Elizabeth Scherer is an American attorney who has been serving since 2012 and until 2023 as a judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Over the years, she handled many high-profile cases assigned to her, and then she came into the wide spotlight when she presided over the trial of Nikolas Cruz, the gunman who carried out the devastating 2018 Parkland High School shooting.
On October 20, 2022, Cruz, charged with the massacre that claimed the lives of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, pleaded guilty to all 17 counts of murder. It was a pivotal moment in the case, one that spared a long trial over the charges against him for those actions on that tragic day.
On February 14, 2018, the Parkland shooting occurred when Cruz opened fire on students and faculty members, killing 17 and injuring 17 others. The massacre sent shockwaves through the community and the nation, fuelling debates about gun control, school safety, and mental health. Cruz, a former student of the school, was arrested shortly after the attack and has since been in the eye of intense scrutiny and legal processes.
With Scherer’s involvement, the case again brought her center stage in the judiciary, especially with the conducting of such a heavily impactful and emotionally charged trial. Her resignation from the bench in 2023 made for the end of a decade-long career in the judiciary, but the Parkland case remained a noteworthy part of her legacy. A legal process against Cruz is ongoing, with sentencing currently under the court’s consideration after his plea of guilt.
Elizabeth Scherer’s Family
Cruz as well as other names in the trial have garnered media attention, including the judge, Elizabeth Scherer. This is the most high-profile case of Scherer’s career on the bench, and it hasn’t been without controversy.
From a father who’s dubbed a courthouse powerbroker and lobbyist to an ex-husband with his own run-in with the law, the Broward Circuit judge’s background never fails to provoke the curiosity of social media users. For those who are eager to know more about Elizabeth Scherer’s family and relationships, we have all the details here.
Florida native Elizabeth Anne Scherer comes from a prominent family in the Sunshine State. She is the middle child of William Scherer Sr. and Anne Scherer.
Elizabeth’s parents as well her older brother, Bill Scherer Jr., and younger brother, John Scherer, are experienced attorneys. The patriarch of the family, Bill Sr., is the founder and managing partner of Conrad & Scherer in Florida.
He has major political connections to the Republican Party and also led the team of attorneys representing former President George W. Bush in the Broward County recount.
Elizabeth’s mother Anne studied law at Indiana University and is a managing partner at Conrad & Scherer. She is also the owner and president of Scherer Management. Elizabeth’s brothers are also affiliated with the law firm.
Bill Sr. served as an advisor to Gov. Rick Scott and on the Broward County Judicial Nominating Commission. He resigned from the commission in 2011 when his daughter was seeking an appointment to the bench.
Equestrian enthusiast Elizabeth steered away from the family law firm and was appointed to the bench in 2012. She was re-elected in 2014 and 2020. While the family has declined to comment in detail on her judgeship, Bill Sr. has said he is proud of his daughter’s accomplishments.
Elizabeth Scherer’s Relationships and Children
According to the New Times Broward-Palm Beach, Elizabeth Scherer married Anthony Mercer in 2002, but they separated in 2003. Scherer dated a policeman later on and off before reconciling with Mercer. Their daughter, Sophia, was born soon after.
Mercer was infamously arrested in 2009, back when Scherer was a prosecutor in the criminal unit of the Broward State Attorney’s Office. He was charged with dealing cocaine and marijuana.
Scherer reportedly filed for divorce the day after his arrest, ending their marriage of seven years. But Mercer told the police that they had been separated for three months before that.
Mercer’s case was transferred out of the county to prevent a conflict of interest. Most of the serious charges were dropped.
According to multiple reports, Scherer is now married to a Hollywood, Florida homicide police detective. His identity is not known, but in 2016, their marriage got media attention when the judge refused to remove herself from an attempted murder case her husband’s department was investigating.
The Fourth District Court of Appeal removed her from the case anyway, and the office of Broward Chief Administrative Judge Jack Tuter claims Scherer doesn’t preside over Hollywood homicide cases or sign warrants from the department.
The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Scherer violated many rules governing judicial conduct during Cruz’s trial. The Commission recommended a public reprimand for Scherer On June 2, 2023.
