Sawmill Academy

I had a chance to visit the privatized juvenile medium security detention facility for girls, the Sawmill Academy, here in Leon County this week. Last week, the facility lost its fourth director in a little more than a year. Staff turnover has likewise been high. The 27 bed institution provides food, shelter, clothing and education to delinquent girls 14-18 years of age. As a group, they have real needs. According to the Department of Juvenile Justice, half of these young women have been sexually abused, 60% have a parent in jail, 60% have been physically abused, half have witnessed domestic violence, nearly half have attempted suicide.

I was there at the request of the Tallahassee Zonta Club to give a presentation on the structure of the court system. After reviewing the various courts at the state and federal level, I did a special section on the juvenile courts, and the demographics of juvenile delinquents. It was by far the most successful part of the talk, I noticed that the room had become more crowded, and the girls quiet and focused. Ironically, a juvenile detention facility is the safest place some of these girls have ever lived.

In a previous position I had visited both federal and state penitentiaries around the state, and have also visited the Leon County Jail. I thought I was prepared to visit this girls detention facility, but what surprised me most, was that rather than bringing to mind my experiences in other prisons, what the girls reminded me most of was my experience in boot camp.

More than meets the eye

James Rosica, a local reporter with the Tallahassee Democrat, wrote an article that appeared in Sunday's paper with the headline, "Some say Governor Playing Favorites." The article wrote about concerns of "cronyism" by the Bush administration, but no one complaining would speak for the record.

The article did little to address the layers of issues within the appointment process, and did not mention that people in Leon County will have their chance to select a judge for the County Court next year. There should have been more coverage, not less, on this process.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/13032989.htm

Think globally, act locally

Or in this case, rule locally, educate internationally. Local Circuit Court Judge Nikki Ann Clark traveled to Liberia recently to talk about elections law to try to encourage post election disputes to be resolved in the courtroom rather than in the streets. As one of the trial judges at the center of the 2000 presidential election litigation, she is particularly qualified to address the strength of the rule of law in this area.
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/12937500.htm

Second Judicial Circuit Court Appointment

Last week, Angie Dempsey was appointed to the Second Judicial Circuit Court. Tonight is the annual Tallahassee Women Lawyers Judicial Reception. She has been invited, although she won't be sworn in until November. This appointment marks the first female appointment by the governor in this area since he took office.

Civic Clubs

I've been giving talks to various Civic Clubs about consumer law over the past couple of months. I've discovered that I like Civic Clubs. I like the comradarie, I like how they start out with the Pledge of Alegiance and sometimes they sing a song. I like the mix of ages in the groups and how each club has a variety of charitable activities. Most of the clubs ask me to join after the talk, but I always demur, as running for office has swallowed my life right now. But next year, after the race is over, I think I will join a civic club.

County Court Appointment

Deputy Attorney General John Carassas has been appointed a circuit court judge in Hillsborough County. The appointment for the Second Judicial Circuit Court Seat has not yet been announced, but rumors abound. The seat will exist as of November 1, 2005, so an announcement within the next couple of weeks is likely. It has been heartening to see lawyers from the Attorney General's Office do well in the appointment process, the agency has first rate lawyers.

Early Days

I filed on September 8, just less than a year before the primary election on September 5, 2006. Oddly, I'm already quite busy. I go to Bar Association meetings and talk to people, I go to Civic Club meetings and talk about Consumer Law and RICO, and I talk to other people who have run local campaigns and get their advice. I'm also working, and singing in church, doing Florida Bar committee work, doing charity work, volunteering at Kate Sullivan, and spending time with my husband and children.

Things could have been quite different for me this year. If I had been diagnosed this year with a serious form of breast cancer, instead of one that is essentially somulent or pre-invasive, I could have been journeying through chemotherapy and radiation instead of walking down the campaign trail. But receiving a wake up call, by any means, helps to focus on what you really want, instead of just doing what you always do.

Like the chemotherapy ads say, "I'm ready." I'm ready to work on this campaign, ready to become a judge, ready to serve the community in yet another way. I'm ready.

Six Nominees for Second Circuit Vacancy

The names of Six attorneys have been submitted to the governor for him to select a judge for
the new seat on the Second Judicial Circuit:

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/12410260.htm

• Linzie F. Bogan, 39, of Tallahassee. He is senior assistant attorney general in the ethics division of the Attorney General's Office.
• Dawn Caloca-Johnson, 41, of Tallahassee. She is administrative general magistrate for the 2nd Judicial Circuit. She reports to Chief Judge Charles Francis, handles her own family-law caseload and supervises traffic and other hearing officers across the circuit and their staff.
• David M. De La Paz, 46, of Crawfordville. He is staff director for the House Committee on Public Safety and Crime Prevention.
• Angela C. Dempsey, 36, of Tallahassee. She is senior assistant general counsel for the Department of Environmental Protection.
• Tim Harley, 54, of Tallahassee. He has been a Leon County judge since 2000, and was formerly an assistant prosecutor under State Attorney Willie Meggs.
• L. Clayton Roberts, 40, of Tallahassee. As executive deputy attorney general, he is the No. 3 man in the Attorney General's Office. Roberts is a former director of the state's Division of Elections, including during the 2000 election.
Bush now has 60 days to interview and select one of the six.
Circuit judges handle all circuit court matters, including felonies, civil suits exceeding $15,000, domestic relations, probate and juvenile justice. They are paid $139,497 a year.

Interview Schedule for Second Judicial Circuit

The Second Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is pleased to announce the schedule of interviews for applicants applying for nomination to the circuit court for the Second Judicial Circuit. The Commission encourages and seeks comments regarding the qualifications of these applicants from the public, and members of the Bench and Bar. The members of the Second Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission are Peter Antonacci, Kim Bertron, Anne Corcoran, Brian Duffy, Elaine Duggar, Warren Husband, Jose Lorenzo, Jessica Varn and Stephanie Williams. Contact information for the Commissioners is available on The Florida Bar’s website.
Second Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
Schedule of Interviews
Monday, August 15, 2005
Florida State University College of Law
Room 210G (Dean’s Conference Room)
8:00 a.m. Linzie F. Bogan
8:45 a.m. Dawn Caloca-Johnson
9:30 a.m. John G. Van Laningham
10:15 a.m. David M. De La Paz
11:00 a.m. Angela C. Dempsey
11:45 a.m. Timothy D. Harley
1:15 p.m. Leonard Jackson Holton
2:00 p.m. Errol H. Powell
2:45 p.m. L. Clayton Roberts
3:30 p.m. James O. Shelfer
4:15 p.m. Gordon David Cherr
5:00 p.m. T. Kent Wetherell, II