Candidates must:

• Be an elector (registered voter) of Sarasota County
• Be a resident of the jurisdiction
• Be a member of the Florida Bar for the preceding five years

• DS-DE 9 - Appointment of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository for candidates
  This is the first form to be filed, designating the office for which the candidate is running, appointing a treasurer and designating a depository. It must be filed before any contributions are received, any expenditures are made, or any signatures are obtained on a candidate petition.
   
• DS-DE 84 - Statement of candidate
  Form stating that the candidate has been provided access to read and understand the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes. This form must be filed within 10 days of filing DS-DE 9.
   
• DS-DE 83 - Statement of candidate for judicial office
  Form stating that the candidate has been provided access to read and understand the requirements of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. This form must be filed within 10 days of filing DS-DE 9.
   
• DS-DE 303JU - Candidate oath, judicial office
  Submitted during the qualification period. Be sure to print or type your name as you wish it to appear on the ballot; name may not be changed after the end of qualifying.
   
• Form 6 - Full and public disclosure of financial interests
  Filed electronically with the Florida Commission on Ethics; submit proof of filing to the supervisor of elections office during qualification. Beginning January 1, 2024, anyone wishing to file a 2023 Form 6 or a 2023 Form 1 for qualifying purposes must be registered in the Electronic Financial Disclosure Management System.

A candidate may qualify to have his or her name placed on the ballot by paying the qualifying fee. A person paying the qualifying fee is not required to collect petitions.

The qualifying fee for candidates seeking nonpartisan office is 4 percent of the annual salary, consisting of a 3 percent filing fee and a 1 percent election assessment.

• County Court Judge $7,224.64

The qualifying fee must be paid via properly executed check drawn on the campaign account and signed by the treasurer or deputy treasurer.

A candidate may qualify to have his or her name placed on the ballot by means of the petition process. A person qualifying by this process is not required to pay the qualifying fee or party assessment.

Candidates must obtain the signatures of a least 1 percent of the total number of registered voters of the georgraphical area of candidacy:

• County Court Judge - 3,535 valid signatures

Candidates are required to use form DS-DE 104 - Candidate Petition to obtain signatures of registered voters. Signed petitions for verification must be submitted to the supervisor of elections no less than 28 days prior to the first day of candidate qualifying.

There is a fee of 10 cents per signature to be paid in advance to the supervisor of elections for the cost of verifying the signatures. If the candidate cannot pay this fee without imposing an undue burden on the candidate’s resources, the candidate may file DS-DE 19A - Affidavit of Undue Burden with the supervisor of elections to have the fee waived.

• Supreme Court memo to judicial candidates (1/2024)
• Information handbook for 2024 candidates (11/2023)
• 2024 calendar of reporting dates
• Candidate and campaign treasurer handbook (1/2024)
• Candidate petition handbook (1/2024)
• Political sign information
• Guidelines for determining residency qualifications for elected office (1/2024)
• Florida Code of Judicial Conduct 
• The Florida Election Code (8/2023)