The federal bench in Florida has gained a new voice at a pivotal moment. On October 21, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to serve as a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, one of the busiest and most heavily litigated jurisdictions in the country. Her appointment — confirmed by a 53–46 vote — fills the vacancy left when Judge Brian J. Davis assumed senior status and continues the long-term impact of federal judicial selections made during the Trump administration.
Judge Moe arrives with a legal résumé built over more than two decades across state and federal roles. She is a graduate of Furman University and Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and she began her career as a federal law clerk in the very district she will now serve. Her years in private practice at Bush Ross, P.A. in Tampa shaped her reputation in commercial litigation and gave her first-hand experience in complex federal disputes.
Her rise through Florida’s judiciary further prepared her for the federal appointment. She was appointed to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit by Governor Rick Scott in 2017 and later elevated to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024. In both roles she handled civil, commercial, and appellate matters, earning notice for her measured interpretation of statutory and constitutional questions and for a disciplined approach to legal reasoning.
Now on the federal bench, Judge Moe will preside over matters carrying national weight — from constitutional disputes to high-value business cases and public policy litigation. Given her experience at both the trial and appellate levels, legal observers expect her rulings to reflect a blend of procedural precision and clear judicial restraint. Her confirmation marks not just a personnel change but a long-lasting influence on a major federal court that shapes precedent well beyond the borders of Florida.