Larry Freeman

Age: 53

Registered political party: NPA 

Where they live: Palm Bay, Florida

Where they work: Owner and Attorney, IP Technology Law, PLLC, Melbourne, Florida; Florida Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.).

Prior work experience: Before becoming an attorney, I earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering and became a Florida Licensed Professional Engineer. Engineering taught me to separate facts from assumptions, evaluate evidence objectively, and solve complex problems. Those same principles guide my work as an attorney and are exactly the qualities I would bring to the bench.

Prior political experience: This is my first campaign for elected office. I believe public service is a calling, not a career, and that’s what inspired me to run for Circuit Judge.

Platform: “As a judicial candidate, I don’t run on political promises—I run on my judicial philosophy. I believe a judge has one fundamental responsibility: to faithfully apply the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution, and the laws enacted by the Legislature—not legislate from the bench. I am committed to judicial restraint, impartial justice, thorough preparation, efficient case management, and ensuring every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity, respect, and equal justice under the law.”

Why are you running, in three sentences: “I’m running because I believe my unique combination of engineering and legal experience has prepared me to serve the people of Brevard and Seminole Counties as a fair, impartial, and independent Circuit Judge.

Technology is changing faster than ever, but the Constitution and the rule of law remain constant. As our courts increasingly face legal issues involving digital evidence, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies, I believe my background provides a unique perspective and skill set to thoughtfully meet those challenges while faithfully applying the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution, and the law.

The people also deserve a real choice. Although my opponent refers to this as a reelection campaign, he was appointed to the bench and has never been elected by the voters. This is his first contested election for this seat.

I’ve chosen to self-fund my campaign to avoid even the appearance of outside influence because public confidence in an independent judiciary matters. I’m asking for the opportunity to earn your trust and serve with integrity.”

Most recent campaign finance report: $9,825 in contributions 

Summary of voting record: N/A

Endorsements: “I’ve chosen to self-fund my campaign and not seek endorsements because I want to avoid even the appearance of bias, favoritism, or outside influence.”

Campaign website

Fun fact about the candidate: “I enjoy travel and adventure. I’ve visited all 50 states and more than 30 countries, hiked rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon, and even had wild gorillas climb on me during a trek in Africa.”

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Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? 

My experience as a civil litigation attorney, licensed Professional Engineer, and small business owner has prepared me to evaluate facts carefully, apply the law as written, and treat every person who comes before the court with fairness, impartiality, and respect.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

A judge’s personal values should never replace the law. A judge’s duty is to faithfully apply the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution, and the laws enacted by the Legislature–not to impose personal beliefs or legislate from the bench. Every litigant deserves the same fair and impartial application of the law.

What’s your education?

I earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, including graduate degrees from the University of Central Florida, and later earned my Juris Doctor. I am also a licensed Florida attorney and have been a licensed Professional Engineer for nearly 20 years.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

Precedent provides stability and consistency. If society wants the law to change, that responsibility belongs to the Legislature and the people, not the judiciary. A judge must faithfully apply the law as it exists.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

I will identify and disclose any actual or potential conflicts, follow the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, and recuse myself whenever my impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Public confidence in an impartial judiciary must always come first.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

Delay, cost, and inconsistency are significant barriers to justice. As a judge, I will work to ensure cases are handled efficiently, every litigant is treated with respect, and the law is applied fairly, impartially, and consistently.