The Miami-Dade Circuit bench is losing a three-decade veteran this month but gaining another judge with experience in civil and criminal law.

Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely is retiring July 31 after serving on the circuit bench since 1988. She has been in the civil division most of that time but also served in the criminal and juvenile divisions and before that was a county court judge.

“I am one of the luckiest people in the universe,” Cardonne Ely said of her career. “I feel very honored and very privileged.”