The Hon. Clifton A. Drake is a judge for the 1st Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 18, 2021, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Ross Goodman.
The 1st Judicial Circuit encompasses Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties. Drake has held assignments in Santa Rosa County.
Prior to his appointment, Drake was an assistant state attorney in the Office of the State Attorney for the 1st Judicial Circuit, a position to which he was named in 2010. During his tenure there, he held assignments as a felony special prosecutor, where he specialized in homicide prosecutions.
Drake earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration from the University of Florida in 2007. He then completed a J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center in 2010.
He was a resident of Crestview, Florida, at the time of his appointment.