Judge Kelvin Wells gets appointed to a demotion
Why would he want a demotion? A local radio host gives me the inside scoop.
Since his lackluster showing in the Republican presidential primary, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been staying busy governing his state: taking on Disney, DEI, and anti-Semites.
With all that activity, it’s not surprising that a press release from mid-April announcing the appointment of two judges flew under the radar.
The press release caught my eye, because one of the appointees is a judge known to readers of Michael Volpe Investigates.
Kelvin Wells, of DeFuniak Springs, to serve as Judge on the Walton County Court
Wells has served as a Circuit Judge for the First Judicial Circuit since 2004. Previously, he served as a County Court Judge for Okaloosa County. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and his juris doctor from the University of Mississippi. Wells fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David Green.
Judge Wells was featured in a story from February 2024, where he has a habit of violating due process, like when he screwed over Tess Vega.
Judge Wells is a hack, but that’s not what’s interesting about this appointment.
Judge Wells is a Circuit Judge, and he’s appointed to be a County Judge.
That seems like a demotion. Why would he take a demotion? I went to the source and asked Governor DeSantis office, but multiple attempts for comment were unsuccessful.
While this appointment flew under the radar, it did receive some media coverage, like this story from Florida Politics.
He’s sending Gainesville lawyer Jonathan Ramsey to the Alachua County Court and Kelvin Wells of DeFuniak Springs to the Walton County Court.
Ramsey has worked as an associate at Fine Farkash & Parlapiano PA since 2018 and previously served as an Assistant State Attorney in the 8th Judicial Circuit.
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The same can’t be said of Wells, who has served on the 1st Judicial Circuit since 2004 and previously presided over cases as a judge on the Okaloosa County Court.
Wells earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.
He hasn’t made a political donation since 2001, when he gave $500 to the re-election campaign of Republican ex-Gov. Jeb Bush.
The story does not explain why a Circuit Judge has become a County Judge. I reached out to the site, but I received no response.
I reached out to Wells’ chambers, and they gave me some clarification.
“He applied for it,” Judge Wells chambers told me.
So, now we know he wanted the job, but is this a demotion?
Here is what a website stated about circuit judges in Florida.
Circuit courts have general trial jurisdiction over matters not assigned by statute to the county courts. The jurisdiction of circuit courts includes, in part, civil disputes involving more than $50,000; controversies involving the estates of decedents, minors, and persons adjudicated as incapacitated; cases relating to juveniles; criminal prosecutions for all felonies; tax disputes; actions to determine the title and boundaries of real property; suits for declaratory judgments that is, to determine the legal rights or responsibilities of parties under the terms of written instruments, laws, or regulations before a dispute arises and leads to litigation; and requests for injunctions to prevent persons or entities from acting in a manner that is asserted to be unlawful.
Meanwhile, county judges have this role.
County court judges hear only criminal misdemeanors, which consist of crimes that have a possible sentence of less than one year in jail, and civil cases in which the amount in dispute is $15,000 or less. Circuit court judges deal with criminal felonies, domestic relations, probate matters and civil cases in which the amount in dispute is greater than $15,000. Judges on the five District Courts of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court review the decisions of the lower trial courts.
That’s a demotion. Why? For that answer, I finally spoke with Burnie Thompson, a local radio host who has done several segments on Judge Wells’ corruption.
Burnie told me that professionally this is a demotion, but that Judge Wells lobbied for it because he is “lazy.”
Also, Judge Wells, Burnie told me, will receive a pension from twenty plus years as a circuit judge and his salary as a county judge.
That’s nice, no wonder Governor DeSantis did not want to talk about this appointment.
Burnie also told me about a trial he witnessed presided over by Judge Wells in January.
It was the trial of Hoot Crawford.
Burnie has written several articles on his Substack about this trial, which everyone should check out. The most recent discovery was potential juror misconduct, which Burnie covered as well. Check out his show below.
In 2022, Hoot represented a sixteen-year-old who was allegedly raped. In Florida, the state has Marsy’s Law, which provides extra protection for crime victims including the appointment of an attorney.
Hoot was appointed to represent this victim.
Florida law enforcement was demanding to interview Hoot’s client without him present. He objected so they told him that the Department of Children and Family (DCF) had taken emergency custody of her.
That was ridiculous, so Hoot refused to make her available for an interview.
Florida prosecutors charged him custodial interference, claiming DCF had custody.
Judge Wells presided over the trial, and Burnie spotted him playing with his phone during the trial, which is the photo at the top.
Burnie said that Judge Wells made one critical ruling which all but guaranteed Hoot’s conviction.
Judge Wells instructed the jury did it did not matter whether they believed that DCF had proper custody. All that mattered was the Hoot was told they did and ignored the instruction.
It seems like Judge Wells was assuring a conviction.
Governor DeSantis must be proud.