Biographical Information

        Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Brevard County, Florida

        Elected ~ September, 1998,   Reelected without opposition ~ 2004, 2010 and 2016,  Term of Office ~ January, 1999 through December, 2028

            Current Assignment: Division IV, General County Jurisdiction (Criminal) ~ Moore Justice Center, Melbourne

    Brevard County Administrative Judge, 2002 through 2004 ~ Facilitating the distribution of cases and the administration of the Brevard County Court 

    Brevard Canvassing Board, Former Chairman ~ Certifying electoral

procedures in Brevard County

 

CCCJ President Judge Kenneth A. Gottlieb, CCCJ Awards Committee Chair Judge Tommy Townsend

Judge David E. Silverman and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz

 

Recipient of annual award for "outstanding service to the community" and dedication to judicial education

 

     

Recipient of Volie Williams - Clarence T. Johnson, Jr., Outstanding Jurist Award for 2009.  Brevard County Bar Association's award given every two years to a judge for significant contribution to the bar.

  Conference of County Court Judges of Florida

            Organization committed to promoting judicial excellence among county judges in Florida [See http://www.flcourts.org for more information.]   

           Vice President, Former Vice President for 5th Judicial District ~ Elected July, 2006 to July, 2008

           Representative, Current Representative for 18^th Judicial Circuit ~ Elected July, 2015, Former Representative elected July, 2001served to July, 2004

           Criminal Law Bench Book Subcommittee, Chairperson ~ Editor of a bench book furnished to the Florida County Judges for criminal law by the Conference of County Court Judges

             Education Committee, Former Co-Chairperson ~ Subcommittee responsible for proposing and developing and judicial education seminars for the Conference of County Court Judges

             Community Service Committee, Former Co-Chairperson ~ Subcommittee to promote and enhance community service by county judges

             

 Mentor Judge

                          Appointed by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court to mentor and assist new judges.    

First recipient of annual award given by the Florida Judicial College recognizing outstanding dedication and performance as a Mentor Judge

             

           Florida Bar Certified ~ Criminal Trial Law,  Certification period ~ August 1, 1997 to July 31, 2027

            Faculty Lecturer

        Presentations to the Conference of County Court Judges on Judicial Ethics, Civil Jury Instructions, Public Housing Evictions,  Handling Initial Appearance Proceedings, Managing Your Landlord-Tenant Caseload  and Chairing an Election Canvassing Board

         Presentations to the New Judges College on Landlord/Tenant Law, 2002 - 2019 and 2011 - 2019 on Case Management

        Presentations to the DUI Adjudication Lab on Daubert and Discovery in DUI Cases

        See Conference of County Judges for more information.

             Opinions and Orders

             Served as Associate Judge of the Fifth District Court of Appeal in June, 2014 by designation of the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court

            Principal author of majority opinion in R.L. Haines Const., LLC v. Santamaria, Fifth District Court of Appeal of Florida, September 19, 2014, 161 So.3d 528 2014.

            Authored more than 50 Orders published in Florida Law Weekly Supplement.  For several sample orders authored by Judge David E. Silverman click on  Orders and Opinions.

    Presentations

The following represents selected presentations and not a complete list.

Justice Teaching Program, Team Captain, presentations for West Shore Junior and Senior High School, Melbourne, on The Bill of Rights and the First Amendment.

F.A.M.U. School of Law, Mediation; Contract Drafting

Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Common Mistakes in Legal Writing and Trial Advocacy in Jury Selection   

Eastern Florida State College, Judicial Selection and Retention in Florida

Florida Institute of Technology, The Constitution and Contemporary Problems

Florida Creditor Bar Association, Judges' Pet Peeves

Regional Chamber of Commerce, Melbourne, Proposed Amendments to the Florida Constitution - 2018

National Business Institute, The Judicial View: What Civil Court Judges Want You to Know

Space Coast Community Law School, presentations on Criminal Law, Landlord ~ Tenant Law, and The Constitution and the Structure of Our Government

Citizen's Academy, sponsored by West Melbourne Police Department, featured presenter at annual T. Mitchell Barlow Court Night presenting Anatomy of a Criminal Case

College of Advanced Judicial Studies, co-presenter of presentations on Landlord Tenant Law and on Jury Issues

Judicial Assistants' Association of Florida, presenter at an annual conference on The Ethics of Judicial Assistants

Military Order of the World Wars, presenter at a Youth Leadership Conference on Freedom in American and Presiding Judge at Mock Trial held at the conference

Melbourne Community Relations Council, guest presenter on Public Housing Evictions and recipient of Award of Appreciation

Trial Court Staff Attorneys - presentations on Landlord ~Tenant Law to statewide organization of staff attorneys who assist trial judges

Florida Paralegal Association, presenter to statewide conference of paralegals on Our Constitution, Judicial Review, and the Amendment Process*  

*America: At the Crossroads by JoAnna O'Keefe and displayed by her gracious permission.

  Organizations

                The Florida Bar, Current member of Law-Related Education Committee

                Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court, President 2016 - 2018, Charter Member, former Mentoring Director, former Team Captain, former member Executive Board of Directors, Current member

                Civilian ~ Military Community Relations Council  -  Current member

                                        Brevard County Jail Oversight Committee - Former member of organization addressing issues with Brevard County Jail

             Public Safety Coordinating Council - Former member of organization to recommend measures to the County Commission

            Space Coast Community Law School - Vice Chair, Current Board Member of community-based organization making presentations on legal topics 

             Explorer Elementary and Middle School - Former member of board of directors of charter school

             Brevard County Bar Association - Former member of committee to revise BCBA's website, Former member of BCBA committee on judicial poll

            

                Conference of County Court Judges ~ Summer Educational Seminar, 2003

                For significant contribution to judicial education and the revision to the Criminal Law Bench Book

Prior Employment

    Assistant Public Defender ~ March, 1994 to May, 1998 ~ Office of the Public Defender ~ Capital Division ~ Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Brevard County, Florida ~ Defended capital cases for indigent clients  [For additional information about the Office of the Public Defender:

    David E. Silverman, P.A. ~ 1992 to 1994 ~ Melbourne, Florida ~ Sole practitioner in general legal practice

    Krasny, Normile, Dettmer, Thompson and Jones, P.A., and

    Storms, Krasny, Normile and Dettmer, P.A. ~ 1987 to 1992 ~ Associate with law firm ~ emphasis on civil and criminal litigation

    Conflicts Attorney ~ 1988 to 1989 ~ Represented indigent clients in criminal cases pursuant to contract with Brevard County

    Assistant State Attorney ~ 1981 to 1986 ~ Office of the State Attorney ~ Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Brevard County, Florida ~ Felony Division Chief ~ supervising attorneys in felony litigation ~ [For additional information about the Office of the State Attorney

    Frank J. Mackey, Jr., P.A. and Sidney Z. Karasik, P.A. ~ 1979 to 1980 ~ Chicago, Illinois

      Law Clerk and associate in appellate and personal injury practices

Activities

    Children's Home Society and Hacienda Girl's Ranch ~ Former President of Advisory Board to Brevard Chapter

    Vassar B Carlton Inn of Court ~  Master, Barrister and Charter Member of Brevard Chapter of American Inns of Court ~ Current President 

    Brevard Community College ~ Former Legal writing instructor (2 semesters)

     Brevard County High School Mock Trial Competition ~ Former Coordinator, Coach and Trial Judge  

Education

Juris Doctor

    Loyola University School of Law ~ Graduated June, 1979 ~ Chicago, Illinois 

    Student Bar Association, 1st Year Class Representative ~ Honor Council, Member ~ Moot Court Board, Member

Bachelor of Arts

    Emory University ~ Graduated June, 1976 ~ Atlanta, Georgia

      Student Government Association, Senior Representative ~ Emory Wheel, News Editor ~ Political Science Honor Society, President

High School Diploma

    Campion Jesuit High School ~ Graduated June, 1972 ~ Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

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