Judith Erwin
Judith Erwin is an award-winning author and retired attorney whose diverse career spans law, journalism, and literature. After working as a freelance writer and editorial assistant specializing in the arts, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law at the age of 55, going on to practice family law for over two decades as an attorney, mediator, and custody evaluator. During her legal career, she focused on helping families navigate divorce and custody issues, drawing on her deep empathy and legal expertise to support clients through complex and often emotionally charged situations.
Parallel to her legal work, Judith has cultivated a successful career as an author, publishing ten novels including the Shepherd & Associates crime-solving series, along with contributions to Mystery and Suspense Magazine. Her writing spans women’s fiction, romance, suspense, and memoir, and she has received recognition for her work with awards such as the FAPA President’s Awards Gold Medal for Adult Romance. Her novels often reflect her experiences and insights from both her legal career and her lifelong engagement with the arts, including ballet and theater.
Judith is also a sought-after speaker on topics such as changing careers later in life, success after 50, writing memoirs, and personal resilience. A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, she continues to explore new interests, including forensic genetic genealogy, which informed her latest crime novel A Raging Fire. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Judith is deeply family-oriented, cherishing her role as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and she maintains a love for cats, dance, theater, and literature.
• University of Florida College of Law- J.D.
• Jacksonville University- B.A.
• FBI Citizen's Academy Alumni Association Jacksonville
• Mystery Writers of America
• Republican Women's Club of Duval Federated
• Florida Authors and Publishers Association
• Florida Writers Association
• Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime