Change in judges could delay trial for man charged with FSU shooting

A new judge will be assigned to the case of Phoenix Ikner, accused of killing two and injuring seven in the 2025 attack.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Prosecutors say the upcoming trial of Phoenix Ikner, accused of a deadly shooting at Florida State University in 2025, will likely be delayed due to a change in judges. Circuit Judge Lance Neff, who was presiding over the case, has been appointed to the First District Court of Appeal, and a new judge will now need to be assigned to handle the case.

Why it matters

The change in judges could significantly impact the timeline of the high-profile trial, which has already been the subject of intense public scrutiny. The new judge will need time to get up to speed on the case, potentially causing delays that could prolong the legal process for the victims' families and the community.

The details

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Circuit Judge Lance Neff, who was presiding over the Ikner case, to the First District Court of Appeal. State Attorney Jack Campbell said Ikner's Oct. 19 trial date will likely be pushed back as a result. "It's going to cause a delay, I don't know how much. Obviously we need to find out who our new judge is going to be," Campbell said. The Trial Court Administrator Elizabeth Garber noted that the Chief Circuit Judge Frank Allman will be responsible for assigning a new judge to the case.

  • On April 17, 2025, Phoenix Ikner allegedly opened fire at the FSU Student Union, killing two people and injuring seven others.
  • Ikner's trial was originally scheduled to begin on October 19, 2026.
  • On March 4, 2026, Judge Lance Neff submitted his resignation from the circuit bench effective March 15, 2026.

The players

Phoenix Ikner

The accused shooter in the 2025 Florida State University attack that left two dead and seven injured.

Judge Lance Neff

The circuit judge who was presiding over the Ikner case before being appointed to the First District Court of Appeal.

Jack Campbell

The state attorney prosecuting the Ikner case.

Elizabeth Garber

The Trial Court Administrator who noted that a new judge will be assigned to the Ikner case by the Chief Circuit Judge Frank Allman.

Blake Johnson

The defense attorney for Phoenix Ikner.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to cause a delay, I don't know how much. Obviously we need to find out who our new judge is going to be.”

— Jack Campbell, State Attorney (WCTV)

“The chief judge is evaluating how the vacancy created by Judge Neff's appointment to the First District Court of Appeal will be handled. No changes in the scheduling of any matter currently assigned to Judge Neff are anticipated.”

— Elizabeth Garber, Trial Court Administrator (WCTV)

What’s next

The Chief Circuit Judge Frank Allman will assign a new judge to preside over the Ikner case, which will likely cause a delay in the originally scheduled October 19, 2026 trial date.

The takeaway

The change in judges for the high-profile FSU shooting case could significantly impact the timeline of the trial, potentially prolonging the legal process for the victims' families and the community as the new judge gets up to speed on the case.