Roger J. McDonald, former Circuit Court Judge and Current Senior Court Judge

“One of my favorite sayings is: ‘Rules are our friends.’ Without rules, there would be disorder. Rules promote fairness, create predictability, and uphold the rule of law.”

Circuit Judge McDonald is a lifelong Floridian, raised in Miami. He earned a degree in finance from Florida State University and a law degree from the University of Florida. 

He served six years in the United States Air Force as a military police commander before practicing law in Orlando for 23 years. 

He was later elected as a judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, serving three terms before retiring. He continues to serve as a senior judge on an as-needed basis.

Cherish Adams, Orange County Judge, Group 17

Adams attended Elmira College with the goal of going to law school and becoming a lawyer. In college she double majored in English literature and history, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude. 

After graduating George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., she started her legal career by clerking for the Honorable Kerry Evander at Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. She also served as a prosecutor in Orange and Osceola counties for nine years and in Lake County for one and a half years. 

Adams was first assigned to the county civil division, where she presided over small claims, county civil lawsuits and landlord-tenant disputes. 

She is now specially assigned to a circuit criminal division where she handles pretrial detention hearings and assists with trials and other hearings such as motions to suppress and Stand Your Ground hearings. 

Adams is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, the George C Young American Inn of Court and the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers.  

Asima Azam, attorney and candidate for Orange County Judge, Group 5

For more than 23 years, Azam has practiced law in a wide range of areas, beginning with nearly two decades at the law firm of Divine Estes as a community association attorney. She worked daily in neighborhoods, mediating disputes between neighbors and helping resolve conflicts. 

She appeared in county court regularly on a range of matters, from eviction to contract disputes to foreclosure. Over time she expanded her practice to represent developers, creating and representing condominium and single-family communities. 

In 2005 Azam was appointed to the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment for five years, where she served as vice chair in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley — which required her to weigh testimony, apply zoning laws and make difficult decisions impacting property and development rights.

In 2019, she became certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit civil mediator and has successfully mediated dozens of cases. Since 2020, she also served as a special magistrate for the Orange County Value Adjustment Board, presiding over complex tax cases. 

She graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and government in 2000 and received her juris doctor degree from the American University Washington College of Law in 2003.  

Joy Goodyear, Public Defender and Candidate for Orange County Judge, Group 17

Joy Goodyear has spent her entire career as a public defender, serving the people of Florida.

Her interest in the legal system was sparked in high school after hearing a judge speak and later deepened through a life-changing experience with the Public Defender’s Office. Watching frightened individuals gain clarity and reassurance through compassionate legal guidance inspired her to pursue a career in law.

Determined to be the first in her family to attend college, Goodyear enrolled at Stetson University and went on to earn her law degree from Stetson Law School. During law school, she interned with the Public Defender’s Office and the Legal Aid Clinic, gaining valuable trial experience and earning the Paul Barnard Award for Clinic Excellence.

Joy has spent more than 27 years serving Central Florida as a public defender, handling thousands of cases and working closely with all members of the court system. She has extensive trial experience and strong case management skills. She is committed to ensuring that every person who enters a courtroom feels respected, informed and at ease.

Goodyear is an active community volunteer and long-time Orlando resident

Kafi D. Kennedy, attorney and candidate for Orange County Judge, Group 5

Kennedy is an accomplished litigator and defender of the law. Her career has taken her from large corporations, various judicial circuits, state attorney offices, public defender’s office and more.  

During her 17 years of service, she has handled over 4,000 cases including jury trials, motions, mediations, and a variety of hearings.  

Kennedy has handled practice areas including criminal, civil, family law and traffic. Her experience has included handling more than 40 jury trials. She has also handled various motions, violations of probation, sentences and appeals. 

She is president of the Orange County Bar Foundation. She has also served as a board member for the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, vice chair of a Grievance Committee for The Florida Bar, past president of the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, and has been an active participant with the Orange County Bar Association.

She graduated from Florida A&M University with a bachelor of science in marketing and a master of business administration in finance. Kafi continued her education at the University of Miami (UM), Miller School of Law. In law school she was the chief presiding officer of the Honor Council. She graduated with her juris doctor degree in May 2008.