Herald endorsement: 11th Judicial Circuit Court Group 5 in Miami-Dade | Opinion
.png "Arthur LeMar “Marty” McNeil, Monica Segura and Alex Annunziato are running for judge in 11th Circuit Court Group 5.")
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Editorial Board’s endorsements for primary elections
Registered voters in Florida will be able to cast ballots in the Aug. 18 primary election through vote-by-mail, early voting or voting on Election Day. Voters will decide races for judges, the school board, the county commission, state Legislature, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and governor.
Read the Miami Herald Editorial Board’s endorsements.
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Three candidates are running in the August primary for an open seat in Group 5 of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County.
Alex Annunziato, Arthur LeMar “Marty” McNeil and Monica Segura have been attorneys for years. Our choice is McNeil, 46, based on his experience and demeanor.
Circuit court judges preside over Florida’s trial courts, handling criminal cases — including death penalty ones — civil lawsuits and disputes over $50,000, juvenile delinquency and dependency, probate, divorces and other family law cases. The right person for the bench must have extensive trial experience, preferably in different areas of the law, and the right demeanor. We believe McNeil meets the criteria.
McNeil, a 2005 Howard University School of Law graduate, is a public defender. He told the Herald Editorial Board he’s served in management roles in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office and currently works in the death penalty litigation unit, handling legally complex and emotionally-charged cases that he said are the “highest level of practice that you can do in the state court in the criminal context.”
He was also in private practice, where he worked in criminal and civil litigation, and is certified as a court mediator, handling foreclosure cases during the financial crisis. His courtroom experience is extensive with 56 criminal jury trails, ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree murders, and eight non-jury civil trials, he said.
“I’ve been before numerous judges and seen how positive judges and how good judges can have a positive effect on people’s lives, and I believe that my skills and my experience serve me best,” McNeil said. Although he works in Miami-Dade, he lives in Hollywood but will move to the county if elected.
McNeil is not the only qualified candidate in this race.
Annunziato, 46, is a former Florida Highway Patrol lieutenant and currently a civil trial attorney who represents businesses and individuals in liability insurance litigation. He’s previously worked as a public defender and as legislative counsel for then-Miami‑Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo. He’s tried 23 jury trials in civil and criminal court combined.
Annunziato’s candidacy is something of a redemption story: In 2018, he was arrested for buying two bags of heroin from an undercover Miami-Dade detective, which triggered a 30-day suspension of his law license. He went through Miami-Dade’s drug court program and charges were dropped. He said the incident was “the catalyst that I needed in order to be able to make a change in my life” and entered treatment. He now mentors people battling addiction and said his experience would make him a more compassionate judge.
Segura, 45, works as the in-house attorney for an insurance carrier. She’s also worked at “various big firms,” practicing civil law, and as a special magistrate in the town of Miami Lakes. She touted her work handling high-volume federal litigation involving homeowners seeking compensation for defective Chinese drywall, which she said involved up to 12,000 claims. She has less courtroom experience, with one civil jury trial. Segura is the wife of Coral Gables Commissioner Ariel Fernandez.
All three candidates would probably make good judges, but one of them impressed us the most.
The Herald endorses ARTHUR LEMAR “MARTY” MCNEIL for 11th Judicial Circuit Court Group 5.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho decides the political endorsements?
In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the endorsement process look like?
The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.
Is the Editorial Board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:20 AM.
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