Arthur LeMar McNeil is running for Circuit Court Judge in Miami-Dade County's 11th Judicial Circuit, Group 5. The nonpartisan seat appears on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot. McNeil faces Monica Segura in the runoff.

McNeil finished first among three candidates in the Aug. 18 primary, receiving approximately 42.48% of the vote with 95,032 votes, according to The Florida Bar News. He is certified for the November ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

McNeil, who goes by "Marty," was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, according to his campaign website. He is the son of a U.S. Army veteran and an educator, McNeil said on his campaign website.

He earned a juris doctor from Howard University School of Law in 2005, according to the Miami Herald. While at Howard, McNeil said he helped establish the school's Public Interest Law Society and served as its treasurer. He said he was also a member of the Christian Legal Society and a student attorney in the Criminal Justice Clinic.

In college, McNeil said he co-captained the wrestling team and served as an ocean lifeguard on summer beach patrol.

McNeil said he and his wife met at Howard University School of Law. They have lived in South Florida for 21 years and have one son, a rescue dog and a tortoise, according to his campaign website.

Experience and public service

McNeil has held several roles at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office. He served as a felony training attorney, senior supervising attorney and attorney in the Death Penalty Litigation Unit, according to the Miami Herald and his campaign website. BallotReady profile data also lists him as an assistant public defender.

He also served as an assistant regional counsel, according to his Florida Bar candidate profile.

McNeil maintained a private law practice from 2008 to 2016, according to BallotReady profile data. He is a Supreme Court certified circuit civil court mediator, McNeil said on his campaign website.

McNeil said he has participated in 56 criminal jury trials, ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree murders, and eight non-jury civil trials, according to his Miami Herald questionnaire response.

He is a member of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association and the Miami-Dade Bar Association, McNeil said in his Florida Bar profile. He said he serves on the board of Miami Bridge, an organization supporting families experiencing homelessness.

Endorsements

McNeil has received the following endorsements, according to the sources listed:

  • Miami Herald Editorial Board, which wrote, "Our choice is McNeil, 46, based on his experience and demeanor. We believe McNeil meets the criteria," according to the Miami Herald
  • Florida League of Prosecutors, according to McNeil's campaign account on X

Editor's note: No candidate questionnaire response was available for this profile. This article will be updated if one becomes available.