Taylor Bowman Appointed by Governor DeSantis as a Judge on the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is pleased to announce that Florida partner Taylor Bowman has been appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as a judge on the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Masters.

“We congratulate Taylor on his appointment,” said Steve Lehner, partner-in-charge of Hinshaw’s Tampa office. “Taylor has been an outstanding colleague and a dedicated legal professional during his time with us. We wish him every success as he takes on the important duty of administering justice from the bench.”

Taylor also brings substantial trial experience to his new role, having previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court, where he prosecuted thousands of cases—ranging from simple misdemeanors to complex felonies, including attempted first-degree murder—and first-chaired dozens of bench and jury trials to verdict.

About Taylor

Taylor joined Hinshaw as an associate in 2018 and was elected as a partner in 2023. He guided clients through every phase of insurance litigation, from discovery and legal research to depositions, motions practice, and trial.

Taylor earned his JD, cum laude, from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2015, graduating in the top eight percent of his class. While in law school, he was a member of the nationally top-ranked Moot Court Honor Board and competed in five national competitions.

About the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court

The Tenth Judicial Circuit Court is one of Florida's 20 judicial circuits and serves Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties with 28 circuit judges and 12 county court judges, handling cases for approximately 728,612 residents across 3,676 square miles.

The circuit court operates five divisions—Civil, Criminal, Family, Juvenile, and Probate—while the three county courts in Wauchula, Sebring, and Bartow handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil matters under $50,000.

Media Coverage

• • The Ledger: “DeSantis appoints Taylor Bowman as circuit judge to replace Masters” (May 20, 2026)
  • Florida Daily: “Ron DeSantis Announces Nine Judicial Appointments Across Florida” (May 18, 2026)
  • Lakeland Gazette: “Governor Ron DeSantis Makes Three Judicial Appointments in Polk” (May 18, 2026)
  • Tampa Free Press: “DeSantis Overhauls Florida Benches With Nine Judicial Appointments” (May 18, 2026)