Edwin A. Scales, III at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Florida · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Edwin A. Scales, III
Chief Judge · Florida Third District Court of Appeal
Biography
Professional career
- The Chief Judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, serving from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027, and has been a judge on the court since 2013
- Judge, District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2013-present
- Chief Judge: Elected unanimously by colleagues in 2024 to lead the Third District Court of Appeal from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027
- Judge: Appointed by Governor Rick Scott on October 18, 2013, to the Third District Court of Appeal — the first Monroe County attorney ever appointed to the court
- He also held the role of General Counsel to the Florida Citrus Commission and was of counsel with GrayRobinson law firm Earlier in his career, he was a shareholder at Lane, Trohn, Bertrand, & Vreeland, P.A. in Lakeland, FL, and General Counsel for Historic Tours of America, Inc
Education
- University of Florida — B.A.
- University of Florida — J.D.
Additional information
- He has also been a radio personality, hosting The Ed Scales Show on US-1 FM since 1999 and The Legal Beagles in Tampa Bay (1996–1998)
- Judge Scales was retained by voters in 2016 (71.77% “Yes”) and again in 2022 (66.4% “Yes”).
- Practitioner, 2012-2012
- Date of birth: 1966-08-13
- Before joining the court, Judge Scales was a sole practitioner in Key West, Florida
- focusing on appellate, commercial, real estate, administrative law, and mediation.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Media And Still Photography
Statewide
Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration.
Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowedFlorida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Florida Third District Court of Appeal
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Florida appellate courts official judge directories official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida appellate courts official judge directories official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗