The Honorable Lisa Davidson
Chief Judge

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