Putnam County Judge Anne Marie Gennusa has served on the bench since 2023. She was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to fill the vacancy left by the elevation of Judge Joe Boatwright. Judge Gennusa presides over criminal traffic and misdemeanor cases as a county judge. She is also assigned truancy and juvenile delinquency cases, as an acting circuit judge. She is the only candidate with judicial experience.
Judge Gennusa earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from Mercy College and her law degree from Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While at Temple, she received dean’s list honors and distinguished class performance designations in Criminal Procedure I, Civil Procedure II and Evidence. She also earned Master Level Certificates in Human Resource Management and Government Contracting from Villanova University.
Judge Gennusa began her legal career in 1994 at The Legal Aid Society Criminal Defense Division in Bronx, New York. She has also worked as an assistant state attorney and served as an attorney for the National Police Defense Foundation, representing law enforcement charged with crimes while in the line of duty. She is also a certified Florida Supreme Court Family Law Mediator, Qualified Arbitrator and has been appointed by the Court to act as an Attorney ad Litem, Guardian ad Litem and Parenting Coordinator. She is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York and before the United States Supreme Court. She has served as Past Chair of the Florida Bar Traffic Rules, Unauthorized Practice of Law and Grievance Committees.
For over a decade, she has held the prestigious honor of Martindale-Hubbell’s Preeminent AV Peer Rating. Only 10% of attorneys are given this rating. This rating represents that as an attorney she was ranked by her peers and judges to perform at the highest level of professional excellence, including ethical standards, communication and legal experience.
She opened “The Law Offices of Anne Marie Gennusa” in 1999 handling a variety of legal issues including family, criminal (felony, misdemeanor and death penalty), civil trial, and small claims. Her representation spanned many counties, including Putnam, Duval, Nassau, Orange, and St. Johns. This experience afforded her the opportunity to observe contrasting judicial styles throughout the state.
Judge Gennusa has been a CCD teacher at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, has donated thousands of hours of her time pro bono to individuals that could not afford an attorney. She has received awards for her commitment to ensuring legal representation to all, including the prestigious “Kathy Parra Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award”. She has donated her time to food pantries, homeless shelters and other non-legal community service activities in Putnam, Duval and St. Johns Counties. She is a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Azalea City, the GFWC Woman’s Club of Palatka, the Putnam County Bar Association, and the St. Augustine Inn of Court (past President).
Judge Gennusa has been married for over 21 years to Bob, a retired Sergeant with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s office. Between them, they raised 5 children, a Cavalier King Charles puppy (Sir Oliver of Melrose) and a middle-aged Chiweenie (Dixie).
