Butz was appointed to the Polk County Court by Gov. Rick Scott on Friday afternoon. Butz, 48, said she learned she was selected to replace Judge J. Kevin Abdoney about lunchtime on Friday.

BARTOW — Polk County Judge Jennifer Swenson ... Swenson’s brief tenure in county court nearly mirrors that of Circuit Judge Kelly Butz, who was on the county bench for two days in January ...

The long-delayed trial over who is to blame for a fatal accident at Adventureland is moving back to Polk County after a judge found there is no longer reason to believe local jurors will be ...