- February 25, 2025
‘Her people skills are legendary,’ says coworker.
Sandra Upchurch, of Ormond Beach, said she has received many words of encouragement recently, as she prepared to join the Seventh Judicial Circuit as one of the seven new judges.
“People would say, ‘I’m proud of you,’” she said at her official investiture at News-Journal Center on Jan. 23. “I’m going to be more encouraging in the future because I know how uplifting it is.”
Upchurch said her love of the law started when her father, Bob Carroll, a lawyer, “took a little girl with crayons to more trials than she should be subjected to.”
She said he showed her how to care for people and look for the good in people.
“He was a gentleman lawyer,” she said. “He was my Atticus Finch.”
She mentioned the rest of her family, including her mother, who she said was her moral compass and was always glad to have others in the spotlight.
She automatically won the seat last year because she was the only candidate. Her six-year term of office officially began Jan. 6.
Judge Upchurch presides over a civil division at the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand. Her predecessor in that division, Judge Robert K. Rouse Jr., retired.
“I have big shoes to fill,” she said.
She said she was grateful that he bequeathed his office and staff to her, saying they have been very supportive.
She also thanked Judge Margaret Hudson for asking her to run.
“One year ago out of the blue someone asked me to run for the vacancy,” she said. “Here I stand today. Thanks, Midge.”
In her introduction of Upchurch, Hudson said she had both professional and personal reasons for asking her.
She said Upchurch has commitment, dedication, intelligence and deals with people in a nonconfrontational way.
“How could you not be a good judge?” she said.
On a personal level, she said when she was appointed judge in 2006, only three out of 27 judges were women.
“I felt lost and alone,” she said. “I always hoped I’d work with another female judge.”
She said now with Upchurch, three of the seven judges of the fourth floor of the courthouse in DeLand are women.
She added, however, that the male judges always accepted her and treated her as an equal.
“I knew I was one of the guys when they didn’t check their conversation when a pretty girl walked by,” she said.
The pledge of allegiance was led by her son Austin, and a “moment of reflection” was given by her son Jack.
Jack said he was proud of what his mother has achieved.
“Good job,” he said.
Four years ago, Upchurch was elected by lawyers in the seventh circuit to represent them in the Florida Bar on the board of governors.
Gregory Coleman, president of the Florida Bar, said that Upchurch rose to the top on the board.
“She was admired and respected,” he said. “When she spoke at board meetings, the laptops would close.”
Michelle Suskauer, a representative on the Florida Bar, said her ‘people skills’ were legendary.
“At one meeting, she had all 52 members of the Bar holding hands,” she said. “This had never been done before.”
She also said Upchurch’s experience as a mediator helped her build the necessary skill sets to be a judge.
Upchurch earned her bachelor's degree in business from Boston College and her juris doctor from Stetson University College of Law. An attorney since 1994, she worked in private practice as a certified mediator for several years at Upchurch Watson White & Max. She also worked for the Florida Office of the Attorney General and as assistant city attorney in Ormond Beach and Tallahassee.
