Michael C. Surles currently serves as a district court judge in District 4. He was elected to this position in 2016 and is serving his second term. He previously served as vice president of the Jacksonville Mall Merchants Association.

Michael currently works as an attorney at his own private practice, Law Office of Michael C. Surles. He previously worked as an attorney for a private practice. He served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps.

Michael is from Jacksonville, Florida. He holds an associate's degree from Coastal Carolina Community College, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and political science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He is married to his wife, Elizabeth, with whom he has 2 sons. He is a Christian and is a member of River of Life Church.