Ronald Swanson

Judge Ronald Swanson is a graduate of Florida State University.   He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida and was awarded an LL.M. (highest honors) from the National Law Center, George Washington University.  His professional career has been diverse.  He served on active duty in the United States Navy, for over 20 years, retiring, in 1995,  as a Navy Captain.

Upon retirement from the navy, he worked as a prosecutor in Florida’s First Judicial Circuit.  In the spring of 2000, he was appointed by then Florida Governor Jeb Bush to serve as County Judge in and for Santa Rosa County, Florida.  Subsequently, in 2003, Judge Swanson was appointed by Governor Bush to the circuit court bench for Florida’s First Judicial Circuit.  

In 2011, Judge Swanson was elevated, by Governor Rick Scott, to serve as an appellate court judge on Florida’s First District Court of Appeal, Tallahassee, Florida.  Judge Swanson retired from that court in April, 2016.  In his capacity as an appellate court judge, Judge Swanson authored dozens of published court opinions.