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  2. Judge Janet Carney Croom

Judge Janet Carney Croom

Circuit Judge Croom
Position
Circuit Judge
Division(s)
Appellate, Civil, Probate-Guardianship
Office Address
312 Courthouse Addition 218 South Second Street Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Phone
(772) 462-1460
Fax
(772) 462-1201
Judicial Assistant
Dominic Virginio
Assignment

Administrative Judge, Civil Division

2018

St. Lucie: All Civil Jury Trial Cases; All Probate and Guardianship Cases; All Substance Abuse and Mental Health Cases; All Risk Protection Order Cases.

2019

Indian River: All Civil Cases.

Biography

Education

  • University of Arkansas, B.A. cum laude, 1990
  • University of Arkansas, J.D., 1994

Judicial Experience

  Trial

  • Appointed by Governor Scott, 2015
  • Elected, 2016
  • Circuit Civil Jury Trial Division, St. Lucie County, 2015-2018
  • Circuit Civil Trial Division, Indian River County, 2019-present
  • Probate Division, St. Lucie County, 2015-2018
  • Guardianship Division, St. Lucie County, 2015-2018
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Cases, St. Lucie County, 2015-2018

  Appellate and Administrative

  • Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Civil Administrative Judge, 2016-present
  • Appellate Panel for County Court, 2015-present
  • Associate Judge, Fourth District Court of Appeal, 2016
  • Florida Supreme Court Appointed Referee-Florida Bar attorney disciplinary proceedings, 2018
  • Florida Supreme Court Appointed Judicial Mentor, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, 2018- present

Legal Experience

  Trial and Appellate
  State and Federal

  • Assistant Attorney General, Section 1983 and State Police Litigation Division, State of Arkansas, 1994-1996
  • Law Clerk, Arkansas Supreme Court, Honorable Ray Thornton, 1996-1997
  • Associate Attorney/Partner, Clem, Polackwich, Vocelle & Berg, 1997-2005
  • Shareholder, Collins, Brown, Caldwell, Barkett, & Garavaglia, Chartered, 2005-2014
  • Sole Practitioner, Janet C. Croom, P.A., 2014-2015

Board Certifications

  • Construction Law, 2009 through current certification
  • Business Litigation Law, 2011 through current certification

Professional Experience

  • AV, Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth District Court of Appeal, 2011-2015
  • The Florida Bar Association, Business Litigation Certification Committee, 2018-current
  • Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions-Business and Contract Cases, 2018-current
  • Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 19B, Vice Chair 2007
  • The Florida Bar Association, Code and Rules of Evidence Committee, 1998-2004
  • The Florida Bar Association, Appellate Rules Committee, 2004-2007
  • The Florida Bar Association, Trial Lawyers, Real Property, Trust and Probate Sections
  • The Florida Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Construction Law Committee
  • Arkansas Bar Association
  • Indian River County Bar Association
  • Indian River Real Property Council
  • The American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Young Lawyers Division, At Large Director, 2000

Professional Admissions (Prior and Current)

  Federal and State Court

  • Arkansas Bar
  • United States District Court-Eastern District, Arkansas
  • United States District Court-Western District, Arkansas
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • Florida Bar
  • United States District Court-Northern District, Florida
  • United States District Court-Middle District, Florida
  • United States District Court-Southern District, Florida

Associations

  • Sebastian River Medical Center, Board of Trustees, 2007-2015
  • St. Edward’s School Advisory Board, 2010-2015
  • Treasure Coast Builders Association, Board Member, 2005-2015
  • Treasure Coast Builders Charitable Foundation, Board Member, 2005-2015
  • United Way of Indian River County, Board Member, 2002-2008
  • American Red Cross, Treasure Coast Chapter, Board Member 1998-2015
  • Chairman, Treasure Coast Chapter, 2001-2003
  • Florida Homebuilders Association
  • Junior League of Indian River County

Awards and Speaker Series and Best Practices Programs

  • Board of Advocates, University of Arkansas School of Law, 1994
  • L.B. Vocelle Pro Bono Service Award, Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc., 1998
  • American Red Cross, North Treasure Coast Chapter, Leadership Volunteer of the Year Award, 2001
  • Business Leader’s 2001 Woman Extraordinaire Award
  • Construction Lien Law Presentation Series, Treasure Coast Builders Association
  • Chinese Drywall Presentation Series, Treasure Coast Builders Association
  • Miranda v. Arizona, St. Lucie County, Rupert J. Smith Law Library, Law Day Speaker
  • Basic Probate, Your Courts Up Close Series Speaker
  • Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition Judge, 2018
  • Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Guardianship Roundtable (Bench, Bar, Associations, Clerks of Court, Guardians) founder, 2018
Additional Information

****PLEASE REVIEW THE NEWLY UPDATED PROCEDURES PRIOR TO CONTACTING OUR OFFICE****

For all Circuit Civil Jury Cases filed January 1, 2018 and later in St. Lucie County, the Agreed Case Management Plan and Order is required and is due 30 days after filing of the answer. This Plan will improve the Court's ability to provide early and continuous management of civil cases as required by Fla. R. Jud. Admin., Rule 2.545, improve time management and efficiency of counsel, and encourage the use of best practices when representing clients.

Circuit Civil Jury Division

Agreed Case Management Plan and Order
Guidelines and Procedures
E-Docket Call Procedure & Form
Clerk of Court Trial Exhibit Procedure Memo
Final Disposition Form

Probate and Guardianship Divisions

Guidelines and Procedures
Special Needs and Pooled Trusts Memorandum

Probate Mandatory Smart Forms (Must Print for Original Attorney Signature)

Checklist: Disposition of Personal Property without Administration
Checklist: Summary Administration
Checklist: Opening Formal Administration
Checklist: Closing a Formal Administration
Personal Representative's Inventory

Incapacity Mandatory Smart Forms

Notice of Petition to Determine Incapacity
Order Appointing Attorney/Elisor
Order Appointing Examining Committee
Order of Compensation of Examining Committee

Guardianship and Guardian Advocate Mandatory Smart Forms

Application Form
Initial Guardianship Inventory Form
Initial Guardianship Plan Form
Annual Accounting Form
Annual Simplified Accounting Form
Annual Audit Checklist
Annual Plan Form
Professional Annual Investigation Form
Petition for Order Authorizing Payment to Guardian
Petition for Order Authorizing Payment to Attorney