JUDICIAL CORNER
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JUDICIAL CORNER
Judicial Profile : Judge Laura Burkhart
ALLISON K . BROWN
Judge Burkhart was born in Bellville , Texas , but primarily raised in Arcadia , Florida – due east of Bradenton – to Charles ( Buck ) and Carole Burkhart . Judge Burkhart was shaped by her parents ’ upbringing to become who she is today - down to earth , polite , a straight shooter , and someone who is most satisfied when she is helping people .
Buck was a former Marine Corps Major and ran the family accordingly . From Southern Arkansas , Buck ’ s dad died when he was 15 . He took over the family ’ s shoe shop while going to school . Eventually , he obtained a college football scholarship and earned an engineering degree . Shortly after , he went into the Marine Corps . For Buck , education was key and he passed that down to Judge Burkhart , her brother Stephen , and sister Dr . Tiffany Boyd . He wanted his children to dream big . And Judge Burkhart did just that by graduating in 2003 from Florida Gulf Coast University ( FGCU ) with a bachelor ’ s degree in business management and from Nova Southeastern University ’ s Shepard Broad College of Law in 2007 . While at Nova she was president of the local chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and upon graduation , was inducted into the Order of Barristers for her demonstrated exceptional skills in trial advocacy . She was one of only eight members of her graduating class , and the only female , to be bestowed this honor .
Her mom Carole is easy going with a flair for art – if you want to know if a throw pillow will work , she ’ s your gal . Carole is a strong-willed woman who has preserved through life ’ s challenges always living life to the fullest . She is the reason that Judge Burkhart is the nurturing mother she is .
Judge Burkhart loves her family deeply and lives for time with her kids . She has two school-aged children who she raises with the same traditions and values she was raised with – tough with a lot of love .
While Judge Burkhart grew up without a lot of money , she learned a very strong sense of purpose , grit , and can-do attitude . Her parents designed , and the family together largely built , what would become the family home . At age seven she began working in the family ’ s newly planted 80 acre orange grove . She tracked her hours , and from her wages was tasked with purchasing items like her school clothes . She learned responsibility and the value of a dollar at an early age . But for her , life is really about who she can help , not about possessions .
For Judge Burkhart , public service is benefiting the collective , not just one side or the other . Her entire career has been in public service , starting when she took an internship with the Palm Beach County State Attorney ’ s Office in law school . While it was not the job she had planned , being a prosecutor became her passion . She was hired out of law school and she stayed for thirteen years . First prosecuting misdemeanors , up through felony including a specialty in domestic violence felonies , and ending in Traffic Homicide . She was ultimately promoted to the Chief of Traffic Homicide and the Felony Trial Units . She appreciates that this type of public service comes with a lot of power , and as a result a lot of responsibility . She understood that responsibility by always trying to find a resolution that was appropriate for the crime , but not losing sight of the people involved and the surrounding circumstances .
While she might not have nine-lives , she certainly has more than one . She ’ s had a number of life-threatening injuries and survived them all . She ’ s also been in tough spots herself so she understands that life can be difficult and thrives when she is helping people find solutions and helping to guide them onto a better path .
Fun facts : Judge Burkhart is a former Miss DeSoto County . If it ’ s her choice , she will always choose to be outside , especially at the beach . It ’ s a safe-haven and a place to relax . She considers herself a countrygirl at heart and drives a truck but has a love of high heels . She loves to run even if it means squeezing it in during lunch . And , she is a lifelong lover of dance with a background in tap , jazz , ballet , and pointe . She was even a founding member of the FGCU cheerleading and dance squads .
Being a judge combines her love of the law and her love of public service . During her time on the bench , she has been assigned to the South County Courthouse as a family court Judge . It ’ s an area where she can make a difference helping people through one of the most difficult times in their life . She is grateful to have the opportunity to help .
Ms . Brown is Senior Litigation Counsel with the South Florida Water Management District .
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