Circuit Judge Lisa Davidson Biography

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The Honorable Lisa Davidson

Chief Judge

 

Circuit Judge Lisa Davidson. Opens in new window.

The Honorable:
Lisa Davidson

EDUCATION:

  • JD, Duke Law School, 1977
  • BA, University of Michigan, 1974
  • Meridian High School, Meridian, MS, 1970

JUDICIAL HISTORY:

  • Chief Judge, 18th Judicial Circuit, Present
  • Circuit Judge, 18th Judicial Circuit, 1998 – Present
  • County Judge, Brevard County, 1994 – 1998
  • Associate Judge, Fifth District Court of Appeal, December 2010, July 2004, November 1999
  • Associate Judge, Fourth District Court of Appeal, October 2007, July 2002, December 2000

DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS:

  • Guardianship & Foreclosure, 2017 – Present
  • Guardianship, Probate & Foreclosure, 2015 – 2017
  • Civil, 2013 – 2015
  • Delinquency, 2011 – 2013
  • Civil & Family, 1998 – 2001, 2008 – 2011
  • Criminal, 2004 – 2008
  • Dependency, 2001 – 2004

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS:

  • Administrative Judge, Foreclosure Case Management Committee, 2016 -2017
  • Administrative Judge, Guardianship, Probate, Mental Health (Brevard) 2016 -2017
  • Administrative Judge, Bar Bench Liaison (Brevard) 2015-2017
  • Administrative Judge, Staff Attorneys (Brevard) 2012 – 2017
  • Administrative Judge, Juvenile Drug Court (Brevard) 2011 -2013
  • Administrative Judge, Civil Division (Brevard) 2008 – 2011, 2013 – 2014
  • Administrative Judge, Jury Management (Brevard) 2005 – 2008
  • Administrative Judge, Juvenile Division (Brevard) 2001 – 2004, 2011 – 2013
  • Administrative Judge, Professionalism Committee, 2005 – 2011
  • Administrative Judge, Family Division (Brevard & Seminole) 1999 – 2001

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:

  • Private Practice, Brevard County, 1982 – 1993
  • Assistant State Attorney, Broward County, 1980 – 1981
  • Assistant Public Defender, Broward County, 1978 – 1980

ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS:

STATEWIDE JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES:

  • Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, Member 1995 – 2017; Chair 1998 – 1999, 2007 – 2008
  • Director of Florida’s Judicial Mentor Program, 1999 – 2008

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS:

  • Select Committee on Justice Teaching Initiative, Chair, 2006 – 2014
  • Mentor to New Judges, 1996 – Present
  • Steering Committee on Families & Children, 2000 – 2004, 1996 – 1998
  • Florida Courts Technology Commission, 1999 – 2003
  • Commission on Professionalism, 1996 – 1998

GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS:

  • Guardian Ad Litem Working Group, 2002
  • Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence, Co-Vice Chair, 1999 – 2001
  • Commission on Minimum Standards for Batterers’ Intervention, 1995 – 1999

FLORIDA BAR ACTIVITIES:

  • Pro Bono Committee, 18th Judicial Circuit Co-Committee Chair, 2015 – present
  • Judicial Administration Evaluation Committee (JAEC) 2011 – 2017
  • Rules of Judicial Administration (RJA), 2005-2011, Chair 2009 – 2010
  • Family Law Section of the Florida Bar Executive Council, 1996 – 2004
  • Legal Needs of Children, 2003 – 2005
  • The Florida bar Journal/News Editorial Board, 1997 – 2003
  • Family Law Rules Committee, 1998 – 2001
  • Family Law Section Subcommittee on Domestic Violence, Chair

LAW RELATED ACTIVITIES:

  • Brevard County Bar Association
  • Seminole County Bar Association
  • Law Related Education Committee, 2000 -2001
  • Professionalism Committee, 1998 – 2009
  • Brevard County Association of Women Lawyers
  • Florida Association of Women Lawyers
  • Brevard County Domestic Violence Task Force, Chair and Founder, 1995 – 1997
  • Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court, 1992 – 2002; Emeritus elected 2003; President, 1999 – 2001; Executive Committee, 1992 – 2002, 2007 – 2008

PREVIOUS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida, Board of Directors (Brevard County)
  • Habitat for Humanity of Brevard County, Inc., Board of Directors
  • Rotary Club of Suntree
  • The Haven, Board of Directors
  • Project Response, Board of Directors
  • Children’s Community Theater, Board of Directors
  • Indialantic Elementary School, PTSC

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:

  • The Distinguished Judicial Service Award for Pro Bono Service, Presented by Chief Justice Charles T. Canady, 2020
  • Distinguished Judicial Service Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Contributions, Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc., 2018
  • Founders’ Award, Brevard County Association for Women Lawyers, 2017
  • Outstanding Jurist Award, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Brevard County Bar Association, 2000, 2007, 2013 and 2016
  • William E. Gladstone Award (statewide award for judicial leadership and service to Florida’s children), 2004
  • Recognized by Florida Supreme Court and Governor for Dedication to the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program, 1993 and 2003
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), 50th Anniversary Golden Star Award, 2001
  • Palm Bay High School’s Guardian of the Constitution Citizenship Award for fostering law related education in Brevard County, 2001
  • Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc.’s Judge of the Year, 1999
  • Resolution, Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, recognizing work on children’s issues, 1997
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