Judge Mary Scriven
Name: Mary Stenson Scriven
Current Role: United States District Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Appointed By: President George W. Bush
Confirmation Date: September 26, 2008
Commission Date: September 30, 2008
Birth: October 20, 1962, Atlanta, Georgia
Political Affiliation: Not publicly confirmed
Career Overview
Judge Mary Stenson Scriven has served on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida since 2008. Her judicial career has been marked by careful constitutional reasoning and notable rulings on privacy and civil liberties. Before her appointment to the federal bench, she served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the same court from 1997 to 2008.
Prior to joining the judiciary, Scriven practiced privately in Florida for a decade and taught as an associate professor at Stetson University College of Law. Her early public service included a gubernatorial appointment to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, where she served from 1993 to 1995.
Education and Early Life
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Scriven earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in 1983 and her Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law in 1987. During her studies, she worked as a substitute teacher, legislative intern, and research assistant, gaining early experience in education and government policy.
Major Cases and Actions
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Lebron v. Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families (2011): Judge Scriven issued an injunction blocking Florida’s law requiring welfare applicants to undergo drug testing, finding that the measure likely violated the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches. Her ruling emphasized privacy concerns surrounding medical information disclosed through such testing.
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Carole Baskin v. Joe Exotic (copyright case): Scriven presided over litigation involving animal rights advocate Carole Baskin and former zookeeper Joseph Maldonado-Passage (known as Joe Exotic), part of a long-running intellectual property dispute.
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Proven Industries v. Trevor McNally (2025): Scriven oversaw this mid-2025 case involving alleged violations of federal lock-picking and security device laws.
Public Service and Professional Roles
Judge Scriven’s early career included a variety of public service roles, such as serving as a research assistant at Florida State University College of Law and interning with the Majority Office of the Florida House of Representatives. She also gained corporate and litigation experience as a summer associate with Carlton Fields and Huey Guilday Kursteiner & Tucker in Tampa.
She was appointed by Florida Governor Lawton Chiles to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and confirmed by the Florida Senate, serving from 1993 to 1995.
Publications and Teaching
As an associate professor at Stetson University College of Law (1996–1997), Scriven taught courses in civil procedure and trial advocacy. She has contributed to continuing legal education programs and has been recognized for her mentorship of young attorneys and law students throughout Florida’s legal community.
Personal Life
Information about Judge Scriven’s personal life is not publicly confirmed. She is recognized within the judiciary for her scholarship, meticulous legal reasoning, and commitment to constitutional principles.
Fast Facts
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Born October 20, 1962, in Atlanta, Georgia
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Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2008
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Confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 26, 2008
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Former U.S. Magistrate Judge (1997–2008)
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Former Associate Professor, Stetson University College of Law
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Served on Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (1993–1995)
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Ruling in Lebron v. Wilkins halted welfare drug-testing law
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Presided over Carole Baskin v. Joe Exotic copyright case
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Juris Doctor, Florida State University College of Law
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Bachelor’s Degree, Duke University
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