St. Johns County attorney appointed judge in 7th Circuit, which covers Volusia, Flagler
Rose Marie Karadsheh Preddy said her parents, who came to the United States through Ellis Island from Jordan, would have been proud that Gov. Ron DeSantis selected her as a circuit judge.
“I don’t think they ever would have imagined that their child would end up being appointed a judge in the third most populated state in the country,” Preddy said.
Preddy, who was born in Michigan, lives in St. Johns County and has a law office just across the county line in Jacksonville, was appointed to fill a judicial seat created when Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson retired. Circuit judges can serve anywhere in the 7th Circuit, which covers Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam counties.
New chief named: Circuit Judge Leah Case selected as chief judge for 7th Circuit
Judge announces retirement: Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson retiring, will return as senior judge
Circuit Judge James Clayton, who is the chief judge of the circuit, wrote in an email that Preddy will begin her duties on the bench on May 15 taking over Circuit Judge Alicia Washington’s family law docket in Putnam County. Washington will take over the felony docket in Putnam County. But Preddy said the start date had been changed to June 1 because of rules regarding closing her practice.
Preddy said she intends to roam beyond the bench in Putnam County and noted she is a member of the Rotary Club, a service organization involved in the local community.
"It's really important to me to branch out to people throughout the circuit," Preddy said.
Preddy had previously applied for a seat on a county bench once and on the circuit bench twice, once in the 4th Circuit and again in the 7th Circuit.
As she worked toward an appointment, Preddy said Circuit Judge Leah Case, who presides over a felony docket in Daytona Beach, was a source of encouragement and guidance. She also expressed thanks to Maryam Ghyabi-White, CEO and president of Ghyabi Consulting and Management in Ormond Beach and vice chair of the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Preddy is a member of the First Coast Blue Star Mothers Inc., which supports veterans and their families. Preddy’s husband, Lewis, is a retired commander in the U.S. Navy. Her son, Abraham, serves in the U.S. Air Force.
Preddy said her late brother, Abe, inspired her to become a lawyer. He planned to attend law school after serving in the Army. But he never got the chance.
Sgt. Abe Karadsheh was among 248 soldiers with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division who died when an Arrow Air DC-8 crashed on Dec. 12, 1985, in Gander, Newfoundland. The flight was returning the soldiers home after a deployment in the Sinai Peninsula as part of a peacekeeping force.
Preddy decided to follow her brother’s dream and attend law school.
Preddy's practice areas included estates, trusts and probate, according to her website.
She lists a number of memberships and awards on her website, including the Volusia County Bar Association and the St. Johns County Bar Association. She was also among a group of lawyers recognized in 2005 Florida Supreme Court and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid for their pro bono work, according to a news account.
Preddy belongs to the Federalist Society, which describes itself as a conservative and libertarian legal group. Preddy said in the phone interview that the functions she has attended have included diverse viewpoints.
She said she was thrilled to start a new phase of her career as she approaches her 55th birthday.
DeSantis also announced the appointment of Anne Marie Gennusa of Palatka to serve as a county judge in Putnam County.
In Clayton’s email, he also congratulated Gennusa and wrote she will begin on July 1 presiding over the Putnam misdemeanor docket. Putnam County Judge Elizabeth Morris will take over the civil docket.
Both Preddy and Gennusa's seats will be up for election in 2024.
Editor's note: The story has been changed to show that Preddy was among a group of lawyers recognized in 2005 for their pro bono work.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeSantis appoints St. Johns attorney to serve as 7th Circuit judge
