--- title: "Kevin Emas | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kevin Emas Florida Third District Court of Appeal · Judge ## Profile - Court: Florida Third District Court of Appeal - State: Florida - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2010-present - Judge Kevin M. Emas is a retired Florida appellate judge who served on the Third District Court of Appeal from 2010 until his retirement on March 31, 2026 - He held the role of Chief Judge of the Third District Court of Appeal from 2019 to 2021 - Before joining the judiciary, Emas served as an assistant public defender (1982–83), and as an associate and partner at Fine Jacobson Schwartz Nash Block & England (1983–89) and Thornton, Rothman & Emas (1989–96) - He also coached mock trial teams and mentored high school students through the Justice Teaching program ### Education - University of Miami in — J.D. (1982) - University of Florida — B.A. ### Additional information - Set to serve until March 31, 2026 - His retirement in 2026 marks the end of a distinguished career, and his post-retirement legal action underscores the importance of timely judicial appointments - Emas was retained in 2012, 2018, and 2024 retention elections, winning 73.7% of the vote in 2024. - Kevin M. Emas was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court in 1996 by Governor Lawton Chiles, later elevated to the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit in 2001 by Governor Jeb Bush, and appointed to the Third District Court of Appeal on November 24, 2010 by Governor Charlie Crist. - Practitioner, 2009-2009 - prof, 2009-2009 - Over 14 years on the trial court bench, Emas handled criminal, civil, domestic violence, and family cases. - He was active in the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges and committed to judicial education, teaching at the Florida Judicial College, National Judicial College, and as adjunct faculty at FIU College of Law and University of Miami School of Law. - Judge Kevin M. Emas is recognized for his 30+ years of judicial service, leadership in the Florida judicial system, and dedication to judicial education. ## 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/6888/kevin-emas/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6888/kevin-emas/) - [District Court of Appeal of Florida current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6888/kevin-emas/) - [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/6888/kevin-emas/) - [Judge Kevin Emas / All Judges / Judges - - Third District Court of Appeal](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/judge-kevin-emas) - [Kevin M. Emas - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_M._Emas) - [Judges Who Have Served on the Court](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/all-judges) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6888/kevin-emas/) - [Judge Kevin Emas / All Judges / Judges - - Third District Court of Appeal](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/judge-kevin-emas) - [Kevin M. Emas - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_M._Emas) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888", "name": "Kevin Emas | KnowJudges", "description": "Kevin Emas, Florida Third District Court of Appeal. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888#judge", "name": "Kevin Emas", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Florida Third District Court of Appeal" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6888/kevin-emas/" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Miami in 1982" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Florida" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Miami" } ] }, { "@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": "Kevin Emas", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kevin-emas-6888" } ] } ] } ```