Donald Moran
Encyclopedia
Donald Richard Moran, Jr. is currently serving as the Chief Judge
of the Fourth Judicial Circuit
in Florida, which includes most of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, specifically Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. Judge Moran represents the state of Florida
for the Judicial Conference of the United States
and was named 2003 “Jurist of the Year” by the Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The group stated, “Judge Moran…made significant contributions to the betterment of Florida's trial system, not just this year, but throughout (his) career.”
at Lexington in 1968. He has a Juris Doctor
Degree from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
in 1973. Moran was admitted to the Florida Bar on October 18, 1973.
Judge Moran married Elaina Moran in 1979 and they had four children: Richard, Brendan, D'Arcy and Donald III. They reside on the St. Johns River
in San Marco.
Their youngest child was severely injured and paralyzed below the waist in 2008 after rolling his truck and being ejected.
from 1973 to 1977, then a Duval County Court Judge from 1977 to 1983. He was appointed to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in 1983 by Governor Bob Graham
prior to his appointment as Chief Judge in 1993. In that position, he administers the county and circuit court systems in Duval
, Clay
and Nassau counties
. According to The Florida Times-Union, "[h]e is also responsible for the court budget, judicial assignments and courthouse rules." He has also been active in drug legislation and adjudication, chairing the Florida Drug Courts Steering Committee and serving as a judge for both the adult drug court (1994-present) and the juvenile drug court (February, 1997-January, 1999), which he founded. A director for the National Metropolitan Courts, he has also served as its president. He has represented the state of Florida
for the Judicial Conference of the United States
since July 1, 2000.
. In January, 1998, he announced that a new facility would be necessary within the next decade. According to Judge Moran, "You don't just build a courthouse overnight. It takes a lot of planning and projections, so that hopefully the new building will last for another 45 or 50 years."
Just two years later, the city responded with the 2000 Better Jacksonville Plan
(BJP). A new $190 million courthouse was the biggest ticket item of the $2.25 billion package of projects that voters funded with a half-cent sales tax increase. Construction bids were far higher than expected, forcing some planned facility features to be cut. Moran was critical of many of the proposed modifications, arguing that small immediate savings would result in higher expenditures in the near future or the structure opening at full capacity, requiring an immediate need for expansion.
In 2005, in spite of judicial “bluster and arm-twisting”, as Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times-Union described it, Mayor Peyton
announced a plan to build a separate criminal courthouse downtown to save money. Judge Moran spoke to the Jacksonville City Council
on August 9, 2005 and stated that rather than agree to Peyton's plan, the judges would prefer to remain where they were. Moran also complained that the courthouse project was being cheated because the mayor wanted to move several million dollars of BJP money to other projects. Moran complained that "his relationship with the Peyton administration is 'adversarial in all respects.'" The judge told a newspaper reporter that the city should "do nothing until money is available to do a new courthouse right."
In another opinion piece, Littlepage indicated that Moran threatened to have the state force Peyton to build a $400 million courthouse, which he felt it was unlikely to do, but the mayor abandoned his split courthouse proposal. On April 22, 2008, Peyton and Moran came together to urge the Jacksonville City Council to approve a $350 million county courthouse complex, which they did. The complex could be open by June 30, 2011, when Peyton leaves office.
Investigating officers also noted that Moran and his wife had both been drinking, that Elaina Moran indicated that "she should not have to put up with this type of abuse" but that she didn't wish to file charges because Moran "was a good man and worked hard for his career". On September 26, 2007, Judge Moran appointed Circuit Judge Charles O. Mitchell Jr. as acting chief judge while the police investigation was taking place, to prevent any appearance of impropriety.
During his interview, Moran told police that his wife had not only consumed a large quantity of wine, but was also under medication prescribed for depression; he acknowledged that his wife had struck him, but denied striking her, claiming that she had fallen. On September 26, while talking to police during their investigation, Elaina Moran recanted her story, indicating that she had "lied; I tried to get him and hurt him; I'm the abuser." She admitted that she is an alcoholic and acknowledged mixing prescription drugs with alcohol.
The Florida Times-Union interviewed Ellen Siler, the executive director for Hubbard House, a Jacksonville women's shelter
and resource for battered people. She declined to comment on specific cases, but "said it's not uncommon for women to change their stories", indicating also that "on occasion, women do abuse men."
It was the opinion of the investigators that an arrest warrant should be issued for Elaina Moran on charges of domestic battery and falsifying a police report, but on Friday, September 28, State Attorney Harry Shorstein
announced that no charges would be filed against either Moran. While Shorstein agreed with investigators in clearing Moran, he opted not to prosecute Elaina Moran both because the level of violence did not seem to him to warrant prosecution and because he feared prosecuting her might "discourage true domestic violence victims from coming forward out of fear that they could be accused of lying and possibly prosecuted", a concern Siler acknowledged to be legitimate. Shorstein, long acquainted with the Morans, denied special handling of the case, but acknowledged that "many residents called his office...suggesting he'd shown favoritism toward Judge Moran," who had made known his wish that his wife not be prosecuted.
Judge Moran returned to work on Monday, October 1 after he was cleared of all charges.
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the Fourth Judicial Circuit
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
in Florida, which includes most of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, specifically Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. Judge Moran represents the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
and was named 2003 “Jurist of the Year” by the Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The group stated, “Judge Moran…made significant contributions to the betterment of Florida's trial system, not just this year, but throughout (his) career.”
Personal life
Moran was born in 1945 and raised in Kentucky, receiving a Bachelors degree from the University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
at Lexington in 1968. He has a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
Degree from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1973. Moran was admitted to the Florida Bar on October 18, 1973.
Judge Moran married Elaina Moran in 1979 and they had four children: Richard, Brendan, D'Arcy and Donald III. They reside on the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
in San Marco.
Their youngest child was severely injured and paralyzed below the waist in 2008 after rolling his truck and being ejected.
Career
Moran served as an Assistant State AttorneyState's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
from 1973 to 1977, then a Duval County Court Judge from 1977 to 1983. He was appointed to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in 1983 by Governor Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
prior to his appointment as Chief Judge in 1993. In that position, he administers the county and circuit court systems in Duval
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
, Clay
Clay County, Florida
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.- History :...
and Nassau counties
Nassau County, Florida
Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida....
. According to The Florida Times-Union, "[h]e is also responsible for the court budget, judicial assignments and courthouse rules." He has also been active in drug legislation and adjudication, chairing the Florida Drug Courts Steering Committee and serving as a judge for both the adult drug court (1994-present) and the juvenile drug court (February, 1997-January, 1999), which he founded. A director for the National Metropolitan Courts, he has also served as its president. He has represented the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
since July 1, 2000.
New Duval Courthouse
The Chief Judge has long been a vocal proponent of a new Duval County CourthouseDuval County Courthouse
The Duval County Courthouse is the local courthouse for Duval County, Florida. It houses courtrooms and judges from the Duval County and Fourth Judicial Circuit Courts. The current facility is located in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida; a new facility currently under construction will open in...
. In January, 1998, he announced that a new facility would be necessary within the next decade. According to Judge Moran, "You don't just build a courthouse overnight. It takes a lot of planning and projections, so that hopefully the new building will last for another 45 or 50 years."
Just two years later, the city responded with the 2000 Better Jacksonville Plan
Better Jacksonville Plan
The Better Jacksonville Plan is a growth management plan implemented by the city of Jacksonville, Florida. It was the signature project of Mayor John Delaney. It was approved by Jacksonville voters on September 5, 2000...
(BJP). A new $190 million courthouse was the biggest ticket item of the $2.25 billion package of projects that voters funded with a half-cent sales tax increase. Construction bids were far higher than expected, forcing some planned facility features to be cut. Moran was critical of many of the proposed modifications, arguing that small immediate savings would result in higher expenditures in the near future or the structure opening at full capacity, requiring an immediate need for expansion.
In 2005, in spite of judicial “bluster and arm-twisting”, as Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times-Union described it, Mayor Peyton
John Peyton (US politician)
John Stephens Peyton is an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 2003 to 2011. He was the second Republican to be elected to the position since 1888....
announced a plan to build a separate criminal courthouse downtown to save money. Judge Moran spoke to the Jacksonville City Council
Jacksonville City Council
The Jacksonville City Council is the legislative governing body of the city of Jacksonville, Florida.-Composition:The Jacksonville City Council is composed of nineteen members who are elected to four-year terms and serve as part-time legislators...
on August 9, 2005 and stated that rather than agree to Peyton's plan, the judges would prefer to remain where they were. Moran also complained that the courthouse project was being cheated because the mayor wanted to move several million dollars of BJP money to other projects. Moran complained that "his relationship with the Peyton administration is 'adversarial in all respects.'" The judge told a newspaper reporter that the city should "do nothing until money is available to do a new courthouse right."
In another opinion piece, Littlepage indicated that Moran threatened to have the state force Peyton to build a $400 million courthouse, which he felt it was unlikely to do, but the mayor abandoned his split courthouse proposal. On April 22, 2008, Peyton and Moran came together to urge the Jacksonville City Council to approve a $350 million county courthouse complex, which they did. The complex could be open by June 30, 2011, when Peyton leaves office.
Domestic violence investigation
During the evening of September 24, 2007, Elaina Moran called 911 and accused her husband of beating her. The responding police officer's incident report stated:
"The victim's mouth was bloody and the right side of her mouth appeared to be swollen. I also witnessed spattered spots of blood on the victim's white shirt and on her hair. ...[s]he punched her husband or threw something at him. She said she could not remember which. At that time, the suspect hit her back.
Investigating officers also noted that Moran and his wife had both been drinking, that Elaina Moran indicated that "she should not have to put up with this type of abuse" but that she didn't wish to file charges because Moran "was a good man and worked hard for his career". On September 26, 2007, Judge Moran appointed Circuit Judge Charles O. Mitchell Jr. as acting chief judge while the police investigation was taking place, to prevent any appearance of impropriety.
During his interview, Moran told police that his wife had not only consumed a large quantity of wine, but was also under medication prescribed for depression; he acknowledged that his wife had struck him, but denied striking her, claiming that she had fallen. On September 26, while talking to police during their investigation, Elaina Moran recanted her story, indicating that she had "lied; I tried to get him and hurt him; I'm the abuser." She admitted that she is an alcoholic and acknowledged mixing prescription drugs with alcohol.
The Florida Times-Union interviewed Ellen Siler, the executive director for Hubbard House, a Jacksonville women's shelter
Women's shelter
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
and resource for battered people. She declined to comment on specific cases, but "said it's not uncommon for women to change their stories", indicating also that "on occasion, women do abuse men."
It was the opinion of the investigators that an arrest warrant should be issued for Elaina Moran on charges of domestic battery and falsifying a police report, but on Friday, September 28, State Attorney Harry Shorstein
Harry Shorstein
Harry L. Shorstein is an American lawyer who served as State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, covering Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, from 1991–2008. He was appointed to the post in 1991 by Governor Lawton Chiles to fill the remaining term of Ed Austin, who resigned to...
announced that no charges would be filed against either Moran. While Shorstein agreed with investigators in clearing Moran, he opted not to prosecute Elaina Moran both because the level of violence did not seem to him to warrant prosecution and because he feared prosecuting her might "discourage true domestic violence victims from coming forward out of fear that they could be accused of lying and possibly prosecuted", a concern Siler acknowledged to be legitimate. Shorstein, long acquainted with the Morans, denied special handling of the case, but acknowledged that "many residents called his office...suggesting he'd shown favoritism toward Judge Moran," who had made known his wish that his wife not be prosecuted.
Judge Moran returned to work on Monday, October 1 after he was cleared of all charges.