A new face will soon join the state appellate bench at Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal, thanks to a Thursday appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Judge Jonathan D. Lott will fill the seat vacated by Judge Ed Artau. Artau was confirmed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in September, following President Donald Trump's nomination.

Lott’s elevation comes almost one year after DeSantis slated him for the Broward Circuit Court’s family division in November 2024.