VOTE STEVE KERESTES FOR CIRCUIT JUDGE ON AUGUST 18, 2026!
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Vote Steve Kerestes for Circuit Judge August 18, 2026
Once a Marine, always a Marine. Steve Kerestes is no longer on active duty or in the reserves.
Important question.
Why does Steve Kerestes want to be a Judge?
Service
It has to be about service.
As a judge, you have to want to work hard for everyone in your community.
In this case, that community includes both Orange and Osceola Counties, which comprises the Ninth Circuit of Florida. Steve has been a member of this community over 20 years, moving to Orlando to attend law school in 2003.
Steve Kerestes is motivated by a deep desire to be helpful, not money or power. Steve believes that authority is given for the purpose of service. In this sense, service imeans exercising the authority given within the boundaries of the particular office and not abusing that power. Those with authority must remember they are servants to their constituents. Service means working hard for those they serve. Service means one must come to serve and not merely to be served. This is Steve Kerestes' view of public service.
Additionally, Steve believes that democracy requires participation in order to endure.
Experience
There is a deep need for experienced judges with diverse backgrounds.
Steve Kerestes has military service, along with experience in both the private and public sectors. Steve has been a prosecutor, a defense attorney, a plaintiff's attorney representing clients in civil disputes, a civil defense attorney, local counsel and more.
While working at the State Attorney's office, Steve has worked as both a courtroom prosecutor and as a supervisor, helping to guide new attorneys. Steve has spent many years of his work life in the courtroom, and taken well over 100 cases to trial.
Before his legal career, Steve had part time jobs doing construction work, making pizzas, and as a filing clerk. While in high school, Steve even had a part time job diving for clams in the intracoastal waters of Brevard County.
Temperament
Patience, a calm demeanor, good time management, knowledge of the law,
and an ability to maintain impartiality are important qualities for a judge, all of which Steve Kerestes embodies.
Steve Kerestes has been in courtrooms spanning across Central Florida and beyond. Steve has seen the difference that it makes when a judge is calm, patient, willing to listen and respectful of everyone's time. Steve desires to continue his career of service to his community in this distinguished role as Circuit Judge.
Who is Steve Kerestes?
First, "what's in a name?" Steve is named after his father and his grandfather. His full name is George Stephen Kerestes Jr. His parents called him Steve, as do his family, colleagues and friends.
The name Kerestes is Hungarian. When his great grandfather immigrated to the United States from Hungary, the name was spelled Keresztes. When Steve's grandfather (George Kerestes) was in school, a teacher removed the z and it has been that way ever since. Steve's grandfather, George Kerestes, was simply George ,as he didn't have a middle name. Fun fact, the first George Kerestes was an amateur boxer and you can still find his boxing stats online.
Steve's great grandparents both came from Hungary about 100 years ago, but they didn't travel across the Atlantic together. The would-be great grandparents met soon after they both arrived in Pittsburgh, PA. They married, purchased what land they could, with money they saved working in a factory in Pittsburgh. They spent the rest of their lives on that same land farming. Some of that land remains in Steve's family to this day. They raised seven children on that farm.
Now, travel through time from the beginning of the 20th century to the end of it, whereSteve is graduating from Titusville High School in Brevard County. Go Terriers! Roughly a month after graduation, Steve was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina. Steve earned the title of United State Marine at Parris Island in the summer of 1995. While enlisted in the Marine Corps, Steve served at Camp Lejeune, onboard multiple naval ships and in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines took Steve to 11 countries during his 4 year enlistment.
After his enlistment in the Marine Corps was complete and Steve was honorably discharged, he went home and started his college career using the GI Bill. Steve met some other Marines in his first semester of college and those two encouraged Steve to join their Guard Unit. Those friends, Pat and Mark, got out the year before, and remain lifelong friends.
During his first semester of college, Steve joined the Florida Army National Guard and served 3 years in a reserve capacity. He was briefly activated after 9/11. Steve graduated from the University of Florida with a business degree and a minor in classical studies.
From undergraduate school, Steve went directly to law school, earning a scholarship to Barry's School of Law in Orlando, Florida. Steve earned his doctorate degree over the following 3 years and graduated in the top third of his class. Steve enjoyed the rigor that it took to earn a doctorate degree.
While earning his law degree, Steve interned at the City Attorney's Office serving the people of both Orange County. After law school, Steve's first job as an attorney was also at the State Attorney's office, serving the people of Orange and Osceola Counties. Steve served in this role for 10 years, first under State Attorney Lawson Lamar and then State Attorney Jeff Ashton.
After those 10 years of public service, Steve went to work in the private sector. First, he worked at a large civil defense firm, followed by working with his wife at Kerestes Law Firm, a small local law firm representing clients in a diverse range of matters. Steve also worked at a small civil firm handling first party property claims on behalf of small businesses and home owners.
With 17 years of legal experience, Steve decided to return to the public sector where he could serve the people of Orange and Osceola Counties at the State Attorney's Office once again. Steve continues to serve in that capacity, serving his community.
To summarize Steve will have 20 years of experience as an attorney this coming September, 7with years of experience in the private sector handling both civil and criminal matters and 13 years of experience as an attorney in the public sector.
Steve is a family man. He has been married to his wonderful wife, Alison, for 18 years this August. Steve and Alison met as new attorneys at the State Attorney's Office. They both started at the same time back in 2006. They started dating when they were assigned to the same courtroom and within a year of that first date, they were married. Steve and Alison worked together at the State Attorney's Office until Alison went into private practice in 2014. They had been married for 6 years at that time. Later, they would work together again at the Kerestes Law Firm. Steve and his wife, Alison, can often be seen walking around town together.
Steve and Alison's son, George, was born in 2012, they both still worked at the State Attorney's Office. George's first trip to the State Attorney's Office was when he was 3 months old. Folks in the office love to see new family members. Being a dad brought a joy into Steve's life he never expected. Steve has done many things most would consider pretty adventurous; too many to mention here. However, the one thing that has brought the most joy and happiness to his life is being a dad. Steve has loved having the opportunity to see his son grow. Family is one of Steve's highest priorities.
What does Steve like to do in his free time? Spending time with family is always a priority. Steve's son is committed to community service and the family likes to do that together. Steve has also recently learned to enjoy gardening. The freezes are not fun when you get into gardening, though. Fortunately they're unusual here in Central Florida. One of Steve's greatest pastimes is reading. Steve loves books. He has enjoyed reading from a young age. His love of books and reading continues even when he is running for election. You will almost never catch Steve without an "emergency book" close by. Steve believes eading can be a window into other places, other cultures and so much more. Steve is also a Rotarian, currently a member of the Downtown Orlando Rotary. Steve also loves to be on the water. The family has a canoe they like to take on the Wekiva River. When they are able to find the time, they also like to go out on the intracostal waters in Brevard County with other family and friends. The family is Catholic and they attend mass weekly. The Church is an important part of Steve's life.
More about the candidate.
The photos above include a picture of a young Steve in uniform, at 20 years of age, and on leave before traveling to his next duty station. His next duty station? Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. Steve was stationed in Okinawa for nearly a year before finishing his 4 year active duty enlistment in the United States Marine Corps.
After returning stateside, Steve began his college career. Shortly after starting his first semester of college, Steve joined the Florida Army National Guard. Steve served in the Guard for 3 years. The time in the Guard was reserve duty as compared to active duty. Disclaimer, likely not needed, but for the lawyers;
Steve would like you to know that no branch of the U.S. Military has endorsed him or anyone else in this or in any election. The U.S. Military does not endorse candidates running for election. Also, insignias or logos on clothing or in any way seen on a photograph does not equate to endorsement of candidate.
Judicial elections are non-partisan.
While we are aware that voters desire to know the political party any judicial candidate may or may not be registered or otherwise affiliated with, it is against the rules for any candidate running for judicial office to comment on this. No judicial candidate has the right to violate this rule. If a judicial candidate were to break this rule, what kind of judge might that candidate be if elected? Please don't ask, but if you insist on asking, the answer will always be - it is against the rules for any judicial candidate to say.
All parties coming before a judge in any kind of preceding should believe the judge will rule based on the law and the facts presented and not based on any political feelings, bias or similar motivations.
