Course 9842

This engaging program introduces to the appellate bar three of Florida’s newest appellate judges—Judge Lance Neff (1DCA), Judge Jonathan Lott (4DCA), and Judge Rachel Kamoutsas (6DCA). Participants will learn about the judges’ paths to the bench, their perspectives on appellate practice, and their insights into effective advocacy. This session will offer an invaluable opportunity to get a first look at some of the state’s up-and-coming legal minds.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

As a result of attending this session, the learner will be better able to:

1. Gain insights into the professional backgrounds and pathways that led the panelists to the appellate bench.
2. Identify key factors that influence judicial decision-making and courtroom management from the perspective of new appellate judges.
3. Apply the judges’ guidance on effective appellate advocacy and brief writing in practice.
4. Recognize trends and challenges facing Florida’s appellate courts, as discussed by the panelists.

FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES:

Hon.  Lance Neff, of Tallahassee, was appointed to Florida’s First District Court of Appeal by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2026 after previously serving on the Second Judicial Circuit. Before joining the bench, Judge Neff served as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Corrections and spent many years as a trial attorney with the Florida Office of the Attorney General, handling matters in corrections, complex litigation, and Medicaid fraud enforcement. In addition to his civilian legal career, Judge Neff is a Lieutenant Colonel and judge advocate in the Florida National Guard, where he has served in numerous leadership roles, including as Staff Judge Advocate for the Florida Army National Guard, and has deployed overseas in support of military operations in the Horn of Africa. A Florida Bar Board Certified civil trial lawyer, Judge Neff earned degrees from Valdosta State University, Boston College, and Florida Coastal School of Law.

Hon. Rachel Kamoutsas, of Oakland, was appointed to Florida’s Sixth District Court of Appeal by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025. Judge Kamoutsas began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County before serving in several roles within the Florida Attorney General’s Office, including handling death penalty and criminal appeals and later serving as Deputy General Counsel to Attorney General Ashley Moody. She also played a key role in supporting the Attorney General’s Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse and issued formal legal opinions on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office. Before joining the appellate bench, Judge Kamoutsas served as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and later Chief of Staff for the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida.

Hon. Jonathan Lott, of Ft. Lauderdale, was appointed to Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal by Governor Ron DeSantis in November 2026 after serving on the Broward County Family Court bench in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Before becoming a judge, Judge Lott worked in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office and built a reputation as a respected and well-regarded lawyer among his colleagues. Originally from Pensacola and now based in Fort Lauderdale, Judge Lott earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School.