Audrey Moran and Lindsay Tygart secure Jacksonville judgeships unopposed

Two new judges will assume the bench come January, earning their robes without having to campaign for the positions due to being unopposed in the upcoming elections.

Audrey Moran is the new Duval County Group 5 judge, replacing husband Donald Moran who is retiring. And Lindsay Tygart was the lone qualifier for the 4th Circuit Court, Group 23 judgeship, replacing Jack Schemer who also is retiring.

With the deadline to qualify by petition for Florida’s 2022 elections now passed, both women officially secure the positions.

Moran, a former prosecutor and longtime private attorney, said it still hasn't sunk in yet. She can thank her husband for encouraging her to seek a spot on the bench.

"He said, 'I'm retiring and I think you'd be an amazing judge.'" she said. "... I was a little taken aback at first, but as I thought and prayed about it, I decided it was a great next step."

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For Tygart, who began her legal career as an intern at the Public Defender's Office, she said her years as an attorney and what she worked on will serve her well as judge.

"My entire career has been devoted to the practice of litigation, starting out in criminal," Tygart said. "... The fact that I am coming from a 15-plus year litigation background, I know the rules of evidence and civil procedure, and that is the biggest and most solid foundation and springboard that a trial judge can have."

Prosecutor and City Hall on Moran's resume

Moran graduated in 1984 from the Duke University School of Law and has been a Florida Bar-registered attorney since 1984.

She was Jacksonville Mayor Ed Austin's legislative affairs director and chief of staff during Mayor John Delaney's second term. She also was an assistant state attorney, acting as director of county court, a member of the Homicide Division and founding director of the Special Assault Unit, according to her resume.

She is president of Moran Mediation Group. and served as the president and CEO of the Sulzbacher Center for the homeless.

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"Being a judge will be a wonderful capstone to my career and give me an opportunity to give back to this community that I love so much," Moran said. "... I think the incredible opportunities that I have had to serve in different capacities in Northeast Florida gives me a unique perspective and will hopefully be helpful as I make really important decisions that affect people's lives."

Public defender and litigation work for Tygart

Tygart graduated in 2002 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in performing arts and art history. A 2006 graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law, she is a senior member of the Medical Malpractice Division at Coker Law, according to her online biography.

A Jacksonville native, her father was a local civil trial attorney for about 50 years, while her husband and two brothers also are lawyers. Two uncles and a cousin are circuit judges.

She began her legal career in 2006 as a certified legal intern for the 4th Judicial Circuit's Public Defender's Office. Handling family law cases early in her career, she also did defense work, commercial litigation and product liability before going into personal injury litigation, she said.

She thanks those who endorsed her such as Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook and others.

"That is the reason why I was able to not draw any opposition, I am 1,000 percent convinced," Tygart said. "It really has little to do with me, I feel like."

Campaign funding

Moran had raised more than $240,000 in campaign contributions, according to her Duval County Elections Supervisor campaign statements.

State Division of Elections records show that Tygart raised more than $176,000 in campaign funds, $100,000 of that from her and her husband, she said.

Moran said she is "returning everyone's contribution," while Tygart said she is "doing that now."

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Audrey Moran and Lindsay Tygart named to Jacksonville judgeships