The Honorable Donald A. Myers, Jr. completed both his undergraduate degree in psychology and a Master's degree in Medical Science at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, with an emphasis in speech, language and hearing disorders. After graduation in 1984, Mr. Myers engaged in a clinical practice for two years with the Orange County Public School system in Orlando, Florida, and with the Department of Education in Kauai, Hawaii, serving as both a practicing clinician and as a consultant to local hospitals and other medical providers for head injury and stroke victims.
Thereafter, Mr. Myers attended law school at the University of Florida, graduating with honors in 1989. During law school, he participated as a competing member of the Mock Trial Team, winning the Rumberger, Kirk, et al., and Marks, Gray, et al., team competitions, and as a regional finalist in the ABA Mock Trial Competition. Mr. Myers received the American Jurisprudence Award for excellence in Legal Drafting, and was selected as a Teaching Fellow in 1988-89.
Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Myers returned to Central Florida, where he accepted a position with the law firm of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. While at the Lowndes, Drosdick firm, Mr. Myers practiced in the areas of real estate transactions, lender litigation and foreclosures, construction litigation, business litigation and other general trial work. Mr. Myers then joined the law firm of Parrish & Bailey, P.A., where he tried numerous personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and first party insurance cases to a jury. In 1997, he became a partner with the firm, then known as Parrish, Bailey & Myers, P.A. In 1998, Mr. Myers and his partner, Michael Bailey, founded the law firm of Bailey & Myers, P.A. where he practiced as a civil trial lawyer in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, first party insurance disputes, and bad faith litigation, with over 20 years of experience. Mr. Myers was also active in the adoption community throughout the State of Florida, and has helped over 300 families with the legal process to finalize their international adoptions.
During his time as a lawyer, Mr. Myers was a member of The Florida Bar (1989), the American Bar Association, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (EAGLE Member), the American Association for Justice (Sustaining Member), and the Orange County Bar Association. He was admitted to practice before all Florida State courts, the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Myers was voted by his peers as Best of the Bar in the Orlando Business Journal for several years, and has been named to the Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite in the State of Florida for several years as well. In 2009, Judge Myers was recognized with the Silver Pin, Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, for his commitment to providing pro bono legal services in the Central Florida community.
Judge Myers was elected in 2010 as a Circuit Court Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange and Osceola Counties, Florida. His term began in January of 2011. Judge Myers first served in Osceola County from January 2011 to December 2012 in the Unified Family Court, which includes Domestic Relations, Juvenile Delinquency and Domestic/Repeat/Sexual/Dating/Stalking Violence Injunctions. In January 2013 Judge Myers was assigned to Orange County, Circuit Criminal Division, presiding over felony criminal cases. Thereafter, he served three and one-half years in a general Civil Division and had the honor of being assigned as one of two judges in the Complex Business Division of the Court. Judge Myers is currently assigned to the Domestic Division in Orange County. He is also the Administrative Judge for Appeals to the Circuit Court.
Judge Myers is married and has four children and two grandchildren. Both he and his wife of over 30 years, Debbie, are longtime Central Florida residents with strong local ties. The Myers are active members of Center Pointe Community Church of the Nazarene, where Judge Myers has served as Secretary of the Board and Chairman of the Finance Committee. Judge Myers served on the Central Florida District Advisory Board for the Church of the Nazarene, and was a Trustee at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. He also sits on the District Court of Appeals for the Central Florida District Church of the Nazarene. Additionally, Judge Myers volunteers and has served on the boards of several local charitable organizations. Among others, he has worked with Central Care Mission, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc., Restore Orlando, Frontline Outreach, Junior Achievement-Project Business, Dommerich Elementary School Advisory Council, East Orlando & Maitland Soccer Clubs, and several local PTA organizations. He has also lectured to undergraduate and graduate level classes at Valencia College and at the University of Central Florida in the areas of medical/legal ethics and trial skills. Judge Myers serves as a guest lecturer at Barry University School of Law and works with the internship program.