CIRCUIT JUDGE
The Honorable Kelly J. McKibben
Division: O - Juvenile Dependency
Judicial Assistant: Amanda Avalos
Office: (321) 637-5594 | Email
Located at the Moore Justice Center Viera, Brevard
INSTRUCTIONS AND MORE
Judge McKibben's Policies and Procedures (See Below)
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit provides procedural instructions for attorneys along with policies that may differ within the guidelines of the law between judges and county or circuit court.
Attorneys in both Brevard and Seminole have the resources offering many new facets of modern technology including but not limited to online scheduling, instructions, provider listings, policies and procedures and much more.
There are courtroom rules and policies governing all divisions of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. All parties are expected to follow these rules.
Below are Judge McKibben's Procedures
Judge McKibben also presides over the Brevard Early Childhood Court
KELLY J. MCKIBBEN
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
- Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, J.D. May 1994
- University of Florida, B.S. in Psychology, December 1990
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
- Chief Legal Counsel/Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for District 7, Florida Department of Children and Families, August 2003 – December 2005
- Deputy Chief Legal Counsel/Managing Attorney for District 7, July 2002 – August 2003
- Managing Attorney for District 7, Child Welfare Legal Services, June 1999 – August 2003
- Senior/Supervising Attorney for Child Welfare Legal Services, October 1996 – June 1999
- Attorney for Child Welfare Legal Services, April 1995 – September 1996
- Law Clerk, Ruth S. Capra, P.C. in Birmingham, Alabama, June 1993 – November 1993 and March 1994 – April 1994
- Intern/Volunteer for Investigator, Alachua County Public Defender’s Office in Gainesville, Florida, January 1990 – December 1990
JUDICIAL HISTORY
- Circuit Judge, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, September 2013 to present (appointed by Governor Rick Scott). Served in the Family Division, Dependency Division, and Criminal Division
- Serve as Administrative Juvenile Dependency Division Judge (since January 2021)
- Assigned to Early Childhood Court (implemented December 2021)
- Assigned to Adult Drug Court July 2014 – July 2023
- County Court Judge, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, January 2006 to September 2013 (appointed to the bench in December 2005 by Governor Jeb Bush)
- Served as Administrative County Court Judge and Acting Administrative County Court Judge
ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS
- Member of the Florida Bar since October 1994
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia since 1994 (inactive status)
- Member of the Brevard County Bar Association since 1995. Member of the Brevard County Bar Association Board of Directors from August 2005 to December 2005. Also, an associate member of the Young Lawyers Division
- Member of the Brevard County Association for Women Lawyers
- Member of the Seminole County Bar Association
- Appointed member of the Trial Court Budget Commission for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit since February 2020. Also serve on the Budget Management Committee and Problem-Solving Court Advisory Group
- Member of the Dependency Court Improvement Panel as of June 2024
- Elected as the 5th District Court of Appeal representative in August 2022 at the conference of circuit judges (2023-2024 two-year term)
- Former member of the A. Max Brewer Memorial Law Library Board of Trustees January 2013 – July 2023
- Member of the Brevard County Civilian/Military Council, 45th Space Wing since February 2006
- Member of the award-winning Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court since 1999 and served as Mentoring Director, Program Director, and President. Also, serve as the Achieving Excellence Director
- Team Leader for Justice Teaching Program for Kennedy Middle School since Fall 2006 and Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Select Committee member supporting the Justice Teaching Program since 2014
- Mentor judge for the Teacher Institute at the Florida Supreme Court since 2013
- Former Board member of Brevard Family Partnership/Community Based Care of Brevard
- Member of the University of Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2003 to 2012. Served as Treasurer, President-Elect, and President
- President of the Brevard County Gator Club from July 1999 to July 2000 and July 2003 to December 2005 and Vice President of Academics for the Brevard County Gator Club from July 1996 to December 2005. Volunteer since 1996
- Former Chair of the Brevard County Canvassing Board. Served on the Brevard County Canvassing Board as a special appointment from July 2020 through the end of the 2020 election cycle
- Serve as a Mentor Judge to newly appointed or elected judges
- Co-authored a chapter on adoption law in several editions of the Florida Juvenile Law and Practice Manual
- Present at various speaking engagements to include groups of students of various ages, women’s clubs, Scout troops, and elder groups. Also, participate in mock trials/lessons in the law with local students
- Former appointment as Bar Bench Liaison (Judicial Liaison Committee) for Brevard County, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit since July 2006
- Former Member of the Long-Range Planning/Stakeholders Group for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
- Former appointed member of the Florida Bar Special Committee on Child and Parent Representation
- Former chair and an appointed member of the Children’s Services Council of Brevard County
- Former member of the Court Process Workgroup of the Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Commission in Orange County
- Former member of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Curriculum Workgroup
- Former member of the Friends of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard from 1999 to December 2005
- Former member of the Operations Board of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard from 1997 to 1999
- Former member of the Juvenile Court Rules Committee from July 2002 to June 2008
- Former member of the Legal Needs of Children Committee from July 2008 to June 2014
- Former member of the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee from July 2020 to June 2021
- Former member of the Public Safety Coordinating Council for Brevard County
- Former member of the Professionalism Committee of the Conference of County Court Judges and of the Education Committee of the Conference of County Court Judges
- Former appointed member of the Task Force on Children’s Justice
- Participated in the High School Mock Trial Competition as a rating judge in February 2005 and as a presiding judge in 2006 and 2007
- Former member of the Professionalism Awards Luncheon Committee and have served on the Law Day Committee
- Provided legal training on various topics such as legislative updates, best practices in the initial response to child abuse investigations, and the relation of Chapter 39 to domestic violence cases. Also presented on Attorney Ad Litem requirements
- Provided numerous legal trainings at the annual statewide Dependency Court Improvement Summit
- Presented at various judicial conferences on topics such as Child Hearsay, Dependency Case Law and Legislative Updates, Termination of Parental Rights, Sentencing in DUI cases, and Disqualification and Recusal
- Participated in contract monitoring for the Broward County Office of the Attorney General Pilot Project and the former Alachua County State Attorney’s Office Pilot Project. This involved developing a monitoring instrument and reviewing many dependency case files from each office
- Participated in “Club Sib”, a weekend reunion for siblings placed in different foster homes, in October 2000
- Mentored a student at Fern Creek Elementary School in 2003 and 2004
- Member of Women in Law and participated in the Dean Parham Williams Freshman Trial Competition, Governor Albert P. Brewer Client Counseling Competition and Street Law Program: Teaching juveniles about the law, while at Cumberland School of Law
- Participated in a Judicial Externship with Judge Elise D. Barclay (Family Court) and completed International Studies in Canterbury, England while at Cumberland School of Law
AWARDS
- Received team award for the Early Childhood Court program from the Brevard County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force in April 2024
- Recipient of the Distinguished Judicial Service Award from Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc., in May 2022
- Recipient of the 2017-2018 Jurist of the Year Award from the Florida Association for Women Lawyers
- Recipient of the William E. Gladstone Award in 2016 for making the greatest contribution to the courts in serving dependent children and their families
- 2014 Judge of the Year Award recipient, presented by the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. for mentor judge and volunteer activities
- Named as one of three finalists for the Eckerd Youth Foundation Hero of the Year Award in March 2013
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2006 for work with the Department of Children and Families
- Received 2005 Outstanding Performance Team Award for the District 7 Legal Leadership Team in August 2005
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2005 for the District 7 L.E.G.A.L. Training Team, the District 7 Legal News Monthly Newsletter Team, the Child Welfare Legal Services Case Law Conference Call Team and the Fostering Student Education Success and Stabilization Team (in conjunction with the Orange County Public Schools)
- Received 2004 Outstanding Performance Award in July 2004
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2004 for the District 7 Legal Leadership Team and the Child Welfare Legal Services Case Law Conference Call Team
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2003 for the District 7 Legal Management Team and the Legal News Monthly Newsletter Team
- Received three Davis Productivity Awards in December 2002 for 1) the L.E.A.D.E.R. Initiative and the internet* based trial notebook that was set up for all Department attorneys statewide, for 2) the Administrative Fines for False Reporting of Child Abuse Initiative, and for 3) the District 7 Legal Business Plan
- Received Davis Productivity Award in December 2001 for the Special Operations Response Team, a team focused on achieving permanency more timely for many foster children in Orange County
- Received Summit Award for Excellence in Legal Representation at Dependency Court Improvement Summit in August 2001
- Received VISION Awards from the Department of Children and Families in May 2001
- Received Summit Award for Best Practice for Outstanding Legal Training at Dependency Court Improvement Summit in August 2000
- Received the Department of Children and Families District 7 Heart of Gold Award in May 2000
- Received Distinguished Special Achievement Award from the Department of Children and Families in July 1998
- Received Outstanding Gator Club Member Award in January 1999 for 1997-1998
- Best Paper Award, Municipal Court Practice, Spring 1994
- Pre-Professional Service Organization (PSO) “Outstanding Volunteer” Award for 1988-1989
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2006 for work with the Department of Children and Families
- Received 2005 Outstanding Performance Team Award for the District 7 Legal Leadership Team in August 2005
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2005 for the District 7 L.E.G.A.L. Training Team, the District 7 Legal News Monthly Newsletter Team, the Child Welfare Legal Services Case Law Conference Call Team and the Fostering Student Education Success and Stabilization Team (in conjunction with the Orange County Public Schools)
- Received 2004 Outstanding Performance Award in July 2004
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2004 for the District 7 Legal Leadership Team and the Child Welfare Legal Services Case Law Conference Call Team
- Received Davis Productivity Awards in 2003 for the District 7 Legal Management Team and the Legal News Monthly Newsletter Team
- Received three Davis Productivity Awards in December 2002 for 1) the L.E.A.D.E.R. Initiative and the internet* based trial notebook that was set up for all Department attorneys statewide, for 2) the Administrative Fines for False Reporting of Child Abuse Initiative, and for 3) the District 7 Legal Business Plan
- Received Davis Productivity Award in December 2001 for the Special Operations Response Team, a team focused on achieving permanency more timely for many foster children in Orange County
- Received Summit Award for Excellence in Legal Representation at Dependency Court Improvement Summit in August 2001
- Received VISION Awards from the Department of Children and Families in May 2001
- Received Summit Award for Best Practice for Outstanding Legal Training at Dependency Court Improvement Summit in August 2000
- Received the Department of Children and Families District 7 Heart of Gold Award in May 2000
- Received Distinguished Special Achievement Award from the Department of Children and Families in July 1998
- Received Outstanding Gator Club Member Award in January 1999 for 1997-1998
- Best Paper Award, Municipal Court Practice, Spring 1994
- Pre-Professional Service Organization (PSO) “Outstanding Volunteer” Award for 1988-1989
PERSONAL HISTORY
- Married to husband Scott Crandall
- Grew up in Clearwater, Florida, and have been a resident of Brevard County since November of 1994
- Enjoy spending time with family and friends, spending time outdoors, attending Florida Gators games, and also likes working with children
2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940-8006
(321) 637-5594
Florida Courts Help available at the touch of a screen:
For constituents, customers, or callers seeking help with family law cases – divorce, adoption, name change, custody, order of protection, and much more – there is now a one-stop source for lots of information aimed at self-represented people. Florida Courts Help is available at app stores as well as online at help.flcourts.gov.
