Justice Ricky Polston has announced his resignation from the Florida Supreme Court, effective March 31. Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz praised Polston, stating, "Ricky Polston is a good man, and he has been a treasured colleague, friend, and role model to all of us on the Court. We are grateful for Justice Polston’s decades of exemplary service to the people of our state."
Polston, aged 67, joined the Supreme Court in 2008 as its 83rd Justice and served as the state's 55th Chief Justice from 2012 to 2014. His tenure as Chief Justice coincided with the national foreclosure crisis, which led to a surge in court filings in Florida. During this period, he also spearheaded significant technological advancements within the judicial branch, including mandatory electronic filing.
Reflecting on his career, Polston expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the public: "I am grateful for the public trust placed in me during my judicial career. It has been my great honor to serve the people of Florida."
A graduate of Chipola College and Florida State University, where he graduated summa cum laude, Polston initially worked as a certified public accountant before attending Florida State University College of Law. He later practiced primarily in commercial litigation before being appointed to the First District Court of Appeal in 2001.
Justice Polston and his wife Deborah Ehler Polston have been married for 45 years. They have ten children, including an adopted sibling group of six, along with numerous grandchildren.