Judge Charles Thaddeus Carlton

The Honorable Charles Thaddeus Carlton

Judge Charles Thaddeus Carlton passed away peacefully at his home in Naples, Florida on December 17, 2025, at age 90. Widely known as Charlie, he is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Lois; his son, Chad (Jill) Carlton; his daughter, Kelley Stahlman and her two sons, Connor and Ryan; his stepson, Brett (Kim) Moncrieff and their two sons, Tor and Max; and his stepdaughter, Tiffany Moncrieff and her three children, Brynn and Bailey Moncrieff and Brooke Del Duca. Charlie was predeceased by his grandmother, Virgie “Mammy” Pinson; his mother Alka “June” Carlton Vest; his father Thaddeus Hudson Carlton; and his son, Marshall Carlton.

Born and raised in Fort Pierce, Florida, Charlie’s upbringing included weekends and summers working as a cowboy on the family’s cattle ranches, first in St. Lucie County at the Cane Slough Ranch and later in Glades County, where the ranch house and outbuildings still stand.

Charlie attended the University of Florida, pledged Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and remained an avid Gator fan throughout his life. After graduating from university in 1957, he served as a Captain in the Marine Corps for three years. He commenced his legal career upon entering Stetson University's College of Law where he graduated first in his class in 1963 as a recipient of the Delta Theta Phi Key for Excellence in Scholarship. Upon admission to practice law in Florida, Charlie joined his father’s law firm as an associate, soon advancing to partner in the Carlton, McCain, Carlton & Brennan Law Firm in Fort Pierce. After the death of his father in 1965, Charlie helped his mother maintain the family cattle business for several years. He obtained his pilot’s license under the tutelage of his Uncle Reuben so that he could travel quickly and more efficiently manage his legal and ranching obligations.

In 1968, Charlie was elected State Attorney for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. In 1970, then Florida Governor, Claude R. Kirk Jr. appointed Charlie to the Twentieth Judicial Circuit to serve as Circuit Court Judge. Charlie was reelected to that position in 1972, 1978, 1984, and 1990. He retired from fulltime judicial service in 1997, having served as Administrative Judge, Chief Judge, and Deputy Chief Judge during those twenty-seven years of service. He also served as Associate Judge on the Second and Fourth District Courts of Appeal. However, for an additional fifteen years until his full retirement from the bench in 2012, Charlie continued to serve in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit as Senior Judge, civil court mediator, and arbitrator.

Charlie remained active throughout his life. He spent his early years hunting and fishing with his family. He was an original member of NCH’s Wellness program in the 1980s. It was through that program, where he participated in biking, swimming, and triathlons, that he initially met his wife. Later, during his partial retirement, Charlie learned to love snow-skiing and enjoyed longer stays in Vail, Colorado, which he referred to fondly as his second home. Charlie’s zeal for life and passion for new experiences was evidenced by his travels to more than eighty countries and visits to each of the seven continents.

Generous with his time and knowledge, Charlie was also an active and involved member of his community. His achievements and associations include: Florida National Guard (1953-56); Assistant City Attorney and Special Prosecutor Fort Pierce (1965-1967); Recipient Jaycees’ Good Government Award (1968); Recipient Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award (1970); Former Vice-president and President St. Lucie County’s Chapter of the University of Florida’s Alumni Association; Former First Vice President United Fund; Past President Legal Services Inc.; Former Director Florida Bank of Fort Pierce; Former Member Board of Directors Stetson Lawyers Association, Big Brothers, YMCA; Former Member Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, Marine Corps League, Elks and Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges, The Florida Bar, Collier County and American Bar Associations.

However, Charlie’s legacy is so much more than his accomplishments. Though known as a decisive judge, he managed not to be judgmental in his personal life. Charlie was admired for his kind and even temperament. He had a sharp wit, excellent sense of humor, and infectious laugh. He was fair and forgiving, but firm in his principles. Most importantly, he was dearly loved.

Charles was known to his colleagues as “Judge”, to his friends and stepchildren as “Charlie”, to his children as “Dad”, and to his grandchildren as “Popo”. To his wife, he was the love of her life. He was interred at a family cemetery in Fort Pierce during a private service on Saturday, December 27, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to either the Alzheimer's Support Network on Pine Ridge and Goodlette Roads or Avow Hospice. Both organizations are non-profits in Naples, Florida.