Judge Morris Silberman
Appellate Judge
Judge Silberman received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University, majoring in philosophy and political science. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Florida
College of Law in 1982.
Following law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge Herboth S. Ryder at the Second District Court of Appeal. After completion of his clerkship, he practiced with law firms in Sarasota and Clearwater. In 1988 he formed his own firm in Clearwater. Judge Silberman had a general civil litigation and appellate practice, with an emphasis on business and contract disputes.
Judge Silberman was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Jeb Bush and began serving as a member of the Court on January 2, 2001. He has been elected chief judge by his colleagues for a two-year term to begin July 1, 2011.
He has been active in a variety of professional and civic organizations: current member and past chairman of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission; member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors (1996-2000), serving two terms on the Executive Committee and chairing the Budget Committee, the Election Reform Special Committee, the Grievance Mediation Committee, and the Member Benefits Program; president of the Clearwater Bar Association (1993-94), serving on its Board of Directors for several years, and as editor of the association newsletter; served as an officer and a member of the Board of Directors of the Pinellas Youth Symphony and as a member of the Board of Directors of Leadership Pinellas; current member of the Bruce R. Jacob Criminal Appellate Inn of Court and a past member of the Barney Masterson Inn of Court.
Judge Silberman has taught at Florida's Advanced Judicial College and at the Conferences of Florida's Circuit and County Court Judges. He has lectured on numerous occasions on matters relating to appellate practice, litigation, ethics, judicial discipline, and professionalism. He is liaison to The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section and the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section, and he has been an active member of numerous Bar committees. Judge Silberman was an author and coeditor for Business Litigation in Florida, published by The Florida Bar, and has authored a variety of seminar materials.
Judge Silberman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1957. He is married and has one daughter.
