~ Member Biographies ~

~ Trish Thomas Biography ~

... continued from our Advisory Panel Members Home Page.

While in private practice, Trish handled primarily family law and civil matters, including wills, probate and trusts. During the time she was in private practice, Trish was actively involved in her community: she is a charter member of the Altrusa Club of Citrus County; one of the first women to become a member of the Rotary Club of Inverness, where she served as the first woman Club President in 1999-2000; Trish was active on the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, serving as President in 1988. She is a graduate of Leadership Citrus in 1993, as well as a graduate of Leadership Florida- Class XIII. Trish is a member of First United Methodist Church in Inverness and has been actively involved in church activities at the Church and District level. She and her husband have been on the Walk to Emmaus, and Trish has served on several Emmaus retreats. In 1983, the governor of Florida appointed Trish to the Central Florida Community College Board of Trustees, where she served until 1991. During her time on the Board, she served as Vice Chair and Board Chair.

In 1990, Trish ran for and was elected to the Citrus County School Board, where she served until 1993 when she was appointed by the Governor to the position of Circuit Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Since that time she has been twice re-elected to office. During the time she has been on the bench, she has served in all divisions of the circuit court including family division, criminal division and civil/probate & guardianship division. Because of her efforts, the Citrus County Drug Court was created. This Court has helped individuals who are in the criminal justice system overcome their addictions and go on to live successful lives. While Judge Thomas has been on the bench, the Family Visitation Center of Citrus County became a reality. This is a safe place where parents can spend time with their children who are in foster care, and parental transfers in highly charged family law cases can be made of minor children in a safe and calm manner.

Judge Thomas currently serves as the Administrative Judge of Citrus County. She also serves on the Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges Executive Committee, as well as its Education Committee. Judge Thomas is actively involved in judicial education, by teaching new judges in the area of probate and guardianship, as well as facilitating and teaching at the Judges Conferences. She also serves as a judicial liaison to the Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.