LaShawnda Jackson

LaShawnda Jackson

Nonpartisan

Florida 9th Circuit Court

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2031

Years in position

1

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 20, 2024

Education

High school

Astronaut High School

Bachelor's

University of Florida, 1999

Law

University of Florida College of Law, 2002

Personal

Birthplace

Titusville, FL

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Attorney at law

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

LaShawnda Jackson is a judge of the Florida 9th Circuit Court. She assumed office on January 7, 2025. Her current term ends on January 7, 2031.

Jackson won election for judge of the Florida 9th Circuit Court outright in the primary on August 20, 2024, after the general election was canceled.

Jackson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

LaShawnda Jackson was born in Titusville, Florida. She earned a high school diploma from Astronaut High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1999, and a law degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 2002. Her career experience includes working as an attorney at law.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, Florida (2024)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Florida 9th Circuit Court

LaShawnda Jackson won election outright against Joy Goodyear in the primary for Florida 9th Circuit Court on August 20, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	LaShawnda Jackson (Nonpartisan)	52.3	86,138
	Submit photo	Joy Goodyear (Nonpartisan)	47.7	78,493

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 164,631
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Jackson's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Jackson in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

LaShawnda Jackson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jackson's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a trial attorney with 22 years of experience representing individuals, governmental entities, small businesses, corporations and others in various civil litigation and other matters. I have handled cases ranging from property damages to multi-million-dollar injury claims. I am experienced, hardworking and will be fair to all. As a former hammer thrower and shot putter on the University of Florida Track & Field Team, I have the discipline and time management skills to manage a trial docket. I have also shown my ability and willingness to lead by being elected by my peers to serve as past president of the Orange County Bar Association, the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association and the Virgil Hawkins Chapter National Bar Association, as well as various leadership positions in other organizations. I have also represented Orange and Osceola counties by being elected to the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors as a 9th Circuit Representative and by being previously appointed to serve as a member of the 9th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission and the 9th Circuit Grievance Committee. I volunteered for 22 years in Orange and Osceola Counties in programs like the Head Start Guest Reader's Program, Street Law and You Be the Judge programs and other afterschool outreach programs. As a child who grew up in the projects of east Mims, I am honored to currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando & Osceola County.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am an EXPERIENCED trial lawyer who works and lives in the 9th Circuit (Orange and Osceola counties), as well as one who has litigated cases throughout the state of Florida.
• I am HARDWORKING with experience that will be essential to managing a large case docket which is required of all circuit court judges.
• As evidenced by the many, diverse endorsements from my peers--lawyers who practice in criminal law, family law, personal injury law, civil litigation defense, business law and others-- --I have a reputation for being FAIR and will be impartial to all litigants who come before me.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most interested in a fair, impartial judiciary where every litigant is treated the same.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

N/A

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Every judge should be fair and impartial. Every litigant should be able to walk into the courtroom and know that (s)he or it will get a fair hearing or trial.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am experienced, hardworking and will be fair to all.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A judge elected to office is responsible for interpreting the law, not rewriting it. (S)he is also responsible for administering justice effectively and as efficiently as possible. Finally, a judge is responsible for upholding the oath of office by adhering to all ethical standards.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of a judge who treated every litigant fairly and who ruled without bias or prejudice. I believe in our justice and strive to make it better.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was standing in front of the library at Oak Park Elementary School in Titusville when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart on January 28, 1986. I was nine years old. While we were dismissed from class for every shuttle launch during school hours, we had prepared for this launch for weeks because a teacher was onboard. Many of my classmates had parents who worked at Kennedy Space Center.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was for the City of Titusville working in the water department. It was a summer job through a federal government program.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Scarlet Letter. it is a powerful, symbolic story of a woman who made the best of her situation.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

"M" from the James Bond book and film series.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

i Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Overcoming stereotypes.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

N/A

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

N/A

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

N/A

What do you love most about your city?

Orlando is truly the city beautiful, from its landmark lakes to the diverse people who call Orlando, Orange County and Osceola County their homes. Growing up in Brevard County, I remember as a child driving through the SR 408 / I-4 exchange and seeing lively Church Steet Station packed with people, the arena for the Orlando Magic and the office buildings towering over the streets. I knew then this was the place I wanted to live.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

The increasing population will continue to have a significant impact on the local judicial system as more and more people need a court system that has limited resources. This will in turn result in increasing caseloads for judges.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

N/A

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

N/A

Tell us your favorite joke.

N/A

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

N/A

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have been endorsed by the Central Floria Hotel and Lodging Association. I have also been endorsed by several past presidents of the Orange County Bar Association, the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Associations, as well as others in the Orange and Osceola counties legal communities. My endorsements include lawyers who practice in a wide variety of legal practice areas.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

N/A

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Florida 9th Circuit Court

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Footnotes

Florida courts

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Federal courts:

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida

State courts:

Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court

State resources:

Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida