Polston was raised in
Graceville, Florida, and graduated from
Graceville High School in 1973 as
valedictorian. He received an
Associate of Arts from
Chipola College in 1975, and a
Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from
Florida State University in 1977. In 1986, he received his
Juris Doctor with high honors from the
Florida State University College of Law. Polston is married to children's book author Deborah Ehler Polston. They have ten children, including six whom they have adopted. Described as an "active Christian" by the
Miami Herald in 2013, Polston wrote of himself, “I am a product and reflection of Florida. My children are racially diverse, which gives me a better appreciation of different cultures and how they react to each other. In short, I am not isolated as a judge.” Polston has been a
certified public accountant since 1978 and worked as a public accountant from 1977 to 1984. After becoming an attorney, Polston was in private practice from 1987 to 2000. Governor
Jeb Bush appointed him a judge of the
First District Court of Appeal of Florida on January 2, 2001, where he served until his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court. During his service on the court of appeals, Polston heard over 6,000 appellate cases. Since 2003, Polston has also worked as an adjunct professor at Florida State University College of Law, teaching the Florida Constitutional Law class there for several years. == Supreme Court appointment ==