Diana M Tennis — SC2025-1438: FL Supreme Court Seeks Reprimand, Suspension, Fine | Playball

Florida public record — frequently asked questions

How many prohibited political contributions are identified in the disciplinary record for Diana M Tennis?

The disciplinary materials identify more than 900 prohibited political contributions totaling approximately $29,154.76 made between January 2017 and January 2021. Judge Tennis admitted that the conduct violated Canons 1, 2A, and 7A(1)(e) of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. These filings should not be described as separately adjudicated ethics counts unless the formal charging documents expressly use that formulation. Full record: /appellate-record and /admission-gap.

What do FEC records show for the Tennis household?

Public FEC records identify additional contributions associated with another contributor publicly identified as Judge Tennis's spouse, using the same household address during overlapping periods. Because the current reviewed materials contain unresolved differences involving date ranges, processor entries, memo records, refunds, and duplicate-looking transactions, no single combined household total is stated here pending reconciliation and publication of the underlying methodology. These records are presented as public-record context only, separate from the JQC's formal allegations against Judge Tennis. Full analysis: /household-data.

Where are the JQC public filings and Florida Supreme Court Case SC2025-1438 for Diana M Tennis?

JQC public filings against Diana M Tennis, including Florida Supreme Court Case SC2025-1438 (the Florida Supreme Court's July 2, 2026 replacement order vacated its June 25 order and added suspension to the sanctions it would impose in addition to a public reprimand and fine), are summarized at /admission-gap. The corrections and source log is at /corrections. All citations link to primary Florida public records.

How many appellate reversals are on the public record for Judge Diana M Tennis?

The current review has identified eight appellate decisions described as reversals or partial reversals in matters involving Judge Tennis across Florida's Fifth and Sixth District Courts of Appeal between 2017 and 2025. That count remains subject to a published case list, attribution review, and a defined inclusion methodology. Individual decisions may identify case-specific procedural or substantive errors, but the raw number alone does not establish an unusual reversal rate or judicial-misconduct pattern. Case-by-case breakdown: /appellate-record.

What did the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission say about Diana M Tennis?

In its public filings, the Florida JQC characterized Diana M Tennis as "far and away the most prolific offender both in terms of total dollars and number of contributions" among judges it has reviewed for Canon 7A political-activity violations. The full JQC record is summarized at /admission-gap.

What is the status of Florida Supreme Court Case SC2025-1438?

Florida Supreme Court Case SC2025-1438 is open. On July 2, 2026 the Court vacated its June 25 order and issued a materially stronger replacement order: it again rejected the parties' stipulation and disapproved the proposed public-reprimand-only sanction, and stated that it would impose both a suspension and a fine in addition to the public reprimand. The parties have 30 days from July 2 to submit revised findings and a revised stipulation accepting those sanctions, or to report that no agreement has been reached, in which event the case returns to the JQC for a hearing. Six justices concurred; Justice Adam S. Tanenbaum dissented without a written opinion. Filing-level detail and primary-source links: /admission-gap.

What can be said about correlation between the two household FEC contribution accounts?

Prior versions of this site published a specific correlation coefficient and same-day-donation count for the two accounts. Those figures are held pending row-level reconciliation because the current reviewed materials contain unresolved differences in totals, contribution counts, refunds, and duplicate-looking transactions. Aggregate household statistics will be republished only alongside a defined inclusion methodology. Full analysis: /household-data.

What formal discipline has been imposed on Judge Diana M Tennis to date?

No final discipline has been imposed. The JQC and Judge Tennis proposed a public reprimand, but on June 25, 2026 the Florida Supreme Court rejected that stipulation. That order was vacated and replaced on July 2, 2026 by a stronger order stating that the Court would impose a suspension and fine in addition to a public reprimand. The length of any suspension and amount of any fine remain unresolved. Judge Tennis has not been finally suspended or fined. Discipline timeline: /admission-gap.

Does the site publish other historical or criminal claims about Judge Tennis?

Certain third-party materials contain historical claims for which no primary official record has yet been obtained. Those claims are not published here as established facts and are excluded from public pages, schema, feeds, and metadata unless and until authenticated primary records establish the event, identity, charge, and disposition.

Who is Judge Diana M. Tennis?

Diana M. Tennis is a Circuit Court Judge for the Florida Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola Counties. Before taking the bench she practiced as a criminal-defense attorney in Central Florida. Career background and primary sources: /references.

What court does Judge Diana Tennis serve on?

Judge Tennis sits on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, based in Orlando and serving Orange and Osceola Counties. Per the Circuit's official directory, she has served continuously as a circuit judge since 2015 — beginning in the Osceola County Unified Family Court (2015–2017) and later in Orange County Probate/Guardianships (2018) and Domestic Relations (2018–present). Assignment history: /references.

Where did Judge Diana Tennis go to law school?

Judge Tennis earned her Juris Doctor (with Honors) and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1993. Full biographical citations are compiled at /references.

Has Judge Diana Tennis been disciplined?

No final discipline has yet been imposed. The Florida Supreme Court's July 2, 2026 replacement order in Case SC2025-1438 stated that the Court would impose a suspension and fine in addition to a public reprimand, but the length of any suspension and the amount of any fine remain unresolved pending revised findings from the parties. Full discipline timeline: /discipline.

How can I review the primary sources cited on this site?

Every factual claim on this site links to a primary source. A searchable index of filings, orders, articles, and forms is available at /primary-sources. Editorial standards and redaction policy are documented at /methodology.

What is Judge Diana Tennis's current role and division assignment?

Per the Ninth Judicial Circuit's official directory, Judge Tennis is a circuit judge assigned to Domestic Relations (Division 3, Sub-division 38), sitting in Courtroom 10-C at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, within Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola Counties). Assignment and biographical citations: /judge-profile.

How long has Judge Diana Tennis been on the bench?

Per the Ninth Judicial Circuit's official directory, Judge Tennis has served continuously as a circuit judge since 2015. Her documented assignments include the Osceola County Unified Family Court (2015–2017), Orange County Probate / Guardianships / Mental Health / Trusts / Civil Commitments (2018), Orange County Domestic Relations (2018–2026), Associate Administrative Judge for Osceola County Domestic Courts (2021), Associate Administrative Circuit Judge for Domestic Relations (2022), and Administrative Circuit Judge for Family Court (2023–2026). Florida circuit-court terms are six years. Full assignment history: /judge-profile.

What is the ethics controversy involving Judge Diana Tennis?

The ethics matter is Florida Supreme Court Case SC2025-1438, a Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) proceeding alleging that Judge Tennis made more than 900 prohibited political contributions between January 2017 and January 2021 in violation of Canon 7A of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. She stipulated to violations of Canons 1, 2A, and 7A(1)(e); the JQC described her as "far and away the most prolific offender" it had reviewed. On July 2, 2026 the Florida Supreme Court vacated its June 25 order and issued a replacement order stating it would impose a suspension and fine in addition to a public reprimand. Timeline: /discipline.

Which outlets have covered the Diana Tennis discipline case?

The July 2026 discipline proceedings have been reported by, among others, the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Newsweek, Law360, Law.com, the ABA Journal, Mediaite, The National Desk, and KMPH. A searchable index of press coverage is at /press-coverage and the primary-source docket entries are indexed at /primary-sources.