Orange County, Florida

Orange County Court Judge Group 17

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Cherish Adams, is on the ballot.

Florida › Orange County › Orange County Court Judge Group 17

Decided at the 2026 primary: Cherish Adams won the seat

DECIDED August 18: incumbent Cherish Adams won with 54 percent (86,299 votes) over Joy Goodyear, per unofficial results. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.

Winner

Cherish Adams

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

Judicial impartiality and protecting due process
Dignity and equal voice for everyone in her courtroom
Communication with litigants to reduce fear and confusion

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Cherish Adams is the sitting Orange County Court judge (Group 17); previously an Orange County prosecutor for roughly a decade handling violent crimes, sexual offenses, and homicides, per keepjudgeadams.vote and the League of Women Voters of Orange County Bench Press recap.

Campaign finance

$141,110 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Also ran in the primary

Joy K. Goodyear

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Reducing case backlogs through efficient case management
Treating all individuals with respect and compassion while maintaining fairness
Empathy - understanding each defendant's story and ensuring people understand the legal process

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Assistant Public Defender for approximately 27-28 years, handling thousands of cases throughout Central Florida; Stetson Law graduate, per joy4judge2026.com and the League of Women Voters of Orange County Bench Press recap.

Campaign finance

$23,270 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Orange County Court Judge Group 17 in 2026?

The Orange County Court Judge Group 17 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Cherish Adams won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Cherish Adams and Joy K. Goodyear. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Orange County Court Judge Group 17 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Orange County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Orange County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Orange County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Orange County ballot

20 tracked races in Orange County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 1 Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 3 Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 5 See all 20 Orange County races

Candidate profiles

Cherish Adams, full profile Joy K. Goodyear, full profile Official Florida election office