Governor Rick Scott Appoints Miami Divorce Court Judge Ivan Fernandez To Third District Court of Appeal

Congratulations to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Ivan Fernandez for being elevated to the Third District Court of Appeal. The Third District Court of Appeal and Daily Business Review are reporting that Judge Fernandez was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David Gersten.

After the military, Judge Fernandez became a City of Miami police officer. He was a member of the K-9 unit, handled homicide cases, worked in narcotics and eventually was promoted to the rank of a major.

While working as a police officer, Judge Fernandez enrolled in the University of Miami School of Law. He graduated law school in 1992 but remained a law enforcement officer with the City of Miami Police Department until 1995. In 1995, he retired and opened his own law office.

While in private practice, Judge Fernandez handled business, personal injury and divorce cases in Miami. In 1999, he left private practice to become a prosecutor for the state attorney’s office. As a prosecutor, Judge Fernandez dealt with misdemeanors, juvenile, felony and public prosecution cases.

As a Circuit Judge in Miami-Dade County, Judge Fernandez presently presides in the family division. Miami divorce attorney’s who regularly appear before the Court will remember him for being well prepared, professional, fair, having a great ability to listen and the courage to make difficult decisions in marital and family cases involving alimony, child support, paternity, domestic violence and child custody.

Prior to presiding in the family division, Judge Fernandez heard cases in the circuit civil and criminal divisions. Judge Fernandez is the second family court judge to be appointed to the Third District Court of Appeal in the past year.