Eleven attorneys from Lee and Collier counties are the finalists to fill four new judgeships, with two of the new positions on the bench in Naples.

The Judicial Nominating Commission approved the recommendations to Gov. Jeb Bush after interviewing 36 candidates Tuesday and Wednesday. The attorneys will travel to Tallahassee to meet with Bush’s staff, and the governor has 60 days from today, when the recommendation list was forwarded to him, to select his choices.

The nine-member commission represents the five-county region that includes Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Two new county court judges will preside over misdemeanor, small claims and civil county cases in Naples. And the two new circuit judges will handle felony cases, civil lawsuits of more than $15,000 in dispute, divorce and juvenile cases. Court officials anticipate the circuit judges will be assigned to Charlotte and Lee.

For the county court positions, the finalists are:

Rob Crown, Naples assistant state attorney;

Josephine Gagliardi, Fort Myers civil attorney;

Christine Greider, Naples assistant state attorney;

Janeice Martin, Naples criminal defense attorney.

Lawrence Pivacek, Naples general master;

Michael Provost, Naples assistant state attorney.

The finalists for circuit court judge are:

Elizabeth Adams, Fort Myers family law attorney;

Hal Adams, Fort Myers civil trial practice attorney;

Miguel Fernandez III, Fort Myers attorney;

Greider, whos also a finalist for the county court judgeship;

Mark Steinbeck, assistant U.S. attorney;

Edward Volz, Lee County judge.

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