About Michelle
Michelle T. Morley brings nearly two decades of judicial leadership and a lifetime of legal experience to her role at Rohe Law. She served as a Circuit Judge in Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit from 2007 through 2025, presiding in Sumter County over a wide range of complex matters. Her judicial assignments included family law, domestic relations, guardianship, mental health, juvenile dependency and delinquency, interpersonal violence injunctions, unified family court, and both felony and misdemeanor conflict cases. Her time on the bench provided her with a deep, practical understanding of how Florida courts evaluate evidence, assess credibility, and make decisions that shape families’ futures.
Judge Morley earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Tampa and her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. Early in her judicial career, she was recognized as a Community Advocate by Governor Charlie Crist and received the Fifth Judicial Circuit Leadership Award. These and other professional recognitions culminated in her induction into the Stetson University College of Law Hall of Fame. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to public service, thoughtful leadership, and the responsible administration of justice. Throughout her tenure, Judge Morley played a leading role in advancing alternative dispute resolution and innovative approaches to family conflict. In 2021, she successfully advocated for the passage of Senate Bill 368 and House Bill 441, now codified as Section 44.407, which created Florida’s elder-focused dispute resolution process. She is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law Mediator, Civil Mediator, Appellate Mediator, and Florida Arbitrator, and she has long emphasized resolution strategies that reduce conflict while protecting vulnerable individuals.
In addition to her judicial service, Judge Morley has been extensively involved in legal education, ethics, and professional development statewide and nationally. She served on the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, chaired the Judicial Qualifications Commission, and taught as judicial faculty for the Florida Judicial College, the Conference of Circuit Court Judges, the Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center, and numerous professional organizations. She has presented and published widely on family law, guardianship, elder justice, and conflict resolution, and her work has helped shape best practices for courts, mediators, and legal professionals.
Before taking the bench, Judge Morley practiced as a sole practitioner representing clients across a broad range of civil and family law matters and served as a Guardian ad Litem in contested custody cases. She also arbitrated motor vehicle warranty disputes for the Florida Attorney General’s Office and taught law and legal studies at Lake-Sumter State College. At Rohe Law, Michelle Morley brings the rare perspective of having served as advocate, educator, mediator, and judge. Her approach is grounded in preparation, clarity, and a deep respect for the human impact of family law decisions.