Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts - Brevard and Seminole Counties Florida

About The CourtsAbout the Courts
Calendars/Scheduling(JACS)
Courthouse Locations
Courthouse Pictures
Hours and Holidays
Professionalism

Attorney ResourcesAdministrative Orders
Attorney Registry
Calendars/Scheduling(JACS)
Indigent Services
Foreclosure Procedures
Guardian Ad Litem
Local Practice Manuals
Process Servers

Programs/Services Court Administration
Dependency Court
Digital Court Recording
Domestic Violence
Drug Court
Family Division
Foreclosure Procedures
Interpreters
Mediation
Self Help (Represent Yourself)
Technology

Judges of the 18th Chief Judge
Biographies
Phone Directory
Meet Our Judges
Articles, Orders and Opinions
Capital Case Materials
Speakers Bureau

Other Resources Drug Free Workplace Policy
Employment Opportunities
Guardian Ad Litem
Links to Local and State Agencies
Policies and Terms of Use
Weather Alerts

News & Events Media Advisories
Photo Album
Request Information

JUDGES' BIOGRAPHIES

JAMES H. EARP

Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore
Justice Center
2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, Florida 32940-8006

321-617-7236

JUDICIAL HISTORY:
2006	Elected to the circuit court without opposition 2006, term began Jan. 2, 2007.
2007	Civil/Family Division Jan. 2, 2007 to May 15, 2008.
2008	Felony Division, May 15, 2008 to present.
2008	Served as Associate Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal, July 22, 2008.
2008	Chair, Jail Oversight Committee, Dec. 1, 2008 to present.
2009	Chair, Conflict Counsel Appointment Committee, July 2009 - present
2009	Adult Drug Court 2008 to present

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:
1977	Office of the Public Defender, Jacksonville, Florida, 1977 to 1978.
1978	Law Office of Jackson, Earp, and Jackson, Jacksonville, Florida, 1978 to 1983.
1983	Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Circuit, 1983 to 1987.
1987	Office of the State Attorney, Eighteenth Circuit, 1987 to 1990.
1990	Law Office of James H. Earp, Melbourne, Florida, October 1990 to March 1991.
1991	Cianfrogna, Telfer, Reda, Faherty, and Anderson, P.A., March 1991 to February 2001.
1998	Guardian ad Litem Program, Program Attorney, June 1998 to October 2000.
2001	Office of the State Attorney, Eighteenth Circuit, 2001 to 2006 (served as Felony Division * Chief prior to being elected Circuit Judge).

EDUCATION:
1972	Melbourne High School, 1972.
1974	University of South Florida, B.A., College of Language & Literature, June 1974.
1976	University of Florida, College of Law, Juris Doctor, December 1976.

ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS:
1977	Florida Bar, since 1977.
1987	Brevard County Bar Association, Member since 1987.
1994	Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court
1994	Brevard County Bar Association Board of Directors
1995	1995 to 2006 Legal Aid Board of Directors, positions included President, Vice-President.
1996	Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court
1996	Brevard County Bar Association Board of Directors
1998	Florida Bar Board Certified, Criminal Trial: 1988 to 1998.
1998	Supreme Court Symposium on Professionalism
1999	Brevard County Bar Association Board of Directors
1999	Brevard County Bar Association, Professionalism Luncheon Committee Co-Chair
2000	Brevard County Bar Association, Professionalism Luncheon Committee Co-Chair
2001	Brevard County Bar Association, Professionalism Luncheon Committee Chair
2001	Mentor, Take Stock in Children Program, 2001-2002.
2001	Brevard County Bar Association Uniform Sanctions Committee
2002	Brevard County Bar Association Board of Directors
2002	Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism, 2002 to 2006.
2004	Florida Bar Member Outreach Committee, 2004 to 2006.
2004	E-Mentor, Florida Bar E-Mentoring Program, 2004-2006.
2005	Faculty Member, Ernest F. Hollings National Advocacy Center, Course: Cross Examination, March 29, 2005 to April 1, 2005
2006	Seminole County Bar Association, member since 2006.
2006	Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc., Past President, Past Vice President, Board of Directors
2007-08	Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court
2009-10	Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
1993	Recognized by the Florida Supreme Court and the State of Florida Guardian ad Litem Program for dedication to the best interests of abused and neglected children, and for outstanding service to the Court
1995	Recognized by Brevard County Guardian ad Litem Program
1996	Recognized by Florida Supreme Court for Outstanding Work on Behalf of the Guardian ad Litem Program
1997	Brevard County Bar Association, Outstanding Pro-Bono Contribution
1999	Brevard County Bar Association, Outstanding Pro-Bono Contribution
1990	Recognized by Brevard County Board of County Commissioners for service to the Country Acres advisory board
2004	Brevard County Bar Association Professionalism Award for Government Lawyer
2004	Office of the State Attorney, Pride in Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement and Personal Dedication.
2005	Office of the State Attorney, Outstanding Trial Attorney

OTHER: SPEAKING ASSIGNMENTS:
2007
	Coordinated with local high schools for students to attend oral arguments for the Fifth District Court of Appeal at Brevard County for Law Day
June	Palm Bay High School Law Academy, Graduation Address
August	Cocoa Kiwanis Club on Professionalism
October	Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School, on the CSI Effect and the Rules of Evidence
October	Palm Bay High School, on Criminal Discovery and Evidence

2008
	Coordinated with local high schools for students to attend oral arguments for the Fifth District Court of Appeal at Brevard County for Law Day
February	Rockledge High School Law Academy
February	American Mock Trial Association, Volunteer Judge for East Coast Regional Mock Trial Tournament, University of Central Florida
March	Brevard County High School Mock Trial Competition, Volunteer Judge
April	Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School, Career Day Speaker
May	Palm Bay High School Law Academy, Graduation Address
November	The Fountains, Senior Living Community

2009
	Coordinated with local high schools for students to attend oral arguments for the Fifth District Court of Appeal at Brevard County for Law Day
February	Brevard County High School Mock Trial Competition, Volunteer Judge
May	Adult Drug Court Graduation ceremony, in conjunction with Florida Statewide Drug Court Graduation

2010
	Coordinated with local high schools for students to attend oral arguments for the Fifth District Court of Appeal at Brevard County for Law Day
February	Florida Bar Practicing with Professionalism, Discussion panel member, Ethics and Professionalism.
April	Palm Bay High School Law Academy, Graduation Address
May	Adult Drug Court Graduation ceremony, in conjunction with Florida Statewide Drug Court Graduation

CONTINUING EDUCATION:
2007
Janaury	Florida Judicial College, Phase I ** Credits = 0
March	Florida Judicial College, Phase II ** Credits = 0
April	Diversity & Inclusion: Skills for a Changing Workforce ** Credits = 2.0
May	Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Appellate Work/Trial Judges ** Credits = 6.50
May	Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Domestic Violence ** Credits = 6.50
May	Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Fundamentals of Family Law ** Credits = 13.00
June	Annual Business Program of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges ** Credits = 13.50
August	Current Issues in the Law ** Credits = 28.00

2008
March	Bar Referee Training Distance Learning ** Credits = 1.50
August	Annual Business Program of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges ** Credits = 13.50

2009
June	College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Handling Capital Cases ** Credits = 26.00
June	College of Advanced Judicial Studies, The Judge as a Role Model ** Credits = 3.50

2010
May	College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Difficult Defendants/Jurors ** Credits = 6.50
May	College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Jurisprudence ** Credits = 13.00
May	College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Search & Seizure ** Credits = 10.00

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation please click here.

JUDGES' BIOGRAPHIES

Calendars

Schedule of Events, Dockets, and More

Most Requested Forms

Family and Civil Courts

Employee Login