United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
(M.D. Fla.)
Appeals to Eleventh Circuit
Established July 30, 1962
Judges assigned 15
Chief judge Anne C. Conway
Official site

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (in case citations, M.D. Fla. or M.D.Fl.) serves the residents of thirty-five counties from eight courthouses.

Appeals from cases brought in the Middle District of Florida are to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Contents

History

On the same day that Florida was admitted as a state, March 3, 1845, Congress enacted legislation creating the United States District Court for the District of Florida, 5 Stat. 788.[1][2] On February 23, 1847, this District was subdivided into Northern and Southern Districts, by 9 Stat. 131.[1][2] The Middle District was not created until July 30, 1962, when it was carved from portions of the other districts by 76 Stat. 247.[2]

Jurisdiction

The counties served by the Middle District of Florida are: Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, De Soto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Volusia counties.

It holds court in the following locations:

Current judges

A total of 35 judges have sat on the court since its creation. The court currently has 15 authorized judgeships, filled by judges appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. As of 2009, the Chief Judge of the District is Judge Anne C. Conway, who succeeded Judge Patricia C. Fawsett in the post.

As of December 17, 2011, one vacancy exists when Richard A. Lazzara assumed senior status. No replacement is currently pending.

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
20 Chief Judge Anne C. Conway Orlando 1950 1991–present 2008–present — G. H. W. Bush
15 District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich Tampa 1936 1982–present 1996–2002 — Reagan
21 District Judge Steven Douglas Merryday Tampa 1950 1991–present — — G. H. W. Bush
25 District Judge James D. Whittemore Tampa 1952 1999–present — — Clinton
26 District Judge John Antoon II Orlando 1946 2000–present — — Clinton
27 District Judge John E. Steele Ft. Myers 1949 2000–present — — Clinton
28 District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. Tampa 1947 2000–present — — Clinton
29 District Judge Gregory A. Presnell Orlando 1942 2000–present — — Clinton
30 District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan Jacksonville 1956 2002–present — — G.W. Bush
31 District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington Tampa 1955 2004–present — — G.W. Bush
32 District Judge Marcia Morales Howard Jacksonville 1965 2007–present — — G.W. Bush
33 District Judge Mary Stenson Scriven Tampa 1962 2008–present — — G.W. Bush
34 District Judge Charlene Honeywell Ft. Myers 1957 2009–present — — Obama
35 District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. Jacksonville 1952 2011–present — — Obama
— District Judge (vacant) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a)
4 Senior District Judge George C. Young Orlando 1916 1961–1981 1973–1981 1981–present Kennedy
8 Senior District Judge William Terrell Hodges Ocala 1934 1971–1999 1982–1989 1999–present Nixon
10 Senior District Judge Howell W. Melton Jacksonville 1923 1977–1991 — 1991–present Carter
13 Senior District Judge William J. Castagna Tampa 1924 1979–1992 — 1992–present Carter
14 Senior District Judge John H. Moore II Jacksonville 1929 1981–1995 1992–1995 1995–present Reagan
16 Senior District Judge G. Kendall Sharp Orlando 1934 1983–2000 — 2000–present Reagan
17 Senior District Judge Patricia C. Fawsett Orlando 1943 1986–2008 2003–2008 2008–present Reagan
19 Senior District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger Jacksonville 1940 1991–2006 — 2006–present G.H.W. Bush
22 Senior District Judge Henry Lee Adams, Jr. Jacksonville 1945 1993–2010 — 2010–present Clinton
23 Senior District Judge Susan C. Bucklew Tampa 1942 1993–2008 — 2008–present Clinton
24 Senior District Judge Richard A. Lazzara Tampa 1945 1997–2011 — 2011-present Clinton

Former judges

# Judge State Born/Died Active service Term as Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Simpson, John Milton BryanJohn Milton Bryan Simpson FL 1903–1987 1962–1966 1962–1966 (none) Truman, Truman appointment to 5th Cir.
2 Lieb, Joseph PatrickJoseph Patrick Lieb FL 1901–1971 1962–1971 1966–1971 (none) Eisenhower, Eisenhower death
3 McRae, WilliamWilliam McRae FL 1909–1973 1962–1973 1971–1973 (none) Kennedy, Kennedy death
5 Scott, Charles R.Charles R. Scott FL 1904–1983 1966–1976 (none) 1976–1983 L. Johnson, L. Johnson death
6 Krentzman, BenBen Krentzman FL 1914–1998 1967–1982 1981–1982 1982–1998 L. Johnson, L. Johnson death
7 Tjoflat, Gerald BardGerald Bard Tjoflat FL 1929– 1970–1975 (none) (none) Nixon, Nixon appointment to 5th Cir.
9 Reed, Jr., John A.John A. Reed, Jr. FL 1931– 1973–1984 (none) (none) Nixon, Nixon resignation
11 Carr, George C.George C. Carr FL 1929–1990 1977–1990 1989–1990 (none) Carter, Carter death
12 Black, Susan H.Susan H. Black FL 1943– 1979–1992 1990–1992 1982–1984 Carter, Carter appointment to 11th Cir.
18 Nimmons, Jr., Ralph WilsonRalph Wilson Nimmons, Jr. FL 1938–2003 1991–2003 (none) (none) G.W.H. Bush, G.W.H. Bush death

By seat

Reassignment from Southern District of Florida
William McRae 1962–1973
John A. Reed, Jr. 1973–1984
Patricia C. Fawsett 1986–2008
Mary Stenson Scriven 2008–present
Reassignment from Southern District of Florida
John Milton Bryan Simpson 1962–1966
Isaac Benjamin Krentzman, Jr. 1967–1982
G. Kendall Sharp 1983–2000
John Antoon II 2000–present
Reassignment from Southern District of Florida
Joseph Patrick Lieb 1962–1971
William Terrell Hodges 1971–1999
Reassignment from Southern District of Florida/Northern District of Florida
George C. Young 1962–1981
Elizabeth A. Kovachevich 1982–present
New seat created by 80 Stat. 75
Charles R. Scott 1966–1976
George C. Carr 1977–1990
Anne C. Conway 1991–present
New seat created by 84 Stat. 294
Gerald Bard Tjoflat 1970–1975
Howell W. Melton 1977–1991
Harvey E. Schlesinger 1991–2006
Marcia Morales Howard 2007–present
New seat created by 92 Stat. 1629
Susan H. Black 1979–1992
Henry Lee Adams, Jr. 1993–2010
Vacant Current
New seat created by 92 Stat. 1629
John H. Moore II 1981–1995
Richard A. Lazzara 1997–present
New seat created by 92 Stat. 1629
William J. Castagna 1979–1992
Susan C. Bucklew 1993–2008
Charlene Honeywell 2009–present
New seat created by 104 Stat. 5089
Ralph Wilson Nimmons, Jr. 1991–2003
Virginia M. Hernandez Covington 2004–present
New seat created by 104 Stat. 5089
Steven Douglas Merryday 1992–present
New seat created by 113 Stat. 1501
James D. Whittemore 2000–present
New seat created by 113 Stat. 1501
John E. Steele 2000–present
New seat created by 113 Stat. 1501
Gregory A. Presnell 2000–present
New seat created by 113 Stat. 1501
James S. Moody, Jr. 2000–present
New seat created by 113 Stat. 1501
Timothy J. Corrigan 2002–present

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 393.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. District Courts of Florida, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.

External links