The Eleventh Judicial Circuit is pleased to announce that the Honorable Ariana Fajardo Orshan was sworn in today as the Miami-Dade Courts’ next Chief Judge. The Honorable Monica Gordo of the Third District Court of Appeal administered the Oath of Office.
Her ceremonial swearing in will take place later this year.
Chief Judge Fajardo Orshan succeeds the Honorable Nushin G. Sayfie, who has served as Chief Judge of the Miami-Dade Courts since July 2021.
“I am deeply honored and truly humbled to assume my new role as Chief Judge,” she said. “I wish to thank my predecessor, Judge Nushin Sayfie, for her service and dedication to the Eleventh Circuit, and I look forward to serving our judges and the community. I remain committed to leading our Miami-Dade Courts with an understanding of the great honor and responsibility that the public has placed in us and a steadfast dedication to serving everyone who comes through our doors with dignity.”
Chief Judge Fajardo Orshan was first appointed to the Circuit Court in 2012, where she served in the Criminal Division, the Family Division, and Unified Family Court, where she went on to serve as Administrative Judge. In 2018, she accepted a presidential appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida – leading the nation’s third largest U.S. Attorney’s Office for the next four years.
In 2021, the Eleventh Circuit was fortunate to once again welcome Chief Judge Fajardo Orshan to the Circuit Court. She has since served in the Circuit Civil Division.
Prior to becoming a judge, she began her legal career in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. Following that, she was in private practice specializing in matrimonial litigation.
Chief Judge Fajardo Orshan was born and raised in Miami. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida International University, and her law degree from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law.
The Chief Judge has administrative authority over the entire 11th Judicial Circuit and is elected to this post every two years by their fellow judges.
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The mission of Florida’s judicial branch is to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes.
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