Circuit Judge Timothy McCourt recently found himself navigating a tangled administrative web regarding his past employment with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) after state records indicated his law enforcement certification remained active while he served as a judge. The Florida Constitution generally prohibits a person from simultaneously holding dual offices, such as an active sworn law enforcement officer and a judge.
The paper trail began on Jan. 29, 2026, when the “Gazette” contacted McCourt to point out that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) database still listed him as an active MCSO employee. Upon receiving the inquiry, McCourt immediately contacted MCSO Human Resources, reminding them that he had resigned his positions as General Counsel and deputy sheriff effective Jan. 2, 2024, specifically to assume his role as a judge Jan. 3, 2024.
Upon hearing from McCourt, MCSO HR Director Monica Chisholm signed the first of three “Affidavit of Separation” forms (CJSTC 61), listing his separation date as his original exit date: Jan. 2, 2024…