The U.S. Senate has confirmed Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe as a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida with a 53–46 vote on October 21, 2025. Her nomination was submitted by President Donald Trump in June 2025 to fill the vacancy created when Judge Brian J. Davis assumed senior status. This confirmation adds to the administration’s continued influence on the federal judiciary. The Middle District of Florida is one of the nation’s busiest federal courts, serving cities such as Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Judge Moe will now begin her federal judicial service with a strong background in state and federal law.
Judge Moe brings more than twenty years of legal experience to the federal bench. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Furman University in 2001 and her law degree from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2005. Early in her career, she served as a federal law clerk in the Middle District of Florida. She later worked in private practice at Bush Ross, P.A. in Tampa, where she focused on commercial litigation. Her legal work helped establish her as a knowledgeable and steady presence in the legal community.Before joining the federal bench, Moe served in Florida’s judiciary at multiple levels. She was first appointed as a circuit judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in 2017 by Governor Rick Scott. In 2024, she was elevated to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Ron DeSantis. Throughout her state judicial service, she handled a variety of civil and appellate matters. Her colleagues and legal professionals have noted her structured approach to interpreting and applying the law.Moe’s new role is expected to shape important decisions for years to come. The Middle District of Florida regularly hears significant cases involving constitutional issues, business regulation, and public policy. With her experience in both trial and appellate courts, she brings a balanced perspective to the federal bench. Legal observers anticipate that she will continue to emphasize fairness, clarity, and adherence to the law in her rulings. Her appointment reflects a continued focus on experienced and credentialed judges within the federal system