Judge Suzanne Labrit

After graduation, Judge Labrit worked a series of secretarial jobs to save money before starting law school at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law. For Judge Labrit, law school felt like the “next logical step.” Judge Labrit felt that there was no set path for her degree, but she wanted a stable and fulfilling career. She dreamed of becoming an orthodontist. “I wanted to help everyone have a nice smile,” said Judge Labrit. But like many lawyers, she felt limited by her STEM skills. She believed her skills and interests would, however, bring her success as a lawyer. As it turns out, she was right.

Even as a law clerk, Judge Labrit’s writing and research skills led her to become the “go-to” for appellate writing, which she enjoyed. She recognized the power of appellate work early on and appreciated the opportunity to engage in such meaningful work. “Some attorneys really enjoy trial work, but I really liked figuring out the law that made the machine run,” said Judge Labrit. As a young associate, she had the opportunity to work on many savings and loan appeals. “The developers had nothing to lose,” remarked Judge Labrit, “so I got the chance to argue appeals as first chair alone.” Judge Labrit even argued in front of the Florida Supreme Court in 1992, a mere six years after graduating from law school.

In 2003, Judge Labrit joined Shutts & Bowen, where she was able to concentrate exclusively on appellate work and, ultimately, found and chair the firm’s appellate group. Today, the group is thriving, with over a dozen attorneys. Judge Labrit attributes its success to “good timing and good talent.” As the group grew, the firm recruited attorneys with meaningful government and appellate experience, like Judge Rachel Nordby, who left Shutts & Bowen in 2019 to serve on the First District Court of Appeal. About a year later, Judge Labrit herself left to serve on the Second District Court of Appeal.

Judge Labrit developed judicial aspirations early in her career as an appellate practitioner. She recalls arguing in front of the Fourth District, looking up at the panel, and knowing she wanted to get there. But as a young associate, and then as a mother of three small children, the bench felt far away. In 2014, however, when her children were teenagers, the state legislature created two additional seats on the Second District Court of Appeal. With the encouragement and support of her husband, Judge Labrit applied. That year, she was nominated by the Judicial Nominating Commission but ultimately did not get an appointment.

Rather than being deterred, Judge Labrit was encouraged by the nomination. She kept applying. Each time she went through the application process, she built new relationships and developed new skills that made her a better attorney and a more competitive candidate. Her remarkable perseverance and determination are what most set Judge Labrit apart; she is always the hardest-working and most driven person in the room. Her perseverance paid off in the summer of 2020, when Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Judge Labrit to the Second District Court of Appeal.

Even though the pandemic had shuttered courts earlier that year, Judge Labrit was delighted to join the bench. She was impressed with how seamlessly the court had transitioned to a fully remote world. “It was like they already had a playbook,” explained Judge Labrit. Still, she admits that it was slightly disappointing to have less face time with her new colleagues and to miss the in-person experience of certain traditional events like “judge school” for all newly appointed judges in Tallahassee.

Judge Labrit is thrilled by the return of in-office culture and to connect with her colleagues in person after nearly two virtual years on the bench. She describes the Second District Court of Appeal as familial and collegial, which she loves. In fact, working closely with her staff attorneys and colleagues at the court is her favorite part of the job. Sharing perspectives and engaging in collaborative discussion “makes everyone sharper,” said Judge Labrit.

Although Judge Labrit’s judicial writing style is still evolving, her former staff attorney described her style as “modern.” Her opinions are not weighed down with heavy legalese; they are clear and to the point. In part, this reflects Judge Labrit’s personal writing style. She is a fan of Ross Guberman and emphasizes the need for clarity and brevity in legal writing. But as a judge, she understands that the opinions of the court are essential tools that judges and practitioners rely on.

Writing briefs is a “whole different ballgame” than writing opinions, explained Judge Labrit, “in some ways, it’s easier, in some ways it’s harder.” For Judge Labrit, the most noticeable difference is the level of certainty required in opinion writing. “When you publish an opinion, that’s as certain as it gets,” she explained. This means that, as a judge, she spends far more time writing disciplined objective analyses of law than she did as a practitioner advocating for a particular outcome or interpretation of the law. Having the time to really get into the law, determine the correct answer, and carefully wordsmith opinions has been an “utopian” experience for Judge Labrit. After all, her love for legal analysis and writing is what drew her to the law to begin with.

In sum, Judge Labrit is funny, humble, and down-to-earth. In her free time, she likes to travel, cook, read, and watch movies. She enjoys dramas but is not much of a sci-fi fan. She is adventurous too—she is a certified scuba diver and seasoned skydiver with over 200 jumps under her belt. Most notable, however, is Judge Labrit’s incredible drive and decisive nature. Her advice to attorneys is this: work hard, but be adaptable; don’t let failure discourage you, and don’t be afraid to change your path.

by Finley Riordon
Finley is a third year law student at Wake Forest and is currently interning with Judge Khouzam at the Second DCA.