Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Carrie Ann Wozniak as Judge on Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal

ORLANDO, Fla. – March 31, 2021 – Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP today announced Litigation Partner Carrie Ann Wozniak has been appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as Judge on Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. She fills the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Orfinger.

After a clerkship with the Florida Supreme Court, Wozniak began her legal career at Akerman in 2007 and has been an integral part of the firm’s national Litigation Practice Group ever since. Board certified by the Florida Bar in Appellate Practice, she is also a member of Akerman’s Appellate Practice, where she represents clients in appellate litigation at the state and federal levels, as well as in commercial litigation in the trial courts. She also serves as general counsel to the Florida Bankers Association, where she assists with drafting, revising, and commenting on myriad banking legislation and issues.

Wozniak has served as Vice Chair of the Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission via nomination by the Florida Bar and appointment by previous Governor Rick Scott, and as a member of the Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section Executive Council, Appellate Rules Committee, and Appellate Practice Board Certification Committee. A fierce advocate in the community as well, Wozniak is past chair of Akerman’s Community Impact Team in Orlando, and her work on behalf of abused and neglected children earned her the Orange County Bar Association’s Elizabeth Susan Khoury Guardian Ad Litem Award of Excellence in 2016.

Wozniak received her B.A. with honors from the University of Michigan in 2002 and a J.D. cum laude from Stetson University College of Law in 2004.