As part of our commitment to providing you with what you need to make an informed decision in the 2026 elections, News 6 joined with the News Collaborative of Central Florida to present the Voting Central Florida 2026 Voter’s Guide.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.
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[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]
Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.
However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.
Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.
Orange County Judge Group 17
The Orange County Court handles local legal matters, including misdemeanors, local ordinance violations, small civil claims like financial disputes up to $50,000, tenant evictions, and traffic violations.
All county judge races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.
The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.
Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.
Our partners at the Vox Populi compiled the candidate responses for the Orange County judicial races, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks.
Cherish Adams - Incumbent
WEBSITE: keepjudgeadams.vote/
What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? I have had the honor of serving as an Orange County Judge since 2023. During that time, I have presided over both civil and criminal dockets. Prior to becoming a judge, I clerked for Judge Kerry I Evander at the Fifth District Court of Appeal, which was the appellate court for Orange County at that time. I then served as a prosecutor for over 10 years, 8 of which were here in Orange County. As an Orange County prosecutor, I represented our community in court on cases involving violent crimes, child sexual abuse, and homicides. Having practiced and served as a judge in Orange County, I am familiar with the unique needs and challenges facing the Orange County court and community.
As a County Judge, I was first assigned to a civil docket, where I presided over cases involving damages of $50,000 or less, evictions, and small claims. After serving as a county judge for one year, the chief judge asked me to assist with circuit criminal, where I handled all of the pretrial detention hearings, civil commitment of sexually violent predators, and covered trials including homicide and sex crimes cases for over a year. I am now back on a civil docket and proudly serving our community. With over 80 jury trials under my belt (67 as a prosecutor and 17 as a judge) and countless bench trials and evidentiary hearings, I have shown that I have the knowledge, experience, and temperament this community needs in a trial judge. Every person who comes to my courtroom is given a fair opportunity to be heard and treated with dignity and respect.
What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? Our judicial system should be a place where everybody has equal justice under the law. A judge’s personal values such as respect for others, integrity, and fairness should always be involved in the decision-making process. However, a judge’s political ideology or desire for a particular outcome should never be a consideration. Judicial decisions must be based on a fair evaluation of the evidence presented to the court, the arguments of the parties, and a faithful application of the law.
How do you balance precedent with evolving social standards? A trial judge is bound to follow judicial precedent that is controlling for the case, but the judge can note in the ruling that the decision was reached solely due to the court’s obligation to follow controlling precedent and suggest that the appellate court consider changing that precedent.
What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? A judge must carefully adhere to the guidelines in the Judicial Canons. For each case, I consider whether I have a conflict with any of the parties or attorneys, err on the side of disclosing any potential conflict even if I don’t think it truly is a conflict, and disqualify myself from any case in which my impartiality might be questioned in any way.
I am careful to avoid creating conflicts of interest by carefully governing my activities inside and outside of the courtroom so as not to create any appearance of impropriety or partiality. I carefully adhere to the guidelines in the Judicial Canons, do not participate in any political group or events, and am careful to avoid even the appearance of a conflict. I also govern my words and actions in court carefully, ensuring that both parties and attorneys are treated fairly and equally.
What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? Access to legal representation and access to the courthouse have been significant barriers to justice for many individuals in Orange County. In county court in particular, many litigants are representing themselves and are unfamiliar with the judicial process. I cannot give anyone legal advice, but I often inform individuals about the Self Help Center at the courthouse, which can help them obtain the legal assistance they need. At the beginning of every hearing with a self-represented litigant, I explain in non-legal terms what the hearing is about and what the process will be. At the end, I also explain why I am ruling a particular way so that even if the litigant did not win their case, they still feel heard, respected, and that the decision was fair. Additionally, I understand that getting to the courthouse can be challenging to many individuals, so I offer virtual hearings for non-evidentiary hearings to increase access to the courts.
Joy Goodyear
WEBSITE: joy4judge2026.com/
What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? My 28 years as an Assistant Public Defender has been the best preparation I could ask for. As a public defender, I have represented people who are in desperate need of help. They have little to no money or resources and have been charged with a criminal offense. They often have no experience with our court system and sometimes have little education. As a result, I not only have to provide legal advice and assistance, but I also have to teach them how our system works. I have to explain what rights they have and often time correct misunderstandings they have. I often have to contend with language barriers and other issues that need to be overcome. I also try to determine what outcome is the best for my client. Many times the best outcome involves advocating for a solution that will solve the underlying problem that caused the current charge. For example, homelessness may have led to a trespass or theft charge. Drug addiction may have led to a drug charge. Untreated mental illness may have led to a assault charge.
As a public defender, I also have to work closely with the state attorney’s office and all the members of the courtroom. Public defenders often have very large caseloads, so it’s very important to keep up on all of the cases and work efficiently with others. I know firsthand the problems delays in our court system can have on my clients and I have to make sure to limit those delays as much as possible. When dealing with my clients, witnesses, or victims, it is not uncommon for them to become upset or frustrated and I have to always be patient and understanding.
I’ve also had the opportunity to see what solutions work best and what solutions don’t. I strongly believe that “one solution fits all” is no solution at all. Every case is different; every individual has different needs. It is important that whatever solution is reached be one that is specifically tailored to the facts and circumstances of that specific case and individual.
All of these experiences have helped prepare me for the bench. As a county court judge, I will often have people appearing before me without attorneys. I will need to be able to explain to them how the system works and what they need to do. I will need to be patient and understanding. I will need to address any barriers that interfere with this goal. I will need to be able to work efficiently with both sides and courtroom staff. I will have to find solutions that are best for each situation as it is presented.
What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? My personal values help shape my character, but they do not determine what decision I will need to make as a judge. A judge’s personal opinions must be set aside, as judges are required to follow the law in every case. Every person that appears before a judge must not feel that the outcome will be based on the personal beliefs of that judge, but will be the correct decision when the law is applied to the facts of the case. Otherwise, there would be no consistency in our court system. As a public defender, I am fully aware of the importance of fairness, impartiality, and treating every person with respect. I will do everything in my power to make sure every person knows that I will give them the full opportunity to be heard and that I will make a fair decision based on the law.
How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? A judge is required to apply the law as it is written. A judge can look to precedent to get clarity on how courts have interpreted that law. Following precedent provides consistency, which is critical to a fair judicial system. It is important that litigants are treated similarly even though they appear before different judges. When a law needs to be changed because of evolving societal standards, it is the legislature that is tasked with making those changes. It is important that judges are informed of those changes and make the correct rulings as time requires.
What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? I would avoid conflicts of interest by making sure not to engage in financial or business dealing with lawyers that are likely to come before the court. I would follow the Code of Judicial Conduct and review each case for potential conflicts and disclose them. If a conflict arises, I would recuse myself. It’s imperative that every litigant knows they are getting a fair hearing.
What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? The biggest barrier to justice in the current system is delays. Every judge has heavy caseloads and it is very difficult to manage those caseloads in a timely manner. I know firsthand the problems that delays can have on individuals and their families. Oftentimes when someone is arrested, they are immediately terminated from their job. Unfortunately, it often takes a year or longer to resolve the matter. That means that the person arrested, wrongfully or not, is unemployed for that length of time. That has immeasurable adverse impacts on the individual and their family. In civil cases, the stress of a pending lawsuit can be very difficult to deal with. When that case can take years to resolve, that is a long period of time that the parties are dealing with that stress and all of the impacts it has on them and their families. If I am elected, I will do whatever it takes to reduce the delays that exist in our system. I believe that is best accomplished through keeping track of each case, knowing where the litigation stands, and being able to address any issues that arise in a timely manner. I will also make sure that hearing time is available so that cases can be heard.