Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts

Serving the Citizens of Brevard and Seminole Counties

CIRCUIT JUDGE

Judge_Jessica_ Recksiedler_Official_Headshot

The Honorable Jessica J. Recksiedler

Division: J - Criminal
Judicial Assistant: Vanessa Lau
Office: (407) 665-4239 | Email
Located at the Seminole Criminal Justice Center Sanford, Seminole

SCHEDULING HEARINGS

JACs Dockets & Calendars

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit provides the JACs (Judicial Automatic Calendar System). JACs online scheduling is for attorneys only and requires a login. It is important to review any policies and procedures that apply before contacting judges’ chambers. If you don’t see the docket, you are looking for within the JACs list, please contact the Judicial Assistant.

NOTE: Not all of the judges post their calendars online. Calendars are subject to change hourly, so check back frequently to guarantee accurate updates.

JACs

JACs Instructions

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A JACS ACCOUNT

Attorneys Only (You will need your Florida Bar Number)

ATTORNEYS CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP OR RESET YOUR ACCOUNT. (You will need your Florida Bar Number)

FOR ALL OTHER PLEASE NOTE: The JACS system was designed to work with bar license numbers only, as a way of tracking attorneys who schedule hearings. We will not be able to create a JACS account for you.

Luckily, JACS is only one of the many ways we have to schedule hearing dates in our Court. If you require a hearing date please use one of these methods:

  1. Work with opposing counsel and have them schedule a hearing on an agreed time/date.
  2. Contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for your scheduling needs. 
  3. File a motion requesting a hearing per the Florida Trial Court Rules.

JACS INSTRUCTIONS

JACS General Instructions (Attorneys Only)

JACs

JACs Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS AND MORE

Judge Recksiedler's Policies and Procedures (See Below)

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit provides procedural instructions for attorneys along with policies that may differ within the guidelines of the law between judges and county or circuit court.

Attorneys in both Brevard and Seminole have the resources offering many new facets of modern technology including but not limited to online scheduling, instructions, provider listings, policies and procedures and much more.

There are courtroom rules and policies governing all divisions of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. All parties are expected to follow these rules. 

For all other Policies and Procedures, contact the judicial assistant directly.

JESSICA J. RECKSIEDLER

BIOGRAPHY

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

  • Admitted to Florida Bar Association, 1997
  • Admitted to U. S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1998

 

State Attorney Ninth Judicial Circuit 1997-1998

  • Orlando, Florida
  • Assistant State Attorney

 

Killgore, Pearlman Stamp Ornstein and Squires, P.A., 1998-2000

  • Orlando, Florida
  • Associate Litigation Practice areas construction, probate, commercial and insurance litigation, and criminal defense

 

Thompson, Recksiedler, & Evangelo, P.A., 2000-2010 f/k/a Thompson and Associates, P.A.

  • Altamonte Springs, Florida
  • Litigation practice- commercial, construction, insurance defense, personal injury, probate litigation, and criminal defense
  • Partner 2005-2010 Associate 2000-2005

 

Board Certified in Civil Trial Law 2007-present

  • Member, Board Certification Civil Trial Committee (Vice Chair, July 2012-July 2013, Chair July 2013 to July 2014)

EDUCATION

  • Florida State University, B.S., Accounting, 1994
  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 1997
  • Member, Phi Alpha Delta Honor Society
  • Member of Trial Team, Stetson University College of Law- 1995-1997

JUDICIAL HISTORY

  • Chief Judge of 18th Judicial Circuit- July 2021 to June 2023
  • Elected Circuit Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit November 2010-effective Jan 2011-present
  • Administrative Judge Seminole County n/k/a Deputy Chief Judge - July 2019 to July 2021
  • Felony Criminal Division, January 2011 to July 2014, July 2018-July 2020, July 2023-present
  • Civil/Family Division, July 2014 to July 2018
  • Administrative Judge for Technology for Seminole County, January 2011 to present
  • Seminole County Adult Drug Court Judge, January 2012 to June 2023
  • Administrative Judge of the Circuit Civil Division for Seminole County, January 2015 to June 2018
  • Administrative Judge of the Appellate Division for Seminole County, July 2017 to June 2023
  • Administrative Judge for Juror Management for Seminole County, July 2017 to July 2020
  • Administrative Judge for the Circuit Criminal Division for Seminole County, July 2018 to June 2020
  • Administrative Judge for Conflict Counsel Fee Review, October 2019 to July 2021
  • Administrative Judge for Public Safety Council Seminole County -July 2018- July 2021
  • Administrative Judge Security Committee of Seminole County July 2019-July 2023
  • Florida Bar Referee for Florida Bar Disciplinary Action, December 2011, and June 2017
  • Associate Judge for 5th DCA, March 2012, November 2020
  • Mentor Judge-2022 to present

ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES, AND AWARDS

  • Florida Bar Association - 1997 to present
  • Seminole County Bar Association - 2008 to present
  • Brevard County Bar Association-2009- present
  • Justice Teaching Volunteer for Seminole County Public Schools-elementary, middle and high schools - 2006 to present
  • Seminole County Community Leaders and Elected Officials - 2010 to present.
  • Brevard County Civilian Military Council, 45th Space Wing - 2011 to present.
  • Volie A. Williams Inns of Court - 2010 to 2015
  • Lake Mary Rotary-Member - 2008 to 2019, 2022 to present
    • Paul Harris Fellow
  • Seminole County Public Safety Security Council - 2018 - 2021
  • Seminole County Association of Women Lawyers - 2018 to present
    • First Judicial liaison for SCAWL - November 2018 - July 2020
  • Florida Conference of Circuit Judges
    • Education Committee - January 2015 to present.
    • Fifth DCA Representative - July 2017 - 2019
    • Executive Committee - July 2017 to August 2019, July 2021 to present
      • Co-Chairman of Civil Justice Committee
      • Bylaws Committee
  • Judicial Needs Assessment Committee - 2022 to present.

    AWARDS

    • 2020 Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency-Distinguished Service Award
    • 2021 Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers -co-Jurist of the Year-Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers
    • 2023 Seminole County Association of Women Lawyers - Nominee for State of Florida Association of Woman Lawyers Jurist of the Year
    • Pearls of Seminole 2024 - Award for Women Who Make a Difference.

    SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

    • 2014 - SCBA - Do’s and Don’ts in the Courtroom
    • 5/8/2015 - NBI Judicial Forum - Family Court
    • 11/11/2015 - Wilson Elementary Teach-In-Justice Teaching and Constitution
    • 11/12/2015 - Florida Justice Association BENCH RULES, FJA Mock Trial - Questions and Clarifications
    • 8/2016 - Circuit Judges conference - Civil Track - “The Financial Ties that Bias” expert witnesses, financial bias, and discovery
    • 11/18/2016 - NBI - Judicial Forum-Family Court - Deciding Factors, Best Practices, Mistakes and Remedies and Ethical Considerations
    • 11/11/2016 - Wilson Elementary Teach-In-Justice Teaching and Constitution
    • 7/2017 - Circuit Judges Conference - Family Track - “Pro Se matters and emergency motions”
    • 7/2017 - Circuit Judges Conference - Civil Track - "Damages and Setoffs - handling verdict forms, compensatory damages, collateral source, setoffs, and punitive damage claims”
    • 11/2017 - Explore Seminole Science Charter School - The Bill of Rights and Civil court procedure.
    • 12/8/2017 - NBI Judicial Forum - “Best practices on Early resolution, Summary Judgment and Complex”
    • 12/8/2017 - NBI Judicial Forum - “Cases, Pretrial and Trial Techniques and Ethical Considerations”
    • 8/5/2018 - Circuit Judges Conference Family track “Parenting plans for special needs children”
    • 8/5/2018 - Circuit Judges Conference Civil Track “Proposal for Settlements”
    • 8/21/2018 - Seminole County Bar Association Trial Techniques and Ethical Considerations for Young Lawyers.
    • 9/7/2018 - FTCSAA Staff attorneys “Civil Appeals” The correct record and procedures
    • 10/19/2018 - NBI Institute Civil Court Judicial Forum - “Case Management, Effective Discovery and Motion Practices”.
    • 11/11/2018 - Millennium Middle School Teach-In-Justice Teaching and Constitution
    • 1/9/2019 - SCAWLS - The things seen in the courtroom -Trial procedures and courtroom decorum.
    • 1/10/2019 - SCBA - Navigating trauma for Lawyers
    • 4/24/2019 - Seminole County Inns of Court – Judicial panel on What to do and What Not to do in the courtroom.
    • 8/2019 - Circuit Judges Conference -
      • “Problem Solving Courts”
      • “Proposals for Settlement”
    • 3/2020 - SFAWLS - Speaker on the history of Women Lawyers
    • 4/2020 - Law and Justice Day Seminole Chamber Leadership - “Court Protocols during COVID 19”
    • 6/3/2020 - CFTLA Webinar - Videoconferencing in the Courts and what to expect due to COVID-19
    • Fall/2020 – SFAWLS - the Do’s and Don’ts for the bench
    • 10/2020 OCBA Benchbar conference
      • “Admitting evidence 201.” 
      • “Digital Evidence”
    • 2/23/2021 - FJA Workhorse seminar- “Continuances and Issues for the Bench”
    • 4/2021 - Seminole County Chamber Leadership Law and Justice Day-
      • “Current Status of the Courts of 18th Circuit”
    • 6/2021 Florida Bar Convention, Florida Justice Association,
      • “Jury considerations during COVID and other issues, CMO’s, and New Summary Judgment Standard”
    • 9/30/2021 Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association Seminar-
      • “Complex cases, backlog, COVID complications and Case Management plans and orders
    • 12/2021 Connectionology Webinar- Panel on the
      • “Current Issues of the courts, trials continuances and case management”
    • 3/22/2022 Workhorse Seminar CFTLA
      • “History of Trial-How we got here and what difference does it make to you as the “today-advocate”” and Upcoming Changes in Rules of Civil Procedure.”
    • 5/20/2022 Brevard County Legal Aid Pro Bono Awards
      • “Pro Bono there are many ways of service, the importance and reward of giving back to the community.”
    • 6/8/2022 Seminole County Women Lawyer’s Luncheon
      • “The proposed changes to the Florida Rules of a Procedure-how it affects the courts and the lawyers’ practice.”
    • 6/29/2022 Sanford Breakfast Rotary
      • “The Judiciary, functions of the courts and duties as Chief Judge”
    • 6/30/2022 Brevard County Bar Association Professionalism Awards
      • The Chief Judge Award presented to Judge Lisa Davidson for her unprecedented length of service on the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and the Mentor Program
    • 7/6/2022 Merritt Island Breakfast Rotary
      • “The Judiciary, functions of the courts, interpreting law and duties as Chief Judge.”
    • 10/12/2022 Florida Press Information Officers
      • “The Rule and Procedural Changes of the courts and Impact for the community”
    • 11/13/2022 Rotary Club Seminole south
      • “Functions of the courts, interpreting law and Update on the Courthouse construction.”
    • 12/6/2022 Suburban Republican Women’s Club-
      • “Functions of the courts, interpreting law and Update on the Courthouse construction.”
    • 2/21/2023 Workhorse Seminar for Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association
      • “Case Management and Changes in the Rules of Civil Procedure”
    • 8/1/2023 Florida Circuit Judges Conference
      • “Complex Litigation and Case Management Issues”

     

      COMMUNITY SERVICE

      • Lector-Annunciation Church 2006-present
      • FOCCUS couple counselor -Annunciation Church for newly engaged couples-2016-2022

      Court Programs

      Learn About Our Courts Here

      800x600_seminole-county-justice-center-002
      Criminal Justice Center
      Judge Recksideler Holds Court at the Criminal Justice Center in
      Seminole County

      101 Eslinger Way
      Sanford, FL 32773-6707
      Office: (407) 665-

      Florida Courts Help available at the touch of a screen:

      For constituents, customers, or callers seeking help with family law cases – divorce, adoption, name change, custody, order of protection, and much more – there is now a one-stop source for lots of information aimed at self-represented people. Florida Courts Help is available at app stores as well as online at help.flcourts.gov.

      View Case Management Administrative Orders, video tutorial on how to properly complete and submit Case Management Plan/Orders, and more. Please ensure you are utilizing the most recent Case Management Plan and Case Management Order. Click here to view Civil Case Management Orders & Forms (Updated on 4/16/2024)
      Learn more
      Case Management Plan/Orders
      Learn more