Miami's largest lawyer network has quizzed its members on the performance of local judges and judicial candidates, and the verdict is in.

The Dade County Bar Association's results stem from a judicial poll, which rates Supreme Court justices and Third District Court of Appeal judges seeking retention, Miami-Dade circuit and county judicial candidates, and incumbent judges seeking re-election.

Of the DCBA's 16,316 potential voters, less than 8%—1,262 people—threw in their two cents. Here's a rundown of who came out on top, and who didn't.

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Circuit court

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Peter R. Lopez received the highest percentage of "exceptionally qualified" votes among his circuit's incumbents and candidates, collecting more than 47%. The judge was pleased to hear the results.

"I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve this community and I'm humbled by the results of the vote," Lopez said.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judges Alan Fine and Thomas Rebull also ranked high, with about 39% and 38%, respectively.

Rebull said he was grateful for the vote of confidence.

"I want to thank the Dade County Bar Association for the public service they provide to help inform our community," Rebull said. "I'm humbled and grateful to everyone who participated in the poll and who was of the opinion that I'm serving our judicial system well. It is an honor and a privilege to do so."

Fine shared a similar sentiment.

"It's very gratifying to be viewed so positively and I will continue to work to earn it," Fine said. "I try very hard to be prepared, to listen respectfully and to rule promptly."

Civil litigator Rosy Aponte, on the other hand, received the most "unqualified" votes, as 27% of respondents weren't convinced about her bid to become a judge. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Aponte is running against incumbent Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dava Tunis in the August primary election.

Incumbent Judge Spencer Eig received the second-highest percentage of "unqualified" votes, with 16% of those surveyed expressing doubts. That said, the judge fared well on other questions, with 37% of respondents labeling him qualified and 22% ranking him highly qualified. As an unopposed candidate, Eig will automatically be reelected.

Respondents appeared reluctant to weigh in on judicial candidates Carmen Cabarga and Marcia Giordano Hansen, who are running for seats on the Miami-Dade Circuit this August. Nearly 74% declined to weigh in on the two attorneys, which could indicate voters didn't feel they knew enough about them.

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County court

Miami-Dade County Court Judge Betty Capote-Erben proved the most popular in her group, collating the most "exceptionally qualified" votes, closely followed by Judge Donald James "DJ" Cannava Jr. Both have no opponent.

Capote-Erben said she was honored to hear about her rating.

"I am dedicated to serving my community with compassion, integrity and fairness," Capote-Erben said.

But the poll was bad news for Coral Gables attorney Miguel "Mike" Mirabal, who's hoping to become a Miami-Dade County Court judge. He received the highest number of "unqualified" votes in his group—which amounted to more than 8% of respondents, or 99 votes. The vast majority, 871 voters, said they had no opinion. Mirabal is running against incumbent Judge Joseph Mansfield in the primary.

Mirabal of Global Legal urged readers to put the results into context.

"The sample of 99 out of 1,138 is too small of a population make to make an accurate determination or 'poll,' and as we have seen in other elections 'polls' can be very misleading, especially in such a small sample of less than 8% of those polled," Mirabal said. "Please note, six current sitting Miami-Dade judges scored worse than me in the unqualified section, and these are judges who many DCBA attorneys deal with on a daily basis. I have appeared before several of the judges who scored less than me and they have been incredibly competent, qualified, knowledgeable and ethical. Therefore these 'poll' results should be taken into context."

Respondents also appeared unsure about Coral Gables attorney Shaun Spector, as the vast majority of voters said they had no opinion on him, and only 3% ranked him "highly qualified." Spector is running against incumbent Judge Christine Bandin.

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Appellate judges

Third District Court of Appeal Judge Bronwyn Miller proved the most popular Miami appellate judge of the five facing merit retention this year, as a whopping 74% of respondents said they'd vote "yes."

Judge Fleur Lobree scored lowest, but still collected more than 54% of votes. Lobree is a former Miami-Dade Circuit judge and rose to the appellate court in 2019.

More than half of voters had no opinion on the performance of Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muniz, who's facing merit retention in November. About 35% of voters said they'd vote "yes," while almost 13% said "no." Gov. Ron DeSantis elevated Muniz to the high court in January 2019, before which he served as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Education.

The true test for these judges and candidates will come during the Aug. 18 primary election and the Nov. 3 general election.

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Read the 2020 judicial poll results: 

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