Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Laura Moody, Chief Legal Counsel for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, as a judge in Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court, serving Brevard and Seminole counties. This appointment fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Maloney.

Moody’s legal career includes serving as an Assistant State Attorney from 2007 to 2019, where she held positions such as Felony Trial Division Chief and Division Chief of the Elder & Economic Crimes Division. In 2019, she became Chief Legal Counsel for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, providing legal guidance on legislative updates, litigating asset forfeitures, and coordinating with various components of the local criminal justice system.