UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2026-56
NC
IN RE: APPOINTMENT OF FEDERAL Jul 14, 2026
MAGISTRATE JUDGE MERIT SELECTION PANEL
REGARDING THE UPCOMING MAGISTRATE JUDGE WPB
VACANCY IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
/
Under the provisions of the Federal Magistrates Act, 28 U.S.C. section 631(b)(5); the
regulations of the Judicial Conference of the United States Establishing Standards and
Procedures for the Appointment of United States Magistrate Judges; and by action of the Judges
of this Court, the residents of this District listed below are appointed as members of the Federal
Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the upcoming vacancy due to the retirement of
Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt on March 7, 2027.
The duty of the Panel is to consider and recommend to the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida persons qualified to fill one (1) full-time United States
Magistrate Judge position with a duty station in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The members of the Federal Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel are as follows:
Chair: Anne Flanigan, Esq.
Members: Arianna Aguero (non-attorney)
Jodi Anton, AUSA
Fred Karlinsky, Esq.
Joshua Levenson, Esq.
Bernardo Lopez, AFPD
Jonathan Osborne, Esq.
Hans Ottinot Sr., Esq.
Braulio Rosa (non-attorney)
John Seiler, Esq.
Darren Spielman, Esq.
The Panel will receive and examine applications to recommend to the Court five (5)
applicants whose character, experience, ability, and commitment to equal justice under law fully
qualify them to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge. Comments in connection with
applicants may also be sent to the Panel in care of the Court Administrator at 400 North Miami
Avenue, Room 8N09, Miami, Florida 33128, and should be marked “Confidential;” or sent via
email to
[email protected]. The Panel will meet in person
as necessary, interview applicants, and make its recommendation of five (5) applicants to the
Court by September 24, 2026.
All Panel members have been advised in writing of the restriction set forth in section
420.30.20(d) of the Regulations of the Judicial Conference of the United States Establishing
Standards and Procedures for the Appointment and Reappointment of United States Magistrate
Judges.
Angela E. Noble, Court Administrator • Clerk of Court, is appointed as staff assistant to
render such service as may be required by the Panel in performing its functions.
This Federal Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel and the term of each member shall
expire on October 30, 2026, unless otherwise extended or modified by order of this Court.
DONE AND ORDERED in Miami, Florida, this 14th day of July, 2026.
_______________________________________
CECILIA M. ALTONAGA
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
c: The Honorable William H. Pryor, Jr., Chief Judge, Eleventh Circuit
All Southern District of Florida District Judges, Bankruptcy Judges and Magistrate Judges
Mr. Joseph T. Phillips, Chief, Judicial Services Office, Administrative Office of the
United States Courts
Angela E. Noble, Court Administrator • Clerk of Court
Members of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel
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