Gov. Ron DeSantis Appoints Rockledge’s Laura Moody to Judge on 18th Judicial Circuit Court
By Space Coast Daily // December 4, 2024
served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office since 2019
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Rockledge native Laura Moody on Wednesday to serve as Judge on the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. She will fill the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Nancy Maloney.
Moody has served as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office since 2019 and previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and her juris doctor from Florida A&M University.
She joined the BCSO in 2019 as Legal Counsel after serving as an Assistant State Attorney at the Office of the State Attorney since 2007.
As Legal Counsel for the Sheriff’s Office, Moody functioned as in-house counsel for Sheriff Ivey and his staff.
Moody was responsible for researching and training on legislative and case law updates, legislative proposals, litigating asset forfeitures, risk protection orders, and other legal matters in which the BCSO is a party.
Moody joined the BCSO in July 2019 as Legal Counsel after serving as an Assistant State Attorney at the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit, from 2007 through 2019, most recently serving as a Felony Trial Division Chief from 2016-2019 and the Elder & Economic Crimes Division Chief from 2011-2016.
As Chief Legal Counsel for the Sheriff’s Office, Moody oversees the Legal Services Unit, responsible for litigating asset forfeitures, risk protection orders, public records, and other matters on behalf of Sheriff Wayne Ivey and his staff.
She prepared policy, procedure, legislative, and case law updates, legislative proposals, and contracts and conducted training for law enforcement and the community regarding criminal justice matters.
Moody coordinated with outside counsel on specialized assignments and cases, as needed, and interfaces with the State Attorney’s Office, Judiciary, and other components of the local criminal justice system on behalf of BCSO.
DeSantis appointed Moody as a Trustee of the Eastern Florida State College Board of Trustees in May 2022; she is President of the Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court for the 2024-2026 term, and she was the Vice Chair of the Bar Grievance Committee for the 18th Judicial Circuit in 2021. Chief Moody is a graduate of the 2015 Class of Leadership Brevard.
Moody graduated as Valedictorian of Florida A&M University College of Law in 2007; she earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida in 2003; and she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences/Psychology from Flagler College in St. Augustine in 1999.
