Judge Mary S. Scriven “expects the highest degree of professionalism from the lawyers who appear before her.” The 2026 recipient of the American Inns of Court Award for Professionalism in the Eleventh Circuit, Scriven has made her mark in countless ways, including as “an excellent federal judge who gives her time to elevate the practice of law for Florida lawyers.” As one fellow judge noted, it is her “sterling character, unquestioned integrity, a lifelong dedication to our legal profession, the rule of law” and her commitment to “justice for all people,” that set Scriven apart.
Her reach into the community is deep. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said: “A trailblazer, Judge Scriven is the first African American woman to serve in any capacity on the federal court in the state of Florida and the second to serve as a district judge in the 11th circuit. Along with Judge Scriven’s stellar reputation as a fair and impartial judge, she is an outstanding community leader who is committed to the Tampa Bay area as an involved citizen and advocate who gives of her expertise and time in many professional, educational, and community organizations that enhance our city, county, and state.”
Scriven has lived a life and career in service to others. Two single-spaced pages of her biography provide only highlights of her impact at the national, federal, state, and local levels. The list is as impressive as it is daunting: president-elect of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association; past chairperson of the board of the Spring of Tampa Bay, the only certified shelter and assistance facility for battered spouses and their children in the Tampa Bay area; chairperson of the Judicial Education Committee of the Middle District of Florida; past president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers; service on the board of directors of the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Hillsborough County Bar Association; service on the executive board of directors of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and the George Edgecomb Bar Association; and on the boards of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa and the Florida Bar Foundation. She is a member of the Leadership Tampa Class of 1994 and the Leadership Florida Class of 1995. She is a former trustee for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and is a past president of the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court.
Scriven is passionate about the American Inns of Court and its mission, as evident by her deep involvement in three separate Inns. One colleague noted, “I have seen how seriously she takes her role as mentor to her pupillage group.” She has mentored countless young lawyers, many of whom have gone on to become judges themselves. Never satisfied with the status quo, Scriven continues to support the expansion of the American Inns of Court’s presence in Florida. Mark E. Stein, Esquire, shared that he “had the privilege of working with Judge Scriven on the organizing committee of the Florida IP American Inns of Court.” Not only is she a force behind its creation, but she also has “already agreed to a leadership position, and like every effort, she is conducting herself with integrity, grace and adherence to the highest standards of our profession and respect for the rule of law.”
“Judge Scriven has always been willing to give her time to help others,” writes Judge Richard H. Martin of Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court and president of the J. Clifford Cheatwood American Inn of Court, who nominated Scriven for the award. “One story sticks out in my mind.” He recounts that at a local bar association meeting: He and Scriven listened as a victim of human trafficking described what she had experienced and her difficulties launching a legal career because of crimes committed while being trafficked. “At the end of the program,” Martin remembers, “Judge Scriven walked straight up to this young woman, handed her a business card, and said, ‘Give me a call, and I will give you a job.’”
“Totally professional in her own conduct, inside and outside the courtroom.” She firmly expects the same of every lawyer in her courtroom. Former Judge Chris Altenbernd shared that “the high level of professionalism that she expects of all lawyers is a product of the qualities taught to her by her parents at a very early age. It is also a product of her own courage and character, developed from the earliest years of her education.” Like all who know her, they hold her in deep admiration for “the dignity she exudes,” and “the self-confidence—with a side of humor—that she possesses.”
Scriven is a humble servant leader. “Those devoted to our profession and the rule of law often labor quietly, striving each day to uphold the principles we espouse. To have that work recognized in this way is both profoundly meaningful and humbling.”
This “humble woman has continued a legacy of decency, dedication, and caring that we as lawyers and judges can all be proud of and in some small manner strive to emulate.” The American Inns of Court is honored to recognize her as the 2026 recipient of the American Inns of Court Award for Professionalism in the Eleventh Circuit.