The Hon. Frederick J. Lauten (Ret.) served as a judge for the 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Lauten was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jeb Bush in 1999. He retired on June 20, 2019, and became a private mediator and arbitrator at Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group.
The 9th Judicial Circuit encompasses Osceola County and Orange County. Lauten held assignments in both counties, presiding over cases in the Criminal Division (Osceola, Orange) and the Civil Division (Orange). While serving on the bench, he hosted "Open Ninth: Conversations Beyond the Courtroom," a podcast designed to demystify the court system.
Prior to his appointment, Lauten was a judge for the Orange County Court, a position to which he was named by former Governor Lawton Chiles in 1993.
Lauten earned a bachelor's degree in history from Rollins College (1975) and an M.B.A. from the Crummer Graduate School of Business (1976). He then completed a J.D. at Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law, in 1979.
After graduating from law school, Lauten began his legal career as an associate at the Law Office of Bryan C. Hugo. He served in that capacity for two years, eventually leaving to become an associate at Tierney & Swift in Washington, D.C. Then, in 1982, Lauten returned to Florida and joined the Office of the State Attorney for the 9th Judicial Circuit.
Lauten was born in Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Central Florida in 1965. He graduated from Bishop Moore Catholic High School. His wife served as the CEO of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness.
