She has also been recognized with the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award and was named Maritime Person of the Year by the Propeller Club, Port of Jacksonville.
MARIETTA, GA, February 13, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — FSuzanne Meyer Judas has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Judas established herself as a distinguished attorney with expertise in maritime law. Her career spanned several decades, marked by significant contributions to the legal field and community service. Most recently, she served as a partner at Holland & Knight LLP, where she had been involved in transactional legal work for maritime clients and litigating complex cases involving oil spills, injuries to longshoremen, and damage to infrastructure caused by ships. Notably, she represented a ship lost in a hurricane off the coast of Florida, and she, along with her partner, mediated wrongful death settlement agreements with the 32 families of the mariners who went down with the ship, showcasing her commitment to fair resolutions.
Immediately after earning her Juris Doctor, Ms. Judas joined Gabel & Hair as an associate in 1990, where she honed her legal skills. Her dedication and proficiency led to her promotion to partner in 1991. In 1998, she transitioned to Holland & Knight in Jacksonville, where she served as a partner until 2018 and held the role of associate hiring partner from 2000 to 2006. Her leadership extended beyond her firm as the Florida Supreme Court appointed her to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, and her fellow examiners elected her their Chair in 2007 – 2008. She was also a trustee of the American Inns of Court, and was selected as a Pegasus Scholar of the Inner Temple in London. She subsequently chaired the Inns of Court Pegasus Scholars Subcommittee, which selected young American lawyers as Pegasus Scholars to travel to England each year for three months to learn about the English legal system.
In addition to her legal career, Ms. Judas has been deeply involved in community outreach and civic organizations. Between 2018 and 2023, she served as the community outreach coordinator for the Jacksonville Federal Court Bar Association, focusing on initiatives that bridged the gap between the legal community and the public. Her numerous civic affiliations included serving on the board of directors for WJCT Channel 7 and Episcopal Children’s Services, among others. She has also been recognized for her contributions with several awards, such as the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award and being named Maritime Person of the Year by the Propeller Club, Port of Jacksonville.
Her academic background laid a strong foundation for Ms. Judas’s successful career. During her sophomore and junior years at the University of Florida, her academic achievements and national test results earned her two summer internships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in government from Jacksonville University in 1969. She subsequently earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 1990, graduating with honors and serving as a summer law clerk at Gabel & Hair in 1988 and 1989 along the way. Her legal acumen is further evidenced by her bar admissions to prestigious courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States and the Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals.
Throughout her career, Ms. Judas has extended her influence in her field through various publications and speaking engagements. She contributed to “Maritime Law and Practice” for the Florida Bar and regularly shared insights through newsletters and as a public speaker. Her commitment to education is also reflected in her role as an instructor for maritime certification courses.
Ms. Judas’s life has been enriched by her dedication to community service and family — her husband, Colonel USAF (Ret) Robert A. Judas, and son Harry Schnabel, reflecting a balance between professional excellence and personal fulfillment. She is actively working on establishing a community outreach program in Georgia, building on the successful initiatives she implemented in Florida.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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