On Friday, May 16, 2025, Florida Circuit Court Judge Nancy Jacobs filed a notice of resignation with the Florida Supreme Court, announcing her departure from the bench effective May 31.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Nancy Jacobs,” with case number SC2023-1303.
Jacobs, a Democratic judge serving in Hillsborough County’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, submitted her resignation to Governor Ron DeSantis amid ongoing ethics charges stemming from her 2022 campaign.
The ethics controversy arose during Jacobs’ successful 2022 election against Republican opponent Jared Smith. During the campaign, Jacobs labeled Smith a “bigot” and criticized his rulings on abortion, also stating he was “not a good person” and harbored prejudice against Jewish people. Smith, in response, had commented that Jacobs “needs Jesus,” prompting her remarks. Jacobs, who is Jewish, defended her statements as protected political speech under the First Amendment and contested the ethics complaint for months.
State judicial ethics authorities sought Jacobs’ removal from the bench, citing her campaign rhetoric as a violation of judicial conduct standards.
In her resignation statement, Jacobs emphasized her commitment to integrity, civil liberties, and the rule of law, asserting that no individual should face silencing for addressing public concerns.
Jacobs’ resignation concludes her tenure as a circuit court judge, a position she held in one of Florida’s busiest judicial circuits. Her departure marks the resolution of a high-profile ethics dispute that has drawn attention to the intersection of free speech and judicial conduct in political campaigns.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
