Candidate: C. Joe Boatwright II

Judge Boatwright was elected as a County Court Judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit for Putnam County, Florida, in 2012. He is currently assigned to both criminal and civil case dockets in Putnam County. He has been cross assigned as an Acting Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Recently, he was invited to sit as an Associate Judge for the 5th District Court of Appeals. Judge Boatwright grew up in Putnam County and attended school in the Putnam County school system. He graduated from Palatka High School with honors. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, he was the principal of Open Bible Baptist Academy in East Palatka for six years and during this time he earned a Masters Degree in Religious Education from Covington Theological Seminary. He received his law degree from the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, in Washington DC where he graduated second in his class, Summa Cum Laude. In addition, he received his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. Finally, in 2016, Judge Boatwright was selected to study law on a full scholarship with 22 judges from around the world at Duke University School of Law in their Judicial Studies advanced law degree program. While at the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, Judge Boatwright was a member of the Catholic University Law Review. He is currently on the editorial board for the November 2017, edition of the Judicature Law Journal published by Duke Law School. He will be the editor in chief of the March 2018, edition of the Judicature Law Journal published by Duke Law School. Prior to becoming a judge, he practiced law in both the public and private sectors. His experience includes working as a law clerk for Ronald E. Clark, Esq., the law firm of Walton, Townsend and McLeod, and the American Center for Law in Justice (ACLJ). He was an Assistant State Attorney in the Seventh Judicial Circuit for the then State Attorney, John Tanner. He worked in the private sector with Donald Holmes P.A., representing the citizens of Putnam County in the areas of civil, family, probate, criminal, and tax law along with representing local government agencies such as the Putnam County Supervisor of Elections Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Finally, he managed the Putnam County State Attorney’s Office for the current State Attorney, R.J. Larizza. Further, Judge Boatwright was an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law for over ten years where he taught courses in legal research and writing, criminal procedure, and tax law. In addition, he is currently an adjunct professor at St. Johns River State College where he teaches classes in business law. Judge Boatwright is actively involved in his community through church and civic activities. He is a member of God’s Way Baptist Church, the Palatka Rotary Club, the Putnam County Public Safety Council, and the St. Augustine Inn of Court. In addition, he is the Seventh Judicial Circuit’s Pro-Bono Sub-Committee Chairman for Putnam County. Finally, he serves as a board member for the Arc of Putnam County, Project Lighthouse, the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity, and is on the board of advisors for the ARC Youth Ministries serving both Putnam and St. Johns counties.