidates’ social media, and Google searches. Also provided are links where you can read everything I found yourself.
Candidate Questionnaires
The candidates’ responses to the following questions in my Sparker’s Soapbox questionnaire provide insight into their professional experiences and understanding of the role of a judge:
- What forms of voluntary professional and community service have you been involved with in Southwest Florida in the past? Currently?
- What has been your greatest accomplishment in your legal career?
- Which of the various types of matters that have or would come before you as a Circuit Judge would present the least challenge for you? Why?
- Which of the various types of matters that have or would come before you as a Circuit Judge would present the greatest challenge for you? Why?
- Who are your judicial role models? Why?
- What are the pros and cons of serving as a judge as compared to practicing law?
- Have you ever been disciplined by the Bar Association or any other authority on attorney or judicial conduct?
- Why should voters support you rather than your opponent?
Read the responses here:
| Group 6 Candidates | Group 28 Candidates |
|---|---|
| Erik Leontiev, incumbent | Michael Colombo |
| Tracey L. Redd | Elizabeth Krier, incumbent |
Group 6
Incumbent Erik Leontiev and Tracey L. Redd are vying for the Group 6 judge seat.
Erik Leontiev
Incumbent Erik Leontiev, 45, serves as a judge in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court’s Collier County division. He says the greatest achievement of his legal career was being appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to a Lee County Court judgeship in 2021 and appointed to his current position last year.
When not on the bench, he enjoys reading, fishing, working on cars, and spending time outdoors with his wife and seven children.
Why Leontiev?
Leontiev says voters should support him because of the comprehensive and merit-based vetting he went through to become a judge. After being vetted by the 20th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, he was nominated to a shortlist and vetted again by the Governor’s General Counsel before being appointed by the Governor – twice. He says his appointments are evidence of a tested and proven record that qualified him for the bench.
Education
- B.A., Florida International University
- J.D., University of Miami School of Law
Legal Experience
Leontiev currently presides over the dependency and delinquency matters in Collier County, which he says present an array of challenges because they concern the welfare of children. During his tenure as a Lee County Judge, he presided over civil cases, evictions, small claims, and traffic infractions.
Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2021, Leontiev served 14 years as an Assistant State Attorney for the 20th Circuit. He held positions in the Post Conviction, Sexually Violent Predators, Special Victims, and Economic Crimes units, prosecuting cases in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, and Hendry Counties.
Judicial Approach
Leontiev “endeavors to apply the same measure of focus and effort to every challenge that comes before him, be it great or small.”
His judicial role model is former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia because he was a strong defender of textualism and originalism and a great writer.
“My job as a judge is to protect that constitution which secures the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,” he says in a campaign message.
Professional Associations/Activities
Leontiev is a member of the Lee and Collier County Bar Associations, the Michael McDonnell Inns of Court (Naples), and Calusa Inns of Court (Fort Myers). Previously, he was a Moot Court Judge at Ave Maria School of Law.
In the Community
Leontiev served as chairman of the Lee County Canvassing Board for the 2022 Primary and General Elections.
Endorsements
Leontiev is endorsed by State Attorney Amira Fox and Public Defender Kathleen Smith. “Their endorsements speak volumes of my ability to be fair and impartial to both sides,” he says.
He is also broadly supported by the legal community, as evidenced by members of the Committee to Keep Judge Leontiev, which includes prosecutors, defense attorneys, private civil attorneys, former judges, former sheriffs, mayors, and other elected officials. In addition, he is endorsed by the Collier County Citizens Values PAC.
Online Presence
Tracey L. Redd
Tracey Redd, 57, is an attorney in private practice in Fort Myers. She says if elected, she would bring to the 20th Circuit Court more than 27 years of courtroom experience, a deep reverence for the rule of law, and the respect of the local legal community for her personal integrity, professional demeanor, and ability to handle complex cases.
She and her husband have two adult sons born and raised in Lee County.
Why Redd?
Redd says voters should support her because of her years of litigation experience representing clients from all different socioeconomic backgrounds and races in a wide variety of cases. “Being in a courtroom is part of my daily routine,” she says, having served first as a public defender for more than four years and then in private practice in the 20th Judicial Circuit for more than 22 years.
“My reputation for integrity, fairness, and professionalism is shared among my peers and the judiciary alike,” she says. “I have unquestioned legal credentials.”
Education
- B.A., Fairfield University – Political Science
- J.D., University of Miami School of Law
Legal Experience
After earning her law degree, Redd worked briefly as a public defender in Broward and Lee Counties, representing clients in a wide array of felony and misdemeanor cases.
Since 2002, she has been a solo practitioner at the Law Office of Tracey L. Redd, P.A., where she continues her practice as a trial attorney.
Judicial Approach
Redd’s goal is to treat each litigant and party equally and fairly and to follow the letter of the law.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is one of her judicial role models. She respects his adherence to conservative legal principles and says, “his opinions reflected excellent and meticulous legal analysis on a wide range of legal issues.” Also, “He believed in checks and balances among the branches of government and protected freedom of speech and religion.”
Another role model is former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who “could navigate complex legal issues and focus on legal precedent and the rule of law” and was “a pragmatic Justice who could balance individual rights with government issues and the needs of society.”
Professional Associations/Activities
- Member, Florida and Lee County Bar Association
- Member, Florida and Lee County Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
In the Community
- Board President: Southwest Florida Church of Christ
- Board Member: Zach Martin Memorial Foundation
- Volunteer: Community Cooperative
- Volunteer: HOPE worldwide
Endorsements
I found no endorsements or a campaign committee on Redd’s website or through a Google search.
Online Presence
Group 28
Michael Colombo and incumbent Elizabeth Krier are vying for the Group 28 judge seat.
Michael Colombo
Michael Colombo, 52, is a trial litigator who served as an Assistant State Attorney in Charlotte and Lee Counties for over a decade.
“After devoting my life to the constitution and rule of law, he says in a campaign video, “it is time to share my experience on the bench.”
He and his wife, Susan, have three boys who are active in sports and keep him very busy.
Why Colombo?
Colombo says voters should support him because he has over two decades of trial litigation experience in the courtroom and has conducted over 100+ trials in his career.
Education
- B.S., University of Scranton – Psychology
- J.D., Quinnipiac University School of Law (Hamden, CT)
Legal Experience
Colombo has conducted over 100 trials over two decades in the courtroom and is admitted to the bar in Connecticut, Georgia, and Florida. He now practices as a trial attorney with the firm of Suarez, Rios, and Weinberg, P.A. in Fort Myers, after serving as an Assistant State Attorney in Southwest Florida from 2012-2023.
Before moving to Florida, Colombo worked on a variety of cases, including human trafficking, child exploitation, benefit fraud, narcotics border enforcement, and terrorism, as a special agent with the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS-ICE).
He began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Stamford, CT, followed by four years in private practice.
Judicial Approach
Colombo says he was best known for his fairness, work ethic, litigation skills, and professionalism while he worked at the State Attorney’s Office.
He says his judicial role models are U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor (“a fearless trial judge who did not allow others to bully her into departing from the rule of law”) and former Justice Antonin Scalia (“a fierce protector of the Constitution, an “originalist” and “textualist” who “was not afraid of writing a dissenting opinion, making his opinion known, regardless of the majority opinion of the Court.”
“I would share the same judicial philosophy as independent thinkers, respecting and complying with the rule of law, protecting the Constitution, and acting at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,” he said on his questionnaire.
Professional Associations/Activities
Colombo is a member of the National Italian American Bar Association, the Lee County Bar Association, and the Florida Bar, where he serves on the Professional Ethics Committee, a volunteer position.
Previous activities include:
• “Krimes Against Kids” Conference (Orlando, FL), presenter & speaker – Motion Practice & Case Law, September 2022
• Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), presenter & speaker, September 2021
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training, presenter & speaker, Fawcett Memorial Hospital, July 2021
• Human Trafficking Symposium (Florida Gulf Coast University), presenter & speaker, March 2017
• Children’s Advocacy Center, Fort Myers, training & roundtables, 2017-2019
• Child Abduction Response Team (CART) training, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
In the Community
- Coach: Youth baseball and youth wrestling
- Volunteer: Three Oaks Park and Estero High School, assisting the baseball programs in the concession stand
Endorsements
The Vote Colombo Committee is co-chaired by criminal defense attorneys Michael Raheb and Robert Harris. Its members include nearly 40 attorneys and the Executive Director of the Charlotte & Lee County Legal Aid Society.
Online Presence
- Website; Online Bio
- Florida Bar Member Profile
- Florida Bar Circuit Judge Candidate Voluntary Self-Disclosure Statement
- Firm Website
Elizabeth Krier
Incumbent Elizabeth Krier, 66, won her circuit court seat in 2006 in a race with two opponents. She was unopposed for reelection in 2012 and 2018; this year, she faces an opponent for her fourth term.
Krier currently presides in the Collier County division over probate, guardianship, and criminal felony cases that include the death penalty, drug trafficking, child sexual battery, and homicides.
She moved to Naples, FL, in 1985 from Columbus, OH, by way of Chicago, IL. Her two children were raised in Naples and attended Gulf View Middle and Naples High Schools; one now works in the Naples area.
Why Krier?
Voters should support her because experience matters, Krier says. Fifty percent of judicial effort is managing cases, attorneys, litigants, and coordination between the various branches of government. “Learning to manage not only one docket but different kinds of dockets and in different counties requires time.” She says she is one of the hardest-working judges in the 20th Circuit.
Education
- B.A., University of Chicago – Political Science
- J.D., Chicago Kent College of Law
Legal Experience
Krier practiced family law for most of her almost 20-year legal career before being elected to the circuit court in 2006. For one year, she worked as a domestic and sexual violence prosecutor in Iowa. She then worked as an associate and later partner at the Naples, FL, law firms of Asbell, Hains, Doyle & Pickworth, P.A., Cummings & Lockwood, and Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A.
Judicial Approach
Krier says she is committed to the accurate and consistent application of the law and providing as much court access to litigants and their attorneys as possible.
“When a judge’s goal is to accurately and consistently apply the law and protect the Constitution, fairness, and impartiality are the end results,” she said in her candidate questionnaire.
Her judicial role models are U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and former Justice Antonin Scalia. “Their decisions tend to apply Constitutional principles and laws accurately and consistently,” she said on her questionnaire. “Our Constitutions and laws work well if they are applied as written. They protect the individual rights that they specify and facilitate the free flow of commerce if they are consistently and accurately applied. This has resulted in the U.S. being the freest and the most prosperous nation in the World.”
Professional Associations/Activities
Krier has been involved with local and state bar associations, judicial professional and community service organizations, and community organizations.
She chaired the 20th Circuit Court’s Long-Range Planning Committee and co-chaired its Dependency Model Court Committee. She is a member of the Florida Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and Florida’s Statewide Dependency Court Improvement Panel.
In addition, she is a member of Michael R.N. McDonnell Inns of Court, Collier and Lee County Bar Associations, Florida Bar Association, and Collier County Women’s Bar Association.
In the Community
- Member: Board of Trustees of North Naples United Methodist Church (2005-2009); North Naples Rotary (2006-2012); Leadership Collier (1993/1994); Leadership Southwest Florida (1995); Leadership Collier Foundation Board (2012-2015)
- Florida Guardian Ad Litem’s Office Community Advocate of the Year
- Twice nominated for Florida’s Gladstone Award in recognition of judicial leadership and service to Florida’s children
Endorsements
Krier was endorsed by State Attorney Amira Fox, Public Defender Kathleen Smith , Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, and Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden. She is also endorsed by the Collier County Citizens Values PAC.
The Keep Judge Krier Campaign Committee, chaired by Hon. Tom Grady, includes dozens of community leaders, including former State Representatives Dudley Goodlette and Garrett Richter, former Naples City Councilman Gary Price, former Naples Mayor Bill Barnett, current City Councilman Bill Kramer, former 20th Circuit Judges Frank Baker and Hugh D. Hayes, and former State Attorney Steve Russell.
Online Presence
Campaign Finance
Here are the contributions and expenditures reported by each candidate on their most recent campaign treasurer’s reports:
Of note is that both Krier and Leontiev received the maximum $1,000 contributions from three political committees: Friends of Amira Fox, Gunster PAC, Inc., and Conservative Leadership Caucus.
Also of note is that no candidate has spent any of their own money on their campaign, despite the amount of any personal loans.
Click each link to see the candidates’ maximum $1,000 contributors:
Final Thoughts
Only you can decide who you think would make better circuit court judges.
If you have questions about any of the candidates, don’t hesitate to contact them directly through their website.
If you have questions or need additional information about the election itself, visit the Collier County Supervisor of Elections website or call 239-252-8683.