Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed four new judges to preside over the Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

The governor's office announced Thursday that DeSantis had named William Altfield, Gina Beovides, Laura Shearon Cruz, and Marlene Fernandez-Karavetsos as the newest additions to the Eleventh Circuit's bench.

A press release accompanying the news noted DeSantis has appointed men and women equally to Florida's judiciary since succeeding U.S. Sen. Rick Scott as governor in January.

"All four have distinguished legal careers and I have no doubt they will continue to uphold the rule of law in their new positions," DeSantis said of the judges in a statement. "I am proud that since taking office we have continued to appoint individuals diverse in gender, race, age and practice area."

Three of the appointees ⁠— Atfield, Beovides, and Cruz ⁠— are joining the Eleventh Circuit from Miami-Dade County Court, where they have served since 2011, 2016, and 2018 respectively.

Prior to her appointment, Fernandez-Karavetsos had been serving as special counsel and assistant attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida in addition to acting as the office's public information officer. She will be filling the vacancy left by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Maria Sampedro-Iglesia in the wake of her retirement.

Atfield, Beovides, and Cruz's appointments were necessitated by the elevation of their respective predecessors to Florida's appellate and federal courts; former Miami-Dade Circuit Court judges Rodolfo Ruiz and Rodney Smith were recently confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and Monica Gordo was appointed to serve on the Third District Court of Appeal by DeSantis in April.

Related stories: