President-Elect

SAMANTHA BUTLER

Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Bay County

        

In 2011, Samantha graduated magna cum laude from the University of West Florida with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Hospitality, Recreation, and Resort Management. She attended law school at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and graduated cum laude with her Juris Doctor and a legal writing certificate in 2014. She and her husband, Chris, live in his hometown of Panama City, Florida, where Samantha works as a staff attorney for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. She celebrated her ninth anniversary with the Court in August and currently serves as Lead Senior Staff Attorney in the circuit’s largest county. At present, she handles a portion of Bay County’s criminal pretrial, criminal postconviction, and family law assignments; she also handles all capital cases for Bay County and all risk protection orders for the circuit. She is affectionately (she hopes!) known as a grammar nazi and a Bluebook nerd—titles that she happily claims. Outside of work, Samantha has served in various roles on the board of the Bay County Bar Association, including a term as President in 2019; she currently serves on the FTCSAA Board as the 1st DCA representative. She and Chris (a fellow attorney, current Bay County Bar Association President, and current Fourteenth Circuit Governor on the Florida Bar’s YLD Board) just celebrated their eleventh wedding anniversary. They live with their four husky mix girls—Shadow (rear), Luna (front), Freya (left), and Artemis (pictured separately with Freya). In the spare time that she dreams of having, Samantha would enjoy reading, watching sports and cooking competition shows, and gardening.

Treasurer

EMILY KIGER

First Judicial Circuit, Walton County

Emily Kiger is a Senior Staff Attorney with the First Judicial Circuit, and this October will mark her twelfth year with the First Circuit. She is the only Staff Attorney assigned to her county, so she handles a little bit of everything, including pretrial criminal matters, postconviction criminal matters, capital cases, code enforcement appeals, certiorari petitions seeking review of zoning and county commissioner actions, family law, and prisoner civil litigation. Emily has been involved in FTCSAA in many roles, including as one of the editors for the FTCSAA Newsletter, “The Circuit Courterly,” and a member of multiple FTCSAA committees. She served as FTCSAA President in 2015, Immediate Past President in 2016, and Treasurer in 2017-2019. Emily returned to the Treasurer position in early 2023 following the early departure of the previous Treasurer. Emily graduated magna cum laude from the University of West Florida in 2008 with a dual major in Legal Studies/ Pre-Law and Criminal Justice. She earned her Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2011. Emily lives in Walton County, Florida with her husband and their (very lazy) Labrador Retriever mix, Lily.

 

Secretary

ROBERT FOLSOM

Eighth Judicial Circuit, Alachua County       

Robert Folsom is the current Secretary of the Florida Trial Court Staff Attorney Association. Robert is the Supervising Senior Staff Attorney in the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, where he has been a staff attorney since November 2005. Outside of his work for the court and his time as Secretary for FTCSAA, Robert is Past President of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association and the Treasurer of the James C. Adkins, Jr., American Inn of Court. Robert is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Political Science and Religious Studies, and the University of Miami School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor. Robert is an active member of both the Florida and South Carolina bars. 

First DCA Representative

DANIELLE SCOLA

Eighth Judicial Circuit, Alachua County

    

Danielle Scola joined the Eighth Judicial Circuit as a Staff Attorney in 2022. Despite self-identifying as a Floridian, Danielle was born in New Jersey and raised in southwest Florida where she spent the remainder of her youth attempting to illuminate the locals with the truth of good pizza. When that ultimately failed, Danielle studied at the University of Florida where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2018. Danielle attended law school at the University of Tennessee where she obtained a Juris Doctor with a Concentration in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution in 2022. While in law school, Danielle served as a research assistant and research editor, and received a CALI award in recognition of her work in the Advocacy Clinic. Again, disappointed in the quality of local pizza, Danielle quickly relocated back to Gainesville where she joined the Eighth Judicial Circuit as a Staff Attorney focusing primarily on postconviction relief and criminal law research. Danielle currently lives in Gainesville, Florida with her fiancée and fur-baby, Benjamin (see above). Outside of her work for the court, Danielle enjoys reading, traveling, and gardening.

Second DCA Representative

JENNIFER MARTINEZ MOONEY

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County

Jennifer Martinez Mooney is a Senior Staff Attorney in the Thirteenth Circuit in Hillsborough County.  Jennifer obtained her undergraduate Management Information Systems degree from the University of South Florida, her Master’s in Business Administration degree from Stetson University, and her Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law.  Since her 1998 admission to the Florida Bar, her entire legal career has been in the government sector.  In 1998, she commenced her legal career as a Staff Attorney with the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and was later promoted to a Senior Staff Attorney position.  From the Summer of 2005 through Spring of 2007, she served as the Director of Central Staff with the Second District Court of Appeal in Lakeland.  Jennifer is a Tampa native.  When given the opportunity to return to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Tampa and raise her children in the Tampa Bay area, she returned to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit where she has remained serving in the Circuit Criminal Division assigned to the Honorable Judge Michelle Sisco handling postconviction matters. 

Jennifer is a past Chair of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and served a five-year term on that board.  In 2021 and 2022, she served on the Florida Bar’s Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism in Florida.  In 2002, the Committee received the 2022 Florida Bar President’s Merit Award.  In 2019 and 2020, she served as a staff member on Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code Task Force and from 2011 through 2016, she served as the Chair of the Florida Bar’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee.  Jennifer has been a member of the FTCSAA for many years, served as a board member from 2014 through 2017 and 2022 through present.  She also a past recipient of the Kathy Pugh Award.  She has received many awards as a Senior Staff Attorney in the Thirteenth Circuit, including the 2019 Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Legal Eagle Award, the 2012 Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Administrative Office of the Court Quality of Excellence Award, the 2003 Thirteenth Circuit Administrative Office of the Court Most Valued Player Award, and the 2000 Thirteenth Circuit Administrative Office of the Court Teamwork Award.  In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends. 

Third DCA Representative

CATHERINE MCMANUS

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County

Catherine McManus is an Assistant General Counsel with twelve years’ experience in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.  Catherine is assigned to the Appellate Division, and previously worked in the Complex Business Litigation Division. She was honored to receive the G.E.M. (Going the Extra Mile) in 2018 at work, as well as recognition for her volunteer work on the Circuit’s law library fundraiser.  She graduated from FIU on a full tennis scholarship, received her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, and recently completed her LLM in taxation (online) at Boston University.  Catherine uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage her colleagues to succeed and work hard.  She is inspired by her parents, four siblings, and nine nieces and nephews.  In her free time, Catherine helps to advance voting rights through her membership on the League of Women Voters, enhances members in their public speaking skills in her Board position for Toastmasters, and works on her backhand in her tennis tournaments.

Fourth DCA Representative

ERIC WEISBERG

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County

Eric Weisberg has been a Staff Attorney in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit since August 2016. Eric works in the General Civil Division while also serving as the current Staff Attorney Appeals and Writs Coordinator. Prior, Eric spent 4 years working in the Probate Division of the Staff Attorney’s Office. Eric is the immediate past 4th DCA Representative.

Eric was born and raised in Broward County, Florida. He attended Florida State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree, having double majored in Political Science and Criminology & Criminal Justice with a minor in Religion. Thereafter, Eric received his Juris Doctor, graduating Cum Laude from St. Thomas University School of Law, where he also received a Certificate in Elder Law. Before working for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Staff Attorney’s office, Eric worked in private practice for a small law firm in Pembroke Pines, focusing on Probate, Guardianship, Foreclosure and Landlord/ Tenant law. He currently lives in Weston, Florida with his Wife, 10-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, and two Goldendoodles, Ollivander and Milo.

Fifth DCA Representative

KATIE CURHAM

Fifth Judicial Circuit, Marion County

Katie Curham is currently the supervising trial court staff attorney in the Fifth Circuit.  She is headquartered in Marion County.  She started as a staff attorney in April 2012.  Currently, she works on all dockets in Marion County, including the felony docket, the civil docket, and the appellate panel, as well as supervises the other staff attorneys throughout the circuit.  She received her B.A. in criminology and sociology in 2008 from the University of South Florida and her J.D. in 2011 from Florida Coastal School of Law.  She joined the Florida Trial Court Staff Attorney Association in 2012 and has previously served as the at-large representative from 2021-2022.  She loves to travel and make delicious baked goods and is a soon-to-be mom!

Sixth DCA Representative

ANTOINETTE ROMANO

Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County

Antoinette Romano has been a Staff Attorney since 2019 and is currently an Assistant Supervising Staff Attorney with the Ninth Circuit. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology in December 2015. She then obtained her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law in 2019. While in law school, Antoinette was a research assistant and served as Secretary and President of the Women Lawyers Association.

She currently serves as FTCSAA’s 6th DCA Representative and is a member of the Nominating Committee. Antoinette is also an active member of the Orange County Bar Association, serving as the Investitures Committee and Mentoring Committee Co-Chair for the Young Lawyers Section.

Antoinette enjoys reading, attending concerts and shows, and spending time with her dogs, friends, and family in her free time.