Krista Marx to become chief circuit judge following vote
First elected to bench in 1998, she’ll start new job in summer.
WEST PALM BEACH — Circuit Judge Krista Marx, a former prosecutor, will become the Palm Beach County circuit’s new chief judge this summer.
Other local judges elected Marx this week, and court administrators announced the news in a letter Wednesday to Florida Supreme Court Chief Judge Jorge Labarga.
Marx, who handles criminal cases, will replace Chief Judge Jeffrey Colbath, who was elected in 2015 to a twoyear term that ends June 30. Marx will take over July 1 and serve a term that ends June 30, 2019.
Marx e a r ned bot h her u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d l aw degrees from Florida State Universit y and began her career as a prosecutor in 1985. She was first elected to the bench in 1998 and has presided over several high-profile cases, including the Dunbar Village rape case.
Several years ago, Marx contemplated a run for Palm Beach State Attorney. Her husband, Joseph Marx, also is a circuit judge and is assigned to a civil division.
The chief judge handles administrative duties and makes judicial assignments.
In his t wo-year term as chief judge, Colbath, the son of former Chief Circuit Judge Walter Colbath, has advocated efficiency in resource management, i ssuing an edict last year restric ting judges from keeping juries past 5:30 p.m. without prior approval as a way to cut overtime for the court staff.
Colbath also instituted reform for adult guardianship after The Palm Beach Post found conflict-of-interest practices associated with then Circuit Judge Martin Colin and his wife, a professional guardian.