Cases and background information for

Senior Judge Richard B. Orfinger

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About this Court Position
About this Court Position

Candidate Background

Judicial Background

He retired from the court in 2021, but continues to serve as a senior judge.

  • 2000 - 2021: Judge, 5th District Court of Appeal. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush. In 2014, he won the retention vote in by 70.9%.
  • 1991 - 2000: Circuit Judge, 7th Judicial Circuit Court. Appointed.*

Additional Background

Judge Orfinger started his career as an Assistant State Attorney in the Felony Division. He then spent 12 years at the same firm, practicing corporate, commercial and health care law. As a judge, he played a part in creating the 7th Circuit's Committee on Professionalism (1997). He has also taught at the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies.

Note: His father, Melvin Orfinger, was one of the first judges of the 5th District Court of Appeal. His brother, Michael S Orfinger, is also a judge in Florida. They will show up in a search, so be sure to check it is Richard.

This judge is a member of the Federalist Society.

Expected Retirement

This judge is a textualist, who uses an interpretation of the Constitution that is advocated by the Federalist Society.

additional resources

Note: Some sources, like the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Today, and Tampa Bay Times, have a limited number of free articles.

* Appointed instead of running for election because of a vacancy between election cycles.