Judge Jacqueline B. Steele: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Jacqueline B. Steele is a judge for the Manatee County Court in Florida. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Robert Farrance (Ret.).

During her judicial tenure, Steele has presided over the Civil and Criminal Divisions in Manatee County.

Prior to her appointment, she was a partner at McConnaughhay, Coonrod, Pope, Weaver & Stern, P.A. At the firm, her areas of practice included workers’ compensation and insurance defense matters. Before that, Steele had worked as an assistant state attorney with the Office of the State Attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

She received a B.A. from the University of South Florida in 1991. Steele went on to complete a J.D. at Florida State University College of Law in 1994.

She was admitted to practice in Florida (1995); the United States District Court for the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida; the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

Her memberships have included the American Bar Association, the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (Manatee and Sarasota chapters), the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Sarasota-Bradenton Claims Association (past president), and the Sarasota County Bar Association Board of Directors.

Steele sat on The Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section, where she served on the Executive Council and was a past treasurer and secretary. She was also involved with the E. Earle Zehmer Moot Court Competition (chair) and the News & 440 Report Editorial Board.

At the time of her appointment, Steele resided in Bradenton, Florida.