Larry Edward Franz Metz (born March 20,1955) is a retired American judge and politician from Florida. He served on the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court[3]from July 1,2018,until his retirement on July 15,2023.[4][5] Previously,he was a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from November 2,2010 until his appointment as a circuit judge in 2018,was a member of the Lake County School Board from October 29,2004,until November 1,2010,and served on other boards and commissions.[6][7]
Metz was born in Abington,Pennsylvania,and moved to the state of Florida in 1968. He then attended the University of Florida,where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1976. After graduation,Metz took graduate-level courses in public administration at San Diego State University,but did not graduate,instead attending the Florida State University College of Law,where he received a Juris Doctor in 1983. From 1976 to 1980,he served in the United States Marine Corps,and he was stationed in Japan for a year during that time,where he met his wife,Mariko. From 1980 to 1982,while in law school,he remained in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 1983 he began private practice as an attorney,eventually starting Metz Law Firm,P.A. In 1992,Metz ran for Congress against incumbent Democratic Congressman Harry Johnston in the newly created 19th District,but he lost to Johnston,receiving only 37% of the vote. When State RepresentativeCarey Baker opted to run for the Florida Senate rather than seek re-election in the 25th District,which included northern Lake County and a few segments in northern Seminole County and southern Volusia County,Metz ran to succeed him in 2004. He faced Alan Hays,Johnny Barto Smith,Randy Wiseman,and JoAnn Huggins in the Republican primary. Ultimately,Metz narrowly lost to Hays,winning 29% of the vote to Hays's 35%. Later that year,in 2004,he was appointed by GovernorJeb Bush to serve on the Lake County School Board,and he was re-elected to that position in 2006. During his second term,he served two consecutive years as chairman of the board.
Florida House of Representatives
In 2010,when Hays ran for the Florida State Senate rather than seeking re-election,Metz ran in the 25th District once again to succeed him. He narrowly won the Republican primary against Rick Joyce with 53% of the vote. In the general election,he faced Frank Layne Wood,the Democratic nominee. The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Wood over Metz,noting that,"Mr. Metz wavers on SunRail,which the Legislature might see again. And he hasn't ruled out expanding offshore drilling or watering down oversight of growth."[8] However,Metz defeated Wood in a landslide,receiving 64% of the vote.
When Florida House of Representatives districts were reconfigured in 2012,Metz was drawn into the 32nd District,which included only a small portion of the territory that he had previously represented in the 25th District. He was unopposed in both the primary and the general election,and won his second term unopposed. In 2014,Metz was re-elected to his third term unopposed,as well.
While in the legislature,he sponsored legislation that targeted the Florida High School Athletic Association,which would "curtail the FHSAA's power to investigate and make athletic eligibility rulings,revamp its governance structure with the addition of more political appointees,and set a 2017 expiration date on its status as the designated governing body for high school sports."[9]
Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
On March 11,2018,Governor Rick Scott made an unannounced visit to the Florida House of Representatives during the last day of the extended regular session to announce his appointment of Metz to an open judicial seat in the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Fifth Circuit consists of Citrus,Hernando,Lake,Marion,and Sumter counties. He assumed office on July 1,2018,replacing the Honorable William Law. His chambers were in the Lake County Courthouse in Tavares. In his first two years on the bench,he presided over civil jury trial cases and domestic cases. Thereafter he presided over criminal felony cases,civil non-jury cases,and probate matters. Metz retired effective July 15,2023,to spend time with his family and to focus on his health.[3][4][10]
At his investiture,Metz spoke of the importance of the rule of law in America. "Our country does value the rule of law,which makes us superior in many ways to other countries that don’t have the rule of law,”he said. “People can invest here and know that their property rights are protected by the rule of law,and so is their safety and liberty. It’s so important to have that as the underpinning of society.”[11][12]
Additional Public Service Roles
Metz also served as a member of the Lake County Zoning Board,the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization Governing Board,the Lake County Value Adjustment Board,and the Four Corners Charter School,Inc. Board of Directors. From 2012 to 2018 Metz served as Governor Scott’s appointee to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame Council. In 2015,Governor Scott appointed Metz as one of three commissioners representing Florida at the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws,also known as the Uniform Law Commission,a position to which he was reappointed and served until 2023.[13][14][15][16]
Awards and recognitions
Throughout his career in public service,Metz received numerous awards recognizing his legislative work and community involvement. In 2008,he was honored with the Lake County Community Service Award for Leadership for his contributions to civic initiatives in Lake County.[14][17]
In 2013,Metz received the "Most Valuable Legislator" Award from the Florida Chamber of Commerce,recognizing his support for pro-business legislation. This award was highlighted on the Chamber’s website and noted in political reporting.[18][19]
In 2016,he was named the Lake County Golden Eagle Dinner Honoree by the Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America,acknowledging his community leadership and public service. These honors were referenced in official Florida House records and a retirement announcement by the Florida State Courts.[4][20]
Parkinson’s disease
Larry Metz publicly disclosed in November 2016 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease earlier that year at age 61. He revealed this information at the conclusion of an interview with the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission,explaining that he had been aware of the diagnosis for several months and was not taking medication at that time.[21] Metz emphasized that the condition had not interfered with his work and expressed his intention to continue serving despite the diagnosis.[22][23]
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