Florida Third District Court of Appeal
Encyclopedia
The Florida Third District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Miami, Florida
. Its ten judges have jurisdiction over cases arising from Miami-Dade Monroe
Counties.
. Then, from 1960 to 1976, court sessions took place at the State Office Building. It wasn't until 1976 that the court finally had its own facility to conduct its business. This courthouse was dedicated by Governor Reubin Askew in the fall of 1976. In 1990 an addition was added to keep pace with the court's continued growth. The courthouse has won the recognition of the American Institute of Architects
(South Florida Chapter) and in 1981 Governor Bob Graham
gave the court the Governor's Design Award.
The court's original three judges (Charles A. Carroll, Mallory H. Horton and Tillman Pearson) have increased to ten as of 2010.
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...
. Its ten judges have jurisdiction over cases arising from Miami-Dade Monroe
Monroe County
Monroe County is the name of seventeen counties in the United States, named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States:* Monroe County, Alabama* Monroe County, Arkansas* Monroe County, Florida* Monroe County, Georgia* Monroe County, Illinois...
Counties.
History
The Third District Court of Appeal (DCA) was one of the first three DCAs created by the Florida legislature in 1957. Court was first held in a room of the University of Miami School of LawUniversity of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
. Then, from 1960 to 1976, court sessions took place at the State Office Building. It wasn't until 1976 that the court finally had its own facility to conduct its business. This courthouse was dedicated by Governor Reubin Askew in the fall of 1976. In 1990 an addition was added to keep pace with the court's continued growth. The courthouse has won the recognition of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
(South Florida Chapter) and in 1981 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...
gave the court the Governor's Design Award.
The court's original three judges (Charles A. Carroll, Mallory H. Horton and Tillman Pearson) have increased to ten as of 2010.
Chief Judges
Judges who have served as Chief Judge of the Third DCA include:- Frank A. ShepherdFrank A. ShepherdFrank A. Shepherd is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Palm Beach County, Florida....
, July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015 - Linda Ann Wells, July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013
- Juan Ramirez, Jr.Juan Ramirez, Jr.Juan Ramirez, Jr. is the current Chief Judge for the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in 1945 in Havana, Cuba. He received his bachelor's degree and his master's degree from Vanderbilt University. He then worked for a Ph.D. in Latin American History at the University...
, July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011 - David M. GerstenDavid M. GerstenDavid M. Gersten is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Miami Beach, Florida. He attended the University of Florida where he earned his B.A. in 1973. He received his J.D. from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 1975.-Legal...
, July 1, 2007 until June 30, 2009 - Gerald B. Cope, Jr.Gerald B. Cope, Jr.Gerald B. Cope Jr. is an American lawyer and former judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1946. In 1951, his family moved to Melbourne, Florida....
, July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007 - Alan R. SchwartzAlan R. SchwartzAlan R. Schwartz is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 14, 1934. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1955 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa...
- Thomas H. Barkdull, Jr.
Active Judges
Judges who are currently serving on the Third DCA include:| Name | Tenure | Appointing Governor |
|---|---|---|
| Angel A. Cortiñas Angel A. Cortiñas Angel A. Cortiñas is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Havana, Cuba in 1962. He attended Miami Senior High School. He was admitted to Brown University and graduated magna cum laude with degrees in Latin American Studies and... |
2005- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
| Kevin Emas | 2010- | Charlie Crist Charlie Crist Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General... |
| Barbara Lagoa Barbara Lagoa Barbara Lagoa is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:She was born in Miami, Florida in 1967. She received her B.A. cum laude in 1989 from Florida International University where she majored in English and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor... |
2006- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
| Juan Ramirez, Jr. Juan Ramirez, Jr. Juan Ramirez, Jr. is the current Chief Judge for the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in 1945 in Havana, Cuba. He received his bachelor's degree and his master's degree from Vanderbilt University. He then worked for a Ph.D. in Latin American History at the University... |
2000- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
| Leslie B. Rothenberg | 2005- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
| Vance E. Salter Vance E. Salter Vance E. Salter is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Pasadena, California in 1948. He attended Brown University and the University of Virginia School of Law.... |
2007- | Charlie Crist Charlie Crist Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General... |
| Frank A. Shepherd Frank A. Shepherd Frank A. Shepherd is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Palm Beach County, Florida.... |
2003- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
| Richard J. Suarez Richard J. Suarez Richard J. Suarez is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School and received a Bachelor of Music degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami... |
2004- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
| Linda Ann Wells | 2003- | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
Retired Judges
Judges who have served on the Third DCA include:| Name | Tenure | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Charles A. Carroll | (1957-1974) | |
| Mallory H. Horton | (1957-1965) | |
| Tillman Pearson | (1957-1980) | |
| Thomas H. Barkdull, Jr. | (1961-1996) | |
| Norman Hendry | (1961-1988) | |
| Richard H.M. Swann | (1965-1972) | |
| Robert M. Haverfield | (1972-1980) | |
| Raymond G. Nathan | (1974-1978) | |
| Phillip A. Hubbart | (1977-1996 ) | |
| James W. Kehoe James W. Kehoe James W. Kehoe was an American lawyer and judge.-Background:Kehoe was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1925. His family moved to Florida when Kehoe was an infant.... |
(1977-1979) | |
| Alan R. Schwartz Alan R. Schwartz Alan R. Schwartz is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 14, 1934. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1955 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa... |
(1978-2004) | Currently serving as a senior judge |
| Joseph Nesbitt | (1979-1999) | |
| Natalie Baskin | (1980-1996) | |
| Daniel S. Pearson | (1980-1989) | |
| Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. | (1980-1993) | |
| James R. Jorgenson | (1981-2003) | |
| David L. Levy | (1989-2006) | |
| Mario P. Goderich | (1990-2005) | |
| Melvia B. Green | (1994-2008) | |
| John G. Fletcher | (1996-2007) | |
| Robert L. Shevin | (1996-2005) | |
| Rodolfo Sorondo, Jr. | (1997-2002) | |
| Gerald B. Cope, Jr. Gerald B. Cope, Jr. Gerald B. Cope Jr. is an American lawyer and former judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1946. In 1951, his family moved to Melbourne, Florida.... |
(1988-2010) | |
| David M. Gersten David M. Gersten David M. Gersten is an American lawyer and judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:He was born in Miami Beach, Florida. He attended the University of Florida where he earned his B.A. in 1973. He received his J.D. from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 1975.-Legal... |
(1989-2011) | |
The Florida Third District Court of Appeal Nominating Commission
- Marcos D. Jimenez, Chair (2011)
- Jeffrey S. Bass (2014)
- Hector J. Lombana (2014)
- Peter Prieto (2014)
- Matias R. Dorta (2011)
- Timothy J. Koenig (2011)
- Nilda PedrosaNilda PedrosaNilda Pedrosa is currently the Assistant Dean for Development & External Affairs at Florida International University College of Law.-Background:...
(2012) - Lauri Waldman Ross (2012)
- Lilly Ann Sanchez (2012)
Notable Cases
- In re: GillIn re: GillIn re: Gill is a landmark Florida court case that in 2010 ended Florida's 33-year ban on adoptions by homosexuals. In 2007 Frank Martin Gill, an openly gay man, had petitioned the circuit court to adopt two boys that he and his partner had been raising as foster children since 2004...
(2010) (Cope, J.) Text of the Court of Appeal decision : This ruling struck down the Florida’s statutory ban on gay and lesbian people adopting children in the state. - Engle v. Liggett Group (2003) (Gersten, J.) Text of the Court of Appeal decision: This ruling was overturned in 2006 by the Florida Supreme Court http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/03/03-1856/Filed_07-06-2006_Opinion.pdf which ordered desertification of a class action lawsuit against big tobacco companies that effectively reversed the largest punitive damage jury award, $145 billion, in U.S. history.
See also
- Florida District Courts of AppealFlorida District Courts of AppealThe Florida District Courts of Appeal are the intermediate appellate courts of the Florida state court system. There are five DCAs:*The First District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Tallahassee...
(for history and general overview) - Florida First District Court of AppealFlorida First District Court of AppealThe Florida First District Court of Appeal, also known as the First DCA, is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. It is unique among the five Florida District Courts of Appeal in that, much like the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit at the federal level, it handles most of the appeals in...
- Florida Second District Court of AppealFlorida Second District Court of AppealThe Florida Second District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Lakeland, Florida and has a branch in Tampa.-History:The initial territorial jurisdiction of the Second District, with its headquarters in Lakeland, encompassed twenty-eight counties, ranging from Lake County in the north, to Collier...
- Florida Fourth District Court of AppealFlorida Fourth District Court of AppealThe Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. Its twelve judges have jurisdiction over cases arising in Palm Beach County, Broward County, St. Lucie County, Martin County, Indian River County, and Okeechobee County....
- Florida Fifth District Court of AppealFlorida Fifth District Court of AppealThe Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The Fifth District Court of Appeal was created by the 1979 session of the Florida Legislature.-Chief Judges:...