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John D. Couriel, 48 years old, son of Cuban exiles and a native of Miami, was unanimously elected this Thursday as the 58th president of the Florida Supreme Court, the highest-ranking position within the state's judicial system.
Couriel will assume the position on July 1, replacing Carlos G. Muñiz, who will conclude his second term as president on June 30.
The Florida Supreme Court announced the election in an official statement, highlighting that Couriel meets both the traditional criterion of being the longest-serving justice who has yet to hold the presidency and the new court rules that prioritize management skills, administrative capabilities, and leadership over mere seniority.
Upon hearing the news, Couriel expressed his gratitude to his colleagues: "I thank my colleagues for their trust, and I am indebted to the former presidents I have served alongside. I will do everything possible to serve the people of Florida, just as they have done so effectively."
Couriel was appointed a judge of the Florida Supreme Court in May 2020 by Governor Ron DeSantis, who then described him as a son of Cuban exiles who understands the importance of the rule of law and a written Constitution.
His parents emigrated from Cuba in the 1960s, and he was born and raised in Miami.
Couriel studied at Harvard College, where he earned his magna cum laude bachelor's degree in 2000, and later his law degree at Harvard Law School in 2003.
Before his judicial appointment, he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 2009 to 2013, handling cases involving money laundering, public corruption, and fraud, and later as a partner at the law firm Kobre & Kim in Miami, specializing in cross-border disputes with an emphasis on Latin America.
As president of the court, Couriel will be the primary spokesperson for Florida's judicial system, will preside over the Supreme Court's proceedings, will oversee the preparation of the judicial budget before the legislature, and will have the authority to preside over impeachment proceedings in the state Senate.
His wife, Dra. Rebecca L. Toonkel, is the senior associate dean for academic affairs at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. They have two children.
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