Nearly 20 years of experience
From the Public Defender’s Office to private practice, family law, and child advocacy.
Deep roots in the 10th circuit
Born, raised, and still practicing across Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties.
A record of service
Over two decades representing families, students, and children across all three counties.
Meet attorney Babers
A lifetime of service to this circuit
Born and raised in Polk County, a graduate of Haines City High School, Attorney Babers earned her B.S. in Computer Science and her J.D. from Florida State University, and was sworn in as an attorney in April 2006.
She began her career with the Public Defender’s Office for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, then opened her own firm while representing families and domestic violence survivors at Heart of Florida Legal Aid, teaching at Tenoroc High School, Daniel Jenkins Academy, and Shelley S. Boone Middle School, and helping launch the law academy at Lake Region High School.
More recently, she has served as a Guardian ad Litem Attorney for children across Hardee and Highlands counties, advocating for some of the most vulnerable people in the circuit.
Florida Bar since 2006 · M.B.A., Project Management · Admitted to Federal Court for the Middle and Southern districts of Florida
Rooted in the communities she serves
A career built entirely here
Some attorneys move through several circuits over the course of their career. Attorney Babers never has. Every chapter of her professional life, nearly two decades of it, has happened inside the Tenth Judicial Circuit: in its courtrooms, its classrooms, and its communities across all three counties.
"Every person that enters my courtroom should leave feeling seen, heard, and respected — regardless of whether their day in court rendered the result they'd hoped for."
Why I'm running
“The decisions made in our courts affect families, children, and entire communities. I’m running because I believe my experience, integrity, and commitment to public service have prepared me to serve the citizens of the 10th Judicial Circuit with fairness and professionalism.”
Experience that matters
Two decades, four kinds of service
Courtroom experience
Criminal defense, family law, and child advocacy, including jury trials and contested hearings.
Education & mentorship
Founding Director of the Lake Region High School Law Academy and teacher across four Polk County schools all while continuing to practice law.
- Original Director & Teacher, Lake Region High School Law Academy
- Teacher, Tenoroc High School
- Teacher, Daniel Jenkins Academy
- Teacher, Shelley S. Boone Middle School
- Speaker, Great American Teach-In
- Mentor
Advocacy for children
Guardian ad Litem for children in Hardee and Highlands counties.
Small business ownership
Owner and manager of her own law firm since 2009.
Experience in context
What does a Circuit Court Judge primarily do?
Circuit Court Judges hear all criminal and civil matters not within the jurisdiction of county courts — including criminal felonies, juvenile delinquency and dependency, family law cases (divorce, paternity, and child support), probate, guardianship, and civil matters over $50,000.
How does Attorney Babers stack up?
Attorney Babers has personally handled almost every type of case a Circuit Court Judge can preside over, both across the state and in the very community she now seeks to serve. Unlike many attorneys, she intentionally challenged herself to master new areas of law throughout her career instead of limiting herself to one or two practice areas.
Her experience covers
- ✓Criminal law (defense)
- ✓Juvenile delinquency & dependency
- ✓Family law — divorce, paternity, child support
- ✓Probate & guardianship
- ✓Estate planning & contracts
- ✓Landlord/tenant matters
Across all her roles
- ✓Public Defender — criminal felonies
- ✓Legal Aid — family law & DV protection
- ✓Private practice — estate, probate, bankruptcy
- ✓Guardian ad Litem — juvenile dependency
- ✓MBA — Project Management & business
"Every person that enters my courtroom should leave feeling seen, heard, and respected — regardless of whether their day in court rendered the result they'd hoped for."
— Attorney Lakeisha L. BabersThe principles that guide me
- Fairness
- Integrity
- Respect for every person
- Professionalism
- Accountability
- Equal justice under the law
Credentials & history
Education
- J.D., Florida State University College of Law, December 2005
- M.B.A., Project Management, Florida Tech, August 2013
- B.S., Computer Science, Florida State University, May 2003
Professional memberships
- Member of Florida Bar since April 2006
- Admitted to Federal Court for the Middle and Southern districts of Florida
- Florida Notary
- Board of Directors, Funding Florida Legal Aid
- Florida Licensed Insurance Agent
- Florida Professional Teaching Certificate
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Class XI - Leadership Academy Fellows (23-24)(ME)
Hear from Attorney Babers
Out in the community
Serving Polk, Hardee & Highlands
A career built here, in the courtrooms, classrooms, and communities of the 10th Circuit.
Your vote matters
Know your voting dates
Early voting is available across all three counties — find your dates below.
Polk County
Early voting
August 3 – August 16
Election day
August 18
Highlands County
Early voting
August 6 – August 15
Election day
August 18
Hardee County
Early voting
August 3 – August 16
Election day
August 18
Check your county Supervisor of Elections website to confirm polling locations and hours.
Political advertisement paid for and approved by Lakeisha L. Babers, Non-Partisan, for Circuit Court Judge, 10th Circuit, Group 23.