---
title: "Richard J. Suarez | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-j-suarez-7087"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Richard J. Suarez

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

- Retired Florida judge and current mediator, arbitrator, and neutral evaluator, best known for his 14-year tenure on the Third District Court of Appeal in Florida, where he held the role of Chief Judge from 2015 to 2017
- Judge, District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2005-present
- Richard J. Suarez (Retired Judge, District Court of Appeal) joined JAMS following a distinguished legal career, most recently in the Third District Court of Appeal in Florida, where he served as chief judge from 2015 to 2017.
- Early legal career: shareholder at Corlett, Killian, P.A. (1985–1991), then at Hardeman & Suarez, P.A. specializing in civil litigation and appeals in state and federal courts

### Education

- University of Miami — B.A.
- University of Miami School of Law — J.D.

### Additional information

- Practitioner, 2004-2004
- After law school, Suarez joined and became a shareholder in the law firm of Corlett, Killian, P.A. In 1991, he became a member of the law firm of Hardeman & Suarez, P.A. Governor Jeb Bush appointed Suarez to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court bench in 2002, and then to the Third District Court of Appeal in 2004.
- In his “My Story” profile, Suarez emphasizes integrity, courtesy, and community awareness as key to legal practice

## 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/7087/richard-j-suarez/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7087/richard-j-suarez/)
- [District Court of Appeal of Florida current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7087/richard-j-suarez/)
- [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/7087/richard-j-suarez/)
- [Richard Suarez - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Richard_Suarez)
- [“My Story” Featuring Richard J. Suarez (Retired Judge, District Court of ...](https://www.jamsadr.com/insight/2022/my-story-featuring-richard-j-suarez-retired-judge-district-court-of-appeal)
- [Judges Who Have Served on the Court](https://3dca.flcourts.gov/judges/all-judges)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7087/richard-j-suarez/)
- [Richard Suarez - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Richard_Suarez)
- [“My Story” Featuring Richard J. Suarez (Retired Judge, District Court of ...](https://www.jamsadr.com/insight/2022/my-story-featuring-richard-j-suarez-retired-judge-district-court-of-appeal)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-j-suarez-7087",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-j-suarez-7087",
      "name": "Richard J. Suarez | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Richard J. Suarez, 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/richard-j-suarez-7087#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-j-suarez-7087#judge",
      "name": "Richard J. Suarez",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-j-suarez-7087",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Florida Third District Court of Appeal"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7087/richard-j-suarez/"
      ],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Miami"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Miami"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Miami School of Law"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Richard J. Suarez",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-j-suarez-7087"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```