Robert H. Fernandez of Roig Lawyers Appointed to the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

Roig, Tutan, Rosenberg, Martin, Stoller, Zumpano & Bellido, a minority-owned litigation law firm dedicated to serving clients across seven offices throughout Florida, is pleased to announce that Robert H. Fernandez, a partner in the Coral Gables office, has been appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. The four-year term is effective immediately and ends on July 1, 2018.

Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNCs) select nominees to fill judicial vacancies within the Florida court system. There are 27 separate JNCs: one for the Florida Supreme Court; five for each of the district courts of appeal or “appellate districts;” 20 for each circuit court and the county courts contained in that circuit; and one Statewide Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims.

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida serves Miami-Dade County. Consisting of 80 Circuit Court judges and 43 County Court judges, the combined total of 123 judges represents the largest circuit in the state and the fourth largest in the country, according to the court’s website. The Eleventh Circuit serves two million Florida residents across a 2,000 square mile area.

About Robert H. Fernandez: Robert concentrates his practice on commercial, business, and construction litigation. Disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, non-compete covenants, shareholder disputes, and misappropriation of trade secrets are handled by Robert in both federal and state courts. He has also represented businesses in bid-protest award disputes before commissions of Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami.

In 2003, Robert became Deputy General Counsel to Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In this capacity, he assisted the Governor’s General Counsel in oversight of all legal aspects affecting the Governor’s Office and the Governor’s 17 executive agencies. This included advising the General Counsel and Governor Bush on agency actions, pending litigation, executive orders, legislative bills, constitutional issues, judicial and executive appointments, Cabinet issues, suspension of elected officials, public records law, and constituent legal issues.

He returned to his South Florida practice in 2005, at which time he handled all types of complex business litigation. While serving in Tallahassee, Robert developed expertise in election law and currently represents candidates and elected officials before the Florida Elections Commission and the Florida Commission on Ethics. He also advises political campaigns on all types of election law issues.

Robert currently acts as outside general counsel to various entrepreneurial and start-up ventures, where he advises on a broad range of legal issues.

Robert earned his B.A. from Columbia University and Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law.