Judge Lisa Davidson: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Lisa Davidson (Ret.) was a judge for the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. She joined the bench in 1998. Davidson retired on June 30, 2022.

The 18th Judicial Circuit includes Brevard and Seminole Counties.

She served as associate judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeal (November 1999, July 2004, and December 2010) and the Fourth District Court of Appeal (December 2000, July 2002, and October 2007) and as the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (2019 to 2021). Davidson was an administrative judge of the Foreclosure Case Management Committee, the Professionalism Committee, the Seminole County Family Division, and the Brevard County Guardianship; Probate, and Mental Health; Bench Bar Liason; Staff Attorneys; Juvenile Drug Court; Civil Division; Jury Management; Juvenile Division; and Family Division. She also held assignments in the Criminal (2021 to 2022; 2018 to 2019; 2004 to 2008); Guardianship (2019 to 2021); Guardianship, Probate/Foreclosure (2013 to 2017); Guardianship, Civil (2013 to 2015); Delinquency (2011 to 2013); Civil and Family (1998 to 2001; 2008 to 2011); and Dependency (2001 to 2004) Divisions.

Davidson began her judicial career as a judge for the Brevard County Court in 1994 and remained on its bench for four years.

Prior to joining the bench, she was in private practice in Brevard County (1982 to 1993) and served as a former assistant state attorney (1980 to 1981) and an assistant public defender (1978 to 1980) with the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

Davidson received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1974. She went on to complete a J.D. at Duke University School of Law in 1977.

Davidson served as a member of The Florida Bar Pro Bono Committee (chair), the Judicial Administration Evaluation Committee, the Rules of Judicial Administration (chair), the Family Law Section (Executive Council), the Legal Needs of Children, the Journal/News Editorial Board, the Family Law Rules Committee, and the Family Law Section Subcommittee on Domestic Violence (chair).

Her memberships included the Brevard County Bar Association, the Seminole County Bar Association, the Brevard County Association of Women Lawyers, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, the Brevard County Domestic Violence Task Force (chair and founder), and the Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court (past president).

Davidson received gubernatorial appointments to the Guardian Ad Litem Working Group (2002), the Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence (co-chair, 1999 to 2001), and the Commission on Minimum Standards for Batterers’ Intervention (1995 to 1999).

She was also appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve as a member of the Select Committee on Justice Teaching Initiative (chair), the Steering Committee on Families & Children, the Florida Courts Technology Commission, and the Commission on Professionalism.

From a civic standpoint, Davidson was involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida (Brevard County Board of Directors), Habitat for Humanity of Brevard County (Board of Directors), the Rotary Club of Suntree, the Haven (Board of Directors), Project Response (Board of Directors), the Children’s Community Theater (Board of Directors), and the Indialantic Elementary School PTSC.

Among her accolades, she was named the National Veterans Homeless Support Volunteer Advocate of the Year (2021) and received the Distinguished Judicial Service Award for Pro Bono Service (2020) and the Distinguished Judicial Service Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Contributions from the Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. (2018).

Davidson attended Meridian High School in Meridian, Mississippi.