Judge Rudisill's entire academic and professional career has provided him with a wealth of knowledge and experience invaluable to anyone blessed to serve as a judge in Florida's legal system. His commitment to his family, community, and the law is second to none and guides him on the bench. He has the demeanor and temperament that the people of the 18th Judicial Circuit deserve and would be honored to continue to serve them for many years to come.

EARLY YEARS

Michael Rudisill is part of a family that has lived in the State of Florida since the 1890's. His parents moved him and his brother to Central Florida in 1981 where he attended its public schools. He grew up playing football, sailing, shooting, SCUBA diving, canoeing, snorkeling and kayaking. He is blessed to have many of his oldest friends and their families still call Central Florida home.

UNDERGRADUTE

Michael Rudisill followed in his parents' footsteps to the University of Florida, where he was part of the Honors Program, many academic honors societies, and was very active in Student Government. He earned a Bachelors of Arts in History with Honors. For the next several months he worked for the Paralyzed Veterans Association of Florida, a non profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of veterans with a spinal cord injury or dysfunction and other persons with disabilities to achieve maximum health, productivity and self-esteem in their daily lives.

LAW SCHOOL

Michael Rudisill earned his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. He studied a wide range of subjects, but focused primarily on criminal and civil trial law. He served on both the Student Government Elections Commission and the Board of Masters. As a Master, he served as an appellate judge on the Student Government Supreme Court hearing cases and helping draft opinions. For several months he also served as Acting Chancellor of the Student Honor Court, the head of the judicial branch of Student Government. He spent a summer studying law in France and another as a Certified Legal Intern at the State Attorney's Office. It was during this time as an intern that he won his first jury trial and fell in love with the courtroom.

AS A PROSECUTOR

Upon graduation from law school, Michael Rudisill was offered a full time position as an Assistant State Attorney. He passed the Florida Bar Examination and began prosecuting traffic crimes and misdemeanors. He quickly developed a reputation as a hard-working, tough but fair advocate for the people of the State of Florida and was soon promoted to the Felony Trial Division where he handled a wide variety of serious crimes. He worked closely with members of the various law enforcement agencies on literally hundreds of cases in order to obtain convictions against some of the worst offenders in Central Florida. He also fiercely defended the rights of the victims of the crimes he prosecuted. During his years at the State Attorney's Office, he spent the vast majority of his time in the courtroom and gained extensive jury trial experience.

AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Hal Uhrig, the founding member of a fast-growing criminal defense firm, The Defense Group, recruited him into the firm. Mr. Uhrig was a great mentor and Michael Rudisill gained immeasurable experience representing clients in counties throughout Florida including Seminole, Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Marion, Volusia, Polk and Citrus. During these years he used his knowledge and skills to defend the constitutional rights of those accused of crimes. Although the Defense Group specialized in criminal defense, he handled numerous civil matters related to criminal cases including domestic violence injunctions, civil forfeitures of property, driver's license administrative review hearings, and civil traffic infractions.

PATH TO THE BENCH

Michael Rudisill came to the bench by applying for the position vacated when Judge James E. C. Perry was elevated to Florida Supreme Court. Nearly thirty prominent attorneys from Seminole and Brevard Counties applied for the seat. Applicants had to first submit to an interview by the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission. They recommended whom the Governor should interview. After meeting with the candidates and carefully considering their qualifications and demeanor, Governor Crist appointed Michael Rudisill to the bench.

AS A JUDGE

Judge Michael Rudisill is currently assigned to the Civil/Family Division of Seminole County. He and three other Circuit Judges serve the people of the 18th Judicial Circuit at the Civil Courthouse in Downtown Sanford on Lake Monroe. He hears a wide variety of cases. In the same day he may rule on a personal injury damage issue, a dissolution of marriage, a construction litigation claim, a mortgage foreclosure, an adoption, a domestic violence injunction, an eminent domain taking, a child support award, a personal property seizure, and a wrongful death suit and virtually anything in between. He also does everything he can to make sure that litigants without attorneys have access to the Court and fair hearings. Judge Rudisill also presides over Juvenile Drug Court.

FAMILY

Michael Rudisill met his wife, Summer, not long after he graduated from law school and became a prosecutor. Born in Cape Canaveral Hospital, Summer is a Brevard County native. She grew up in Titusville and graduated from Astronaut High School. She attended college at Brevard Community College and the University of Central Florida. Both sides of her family still make Brevard County their home. A few days after Michael Rudisill was appointed to the bench, Summer gave birth to their first children, twin boys, Conrad and Cortland.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS

Saint Andrew's Chapel, Sanford; Dr. R.C. Sproul, Minister of Preaching and Teaching and Burk Parsons, Minister of Congressional Life

University of Florida Alumni Association

Brevard County Civilian/Military Community Relations Council

Florida Conference of Circuit Judges

Florida Bar Association

Seminole County Bar Association, Board of Directors

Brevard County Bar Association

Volie A. Williams Seminole County Inn of Court, Treasurer

Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court

National Rifle Association

Orlando Touchdown Club

Community Leaders and Elected Officials (CLEO)