Judge Gibson grew up moving all over the world with her U.S. Navy Chaplain father and school teacher mother. Stationed at the Naval Training Center in Orlando, Florida, Judge Gibson attended high school at The First Academy where she graduated Valedictorian. She then attended her freshman year of college as a LEAD Scholar and Florida Scholar at the University of Central Florida before joining her father in Yokosuka, Japan. There, she received her undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland University College in Yokosuka, Japan. Upon completing her undergraduate degrees, Judge Gibson then completed a course at a Japanese language school and passed the International Language Exam in Japanese while living with a local Japanese family to become fluent in Japanese language and culture.
After returning to the United States, Judge Gibson entered law school at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctor along with a Certificate in Estate Planning. Immediately following law school, Judge Elizabeth Gibson went to work for her local Congressman on Capitol Hill, getting first-hand experience with the legislative branch of government.
Prior to joining the bench, Judge Gibson’s professional career included executive leadership experience in the healthcare and non-profit industries but her career began in the courtroom as a prosecutor. From the courtroom to the boardroom, Judge Gibson's focus has always been on service.
Judge Gibson was honored to be a Fellow in the Florida Bar William Reese Smith Leadership Academy in 2015 and has continued her Bar service on the Leadership Academy Committee. Judge Gibson enjoys serving in voluntary bar associations and other areas of the community. She is certified in Healthcare Compliance and licensed to practice law in the state of Florida and at the Supreme Court of the United States.
When she's not in the courtroom, Judge Gibson enjoys spending time with friends and family and, of course, her rescue dogs Chloe and Captain Jack.
Appointed to the bench in June, 2020, Judge Gibson began her service assigned to a Criminal division where she handled all hearings virtually for the first several months due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In January 2021, Judge Gibson was assigned to the Orange County Jail where she presided over Initial Appearance Hearings, Bond matters, and out of county matters. In January 2022, Judge Gibson was again assigned to a Criminal Division where she currently presides over Misdemeanor cases. Judge Gibson believes everyone who comes to court should be treated with dignity and respect.