Andrea Fant

Age: 46

Registered political party: N/A

Where they live: Brevard County

Where they work: Public Defender’s Office, 18th Judicial Circuit

Prior work experience: Public Defender’s Office, Assistant Public Defendant (June 2019 – present); Fant Law, PLLC, Palm Bay, Florida, Owner (October 2011 – June 2019); Law Offices of Hernan Castro, P.A., Melbourne, Florida, Department of Revenue Counsel (September 2014 – September 2016); Knight & Dwyer, LLC, Bunnell, Florida, Associate Attorney (September 2009 – March 2011)

Prior political experience: N/A

Platform: “To follow the law, maintain fairness and impartiality, preserve the integrity of the judicial system, and work to improve our system of justice.”

Why they are running, in three sentences: “I have been an attorney for over 16 years with experience in Civil, Family, and Criminal Law. For the past seven years of my career, I have served the community as an Assistant Public Defender protecting the constitutional rights of others. I’m running to continue my service to the community where I would follow the law, maintain fairness and impartiality, preserve the integrity of the judicial system, and work to improve our system of justice.”

Most recent campaign finance report: $34,518 in contributions and total expenditures were 19,797.68.

Endorsements: Blaise Trettis (elected Public Defender for Brevard and Seminole counties), Alex Goins (Deputy Mayor, City of Cocoa), Attorney Brian Onek (2024 Brevard County Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year)

Campaign website

Fun fact about the candidate: “I love the theater! I attend shows locally, as well as on Broadway in New York City.”

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?

With over sixteen years of experience as an attorney, I believe all of my professional experiences have prepared me for the bench. In the area of Family Law, I have handled matters involving divorces, child custody disputes, and child support obligations. Additionally, I was an attorney for the Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement division, where I advocated on behalf of the State of Florida during hearings to establish paternity and initiate, enforce, and modify child support obligations. For Civil Law, I have handled cases including landlord tenant matters, petitions to seek injunctive relief, and contract disputes. Currently, as an Assistant Public Defender, I am assigned to a Circuit Criminal division. I manage a high-volume caseload involving individuals with criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to first degree felonies that are punishable by life in prison. My clientele also includes persons with mental health illnesses, autism and intellectual disabilities, and drug addiction. I am a trial attorney that has taken cases to verdict during jury trials and have litigated complex legal issues. Additionally, I have argued two cases before the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Outside of the courtroom, my professional experience has included member and chair of the Grievance Committee, graduate of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy (Class VI), President of the Brevard County chapter of FACDL (Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), and member of Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court, to name a few. All of these experiences have contributed to my knowledge, abilities, and skills (both legally and in leadership) in preparation for the bench.

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

Judges must make decisions based on the law and without regard to personal values.

What’s your education?

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University, College of Law.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

When balancing precedent with evolving societal standards, I adhere to the law. Precedent typically includes the applicable law, a factual basis, and an analysis that applies the law to the facts of the case. Additionally, it is not uncommon for the court to make distinctions among cases to explain why various outcomes were reached. Therefore, even with evolving societal standards, I follow the law.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

After the Public Defender’s Office has been appointed to represent an individual, his/her case goes through our intake process. During intake, each case is assigned to an attorney. Our office uses an electronic system to manage cases which will also alert attorneys to potential conflicts with a case. However, instead of simply relying on the database system, I conduct an independent review. Upon reading the police report(s) and/or the Assistant State Attorney’s witness list, I check our system and/or the clerk’s records to see if our office currently or has previously represented anyone involved in the case. Additionally, my assistant completes a conflict check for my cases, as well, then forwards her information to me for review. In our office, when a conflict has been identified, the issue is forwarded to a supervisor. Once a supervisor reviews the information concerning the conflict and grants authorization to move forward, a Motion to Withdraw is filed by the attorney. This process provides several levels of review to check for conflicts.

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

Financial hardship is one barrier to justice since the expense of litigation can be costly. Litigation could include fees associated with court reporters, expert witnesses, an investigator, deposition transcripts, medical records, and more. In circumstances where the costs are imputed to the client, some may find it difficult to properly litigate their case. I would address any need for financial relief and/or resources and make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Another barrier to justice involves the challenges of navigating through our legal system for litigants who represent themselves. I would ensure their constitutional right to Due Process is protected, and without giving legal advice, steer them in the direction of resources that are available to assist (i.e. Law Library, Clerk of Court’s Office, etc.). Barriers to justice may also include unreasonable delays in proceedings, and alternatively, cases that are unreasonably accelerated through the system. When making decisions regarding the progression of a case, I would listen to both sides, review the court record, apply the law, and use my organizational and management skills, among others.