1. Judicial Directory
  2. Judge Janet Carney Croom

Judge Janet Carney Croom

Assignment

Indian River: All Civil Cases.

Administrative Judge, Civil Division

Biography

Education

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

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
  • Assignments include Baker Act, Marchman Act, Risk Protection Orders, Criminal First Appearances, Criminal Search/Arrest Warrants, Shelter Hearings, Domestic Violence, Jimmy Ryce Trials

  Appellate and Administrative

  • Civil Administrative Judge, 2016-present
  • Appellate Panel for County Court, 2015-present
  • Includes, Criminal, Civil and Traffic Court
  • Associate Judge, Fourth District Court of Appeal, 2016, 2019
  • Florida Supreme Court Appointed Referee, attorney disciplinary proceedings, 2018-present
  • Florida Supreme Court Appointed Judicial Mentor, 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, 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, 2019
  • Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Guardianship Roundtable (Bench, Bar, Associations, Clerks of Court, Guardians) founder, 2018
  • ABOTA Palm Beach Jurist of the Year Nominee, 2022
Additional Information

Due to required Judicial rotation, Judge Cox is assigned to this division beginning in January 2024. Judge Croom’s Judicial Assistant can no longer schedule hearings, jury trials, or any other matters for 2024. Judge Croom’s office has already provided all dockets moving forward in 2024 to Judge Cox’s office. Please reach out directly to Judge Cox’s office for their calendaring and procedures.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES PRIOR TO CONTACTING OUR OFFICE
THIS OFFICE IS PAPERLESS: ALL HEARING DOCUMENTS AND PROPOSED ORDERS MUST BE SENT TO THE JA’S EMAIL
PURSUANT TO ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2021-05 ALL CIRCUIT CIVIL CASES MUST SUBMIT YOUR AGREED CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ORDER 20 DAYS AFTER SERVICE TO LAST DEFENDANT. 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.
NOTICE OF REMOTE AND COURTROOM PROCEEDINGS

Judge Croom Circuit Civil Hybrid Courtroom and Zoom Procedures

Jury Trials:   Conducted live in Judge Croom’s Courtroom 7.  The circuit civil jury trial calendar and jury case stacking docket for each month is found on this webpage.

UMC, Special Set Hearings and Non-Jury Trials: Conducted via Zoom using the following zoom information:

 

https://zoom.us/j/7450461040?pwd=Rk5GY05VZFBnVnA3d0phM2krVHpQQT09

Phone: (646) 558-8656

Meeting ID: 745 046 1040

Passcode: 123456

 

Attorneys and parties may continue to schedule UMC and Special Set Hearings at their convenience, after confirming with opposing parties, on Judge Croom’s on-line calendar HERE.  Attorneys continue to be responsible to file and serve appropriate notices of hearing in the court file. 

Clerk Civil Non-Jury and Evidentiary Exhibit Procedure found HERE.