A Jacksonville, Florida resident, Judge Michael Kalil draws extensive experience with the legal system. He previously practiced as a civil trial attorney with the Law Offices of John S. Kalil for nearly a decade and was previously a public defender. In January 2021, Michael Kalil was elected to the Fourth Judicial Circuit as a state circuit judge.
The United States of America has a complex criminal justice system; a single court would be unable to handle all of the instances of criminal cases that emerge. As a result, when establishing the constitution, the founding fathers established circuit courts that were active in various locations within a defined region. The practice was based on English common law at the time; historically, the judges traveled across their assigned district to administer justice, which was a tedious and risky undertaking. The present-day judges are more specific to their jurisdiction at the county, district, state, and federal levels, since the practice of ‘riding the circuit’ has ceased with the evolution of the circuit court system into the courts of appeals. However, the old nomenclature still remains, and judges will still occasionally travel to specific locations in their circuit, focusing on cases within their field of expertise.
In order to practice law in their state, judges must hold a bachelor's degree, a Juris Doctor degree, and must have passed the bar and obtained a license. Many states have additional qualifying standards for judges seeking to serve on circuit courts. Their terms are for a six-year tenure after being elected. However, the 13 federal circuit courts that answer directly to the U.S. Supreme Court have judges who are appointed to serve for life by the President of the United States.
The United States of America has a complex criminal justice system; a single court would be unable to handle all of the instances of criminal cases that emerge. As a result, when establishing the constitution, the founding fathers established circuit courts that were active in various locations within a defined region. The practice was based on English common law at the time; historically, the judges traveled across their assigned district to administer justice, which was a tedious and risky undertaking. The present-day judges are more specific to their jurisdiction at the county, district, state, and federal levels, since the practice of ‘riding the circuit’ has ceased with the evolution of the circuit court system into the courts of appeals. However, the old nomenclature still remains, and judges will still occasionally travel to specific locations in their circuit, focusing on cases within their field of expertise.
In order to practice law in their state, judges must hold a bachelor's degree, a Juris Doctor degree, and must have passed the bar and obtained a license. Many states have additional qualifying standards for judges seeking to serve on circuit courts. Their terms are for a six-year tenure after being elected. However, the 13 federal circuit courts that answer directly to the U.S. Supreme Court have judges who are appointed to serve for life by the President of the United States.
