Florida Judicial Races: Prosecutor and Public Defender Advance to November Runoff for County Bench

Last updated: August 19, 2026

NewsWK — A high-profile contest for a Florida trial court seat is headed to a November runoff after neither candidate secured an outright majority in a competitive three-way primary election. The race for Duval County Court Group 13 will see a veteran prosecutor face off against a longtime public defender to determine who will take over the seat vacated by retired Judge Mose Floyd.

Octavius Holliday, who serves as director of the human rights division within the State Attorney’s Office under State Attorney Melissa Nelson, finished at the top of the primary field with 37 percent of the ballots cast. Melina Buncome, a career public defender overseeing specialized court programs, finished second with 33 percent. Duval County Magistrate Marquita Green placed third and was eliminated from contention, setting up the two-candidate showdown in the general election.

Why it matters here

While the Group 13 race is taking place on Florida’s First Coast, judicial elections statewide carry significant implications for residents across Northwest Florida, from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to communities throughout the Florida Panhandle. Florida’s county courts are frequently referred to as the “people’s courts” because they represent the judicial system’s primary point of contact with ordinary citizens.

For taxpayers, business owners, and families, the philosophy and temperament of the judges presiding over these benches directly shape how the rule of law is maintained across the state. County courts manage vital daily legal matters, including misdemeanor criminal prosecutions, small-claims and civil contract disputes, local traffic infractions, citizen conflicts, and aspects of family and probate law. The decisions made in these courtrooms uphold public safety, protect property rights, and set standards for how swiftly and fairly local justice is administered throughout Florida.

Contrasting Legal Backgrounds on the Ballot

The runoff presents voters with two candidates offering distinctly different legal careers within Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties.

Holliday brings a diverse background that spans prosecution, private practice, civil litigation, family law, and criminal defense. In his current role with the State Attorney’s Office, his caseload centers primarily on prosecuting elder abuse and financial exploitation. Additionally, Holliday participates on grand jury panels and reviews officer-involved shooting incidents. Outside the courtroom, he is active in community organizations, including 100 Black Men of America, and serves as president of the local Theta Phi chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Buncome has built her career primarily within the public defender’s office, where she has served since 1997. She currently directs the Problem Solving Courts for the circuit, supervising specialized dockets including veterans treatment court, adult drug court, and mental health court. Her litigation experience spans serious felony cases, including homicides, down to juvenile misdemeanor proceedings, alongside past work in private civil practice. Buncome is also a recipient of the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award.

Following the primary results, a representative for Buncome stated that the candidate “worked tirelessly, listened to the people of our community, and never took a single vote for granted,” noting that the campaign plans to bring that continued focus into the general election campaign.

The Road to the November General Election

Judicial races in Florida are nonpartisan, placing the emphasis on candidates’ legal experience, fidelity to statutory interpretation, and capability to manage heavy court dockets efficiently. Because no candidate crossed the 50 percent threshold required to win the seat outright during the primary, the top two finishers now enter a head-to-head campaign phase.

As voters throughout the state evaluate judicial candidates on their ballots this autumn, the Group 13 race underscores the enduring debate over judicial experience, pitting a prosecutor with extensive civil and community background against a veteran public defender specializing in rehabilitation-focused diversionary dockets.