--- title: "Edwin A. Scales, III | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Edwin A. Scales, III Florida Third District Court of Appeal · Chief Judge ## Profile - Court: Florida Third District Court of Appeal - State: Florida - Role: Chief Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media and still photography Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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 allowed [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/chief-judge-edwin-a.-scales-iii) - [Official roster](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/chief-judge-edwin-a.-scales-iii) - [Florida appellate courts official judge directories official judicial roster](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/chief-judge-edwin-a.-scales-iii) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7058/edwin-a-scales-iii/) - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7058/edwin-a-scales-iii/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii", "name": "Edwin A. Scales, III | KnowJudges", "description": "Edwin A. Scales, III, Florida Third District Court of Appeal. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii#judge", "name": "Edwin A. Scales, III", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii", "jobTitle": "Chief Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Florida Third District Court of Appeal" }, "sameAs": [ "https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/chief-judge-edwin-a.-scales-iii", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7058/edwin-a-scales-iii/" ], "birthDate": "1966-08-13", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Florida" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Florida" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Florida", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/florida" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edwin A. Scales, III", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/edwin-a-scales-iii" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-f9444c394a89ab9f4ffde994) — 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](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450). Collected 2026-07-26.