Ariana Fajardo Orshan
Chief judge of Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan has led Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit since July 2025, overseeing the state courts that serve Miami-Dade County.
Last refreshed: 22 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What did Fajardo Orshan's probable-cause finding authorise Florida to do?
Timeline for Ariana Fajardo Orshan
Signed the warrant on a finding of probable cause
Cuba Dispatch: Florida AG secures Raúl Castro warrantBackground
Ariana Fajardo Orshan is chief judge of Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the state court system serving Miami-Dade County. Her fellow circuit judges elected her to the leadership post, and she took office in July 2025. The role places her at the head of the circuit while she remains a state judge.
Fajardo Orshan's career spans state judicial service and federal prosecution. Before becoming chief judge, she served as a circuit judge and as US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 2018 to 2021. Those posts sit in separate systems: the US Attorney leads federal prosecutions in the district, while the Eleventh Judicial Circuit handles Florida state matters in Miami-Dade. Her current position therefore reflects a return to state-court leadership after senior federal service.
Who is Ariana Fajardo Orshan?
What role did Ariana Fajardo Orshan have in the Raúl Castro warrant?
When did Ariana Fajardo Orshan become chief judge?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 October 2026. Editorial standards.