Tampa Judge Replaces Official Who Resigned Over Blackface Photos

TALLAHASSEE, FL— A Tampa judge has been named to replace the embattled Florida official who resigned after 14-year-old Halloween photos surfaced of him wearing blackface at a private party.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Judge Laurel M. Lee as the new Florida Secretary of State on Monday to replace Michael Ertel, who held the job only a few weeks before photos of Ertel attending the party as a Hurricane Katrina survivor were published by the Tallahassee Democrat.

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“It is clear to me that Judge Lee’s background and experience make her an excellent choice to serve as Secretary of State for Florida,” said DeSantis. “She is ready to handle the important elections' administration duties and cultural responsibilities accorded to this position with a steady hand and good judgment.”

Lee, who is married to Florida as Florida Secretary of State. Lee has extensive judicial and legal experience and was appointed by former Governor Rick Scott to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, where she was subsequently unchallenged in her reelection.

Raised in a military family, Lee’s father served in the U.S. Air Force while her mother worked as a public school teacher for 30 years.

“I am humbled to serve the people of Florida as Secretary of State, an important position with many responsibilities,” said Lee. “I thank Gov. DeSantis for allowing me the privilege to continue my public service in this new capacity.”

Lee was appointed to serve on Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County by Gov. Rick Scott in 2013.

She was elected the following year without opposition and presided in the Circuit Civil Division and the Civil Appellate Division. In addition, Lee presided over the East County Civil Division and the Domestic Relations Division.

She served on the Florida Supreme Court’s Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Courts and the Florida Supreme Court’s Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability.

Prior to becoming a Judge, Lee was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Florida where she prosecuted various types of cases, including white-collar crimes, violent crime and the sexual exploitation of children.

Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Lee worked as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Middle District Court of Florida and as a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge James S. Moody, Jr. She practiced law at Carlton, Fields, P.A. in Tampa.

Since 2016, Lee has served on the Pepin Academies Foundation Board, a K-12 charter school. From 2012-2013 she served as president of the board and in 2017 was presented the “Peregrine Falcon Award” for Distinguished Service to the school.

Lee also serves on the board of directors for the Emergency Care Help Organization of Brandon and is a member of the Junior League of Tampa. From 2001-2004, she served as a volunteer lawyer for the Bay Area Legal Services Domestic Violence Assistance Project.

Photo of Judge Laurel M. Lee courtesy Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County