Judge Sara Carter is a fifth-generation Columbia County native and devoted public servant with a deep respect for the rule of law. Her mother, Colvin S. Carter, was a teacher for 30 years in Columbia County and her father, J. Michael Carter, ran Carter’s Pasture which was a local hunting preserve and timber farm.

Sara earned her degree from FSU on a Bright Futures scholarship and continued her education at Florida Coastal School of Law on an academic scholarship. After successfully becoming a member of the Florida Bar in September of 2005, she went on to represent clients in all of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits before co-founding her own law firm right here in Columbia County – Douglas & Carter.

Elected in 2020, Judge Carter became the first female County Judge in Columbia County history. Judge Carter worked as a solo county judge for the first 4 plus years on the bench handling every county court assignment including First Appearance court every day of the year. During her time as a county judge, she has handled over 25,000 county cases and hundreds of circuit court cases. Her dockets have included misdemeanor, criminal traffic, civil traffic, small claims, county civil, mental health court, family law, injunctions, and circuit civil cases. Judge Carter’s duties have also included being on the canvassing board and serving as emergency duty judge for the entire Third Judicial Circuit.