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United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

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(Redirected from Middle District of Florida) United States federal district court in Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
(M.D. Fla.)
LocationOrlandoMore locations
Appeals toEleventh Circuit
EstablishedJuly 30, 1962
Judges15
Chief JudgeMarcia Morales Howard
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyRoger B. Handberg
U.S. MarshalWilliam B. Berger Sr.
www.flmd.uscourts.gov
Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, Tampa

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (in case citations, M.D. Fla.) is a federal court in 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).

The District was established on July 30, 1962, with parts of the Northern and Southern Districts transferring into the newly created Middle District.

As of December 2021 the United States attorney for the District is Roger B. Handberg.

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida is one of three federal judicial districts in Florida. Court for the District is held at Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Tampa.

Fort Myers Division comprises the following counties: Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee.

Jacksonville Division comprises the following counties: Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union.

Ocala Division comprises the following counties: Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter.

Orlando Division comprises the following counties: Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia.

Tampa Division comprises the following counties: Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota.

Current judges

As of November 2, 2024:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
32 Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard Jacksonville 1965 2007–present 2024–present G.W. Bush
21 District Judge Steven Douglas Merryday Tampa 1950 1992–present 2015–2020 G.H.W. Bush
33 District Judge Mary Stenson Scriven Tampa 1962 2008–present G.W. Bush
36 District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell Ft. Myers 1962 2013–present Obama
38 District Judge Paul G. Byron Orlando 1959 2014–present Obama
39 District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza Orlando 1970 2014–present Obama
40 District Judge William F. Jung Tampa 1958 2018–present Trump
41 District Judge Thomas P. Barber Tampa 1966 2019–present Trump
42 District Judge Wendy Berger Jacksonville 1968 2019–present Trump
43 District Judge John Badalamenti Ft. Myers 1973 2020–present Trump
44 District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle Tampa 1987 2020–present Trump
45 District Judge Julie S. Sneed Orlando 1969 2024–present Biden
46 District Judge vacant
47 District Judge vacant
48 District Judge vacant
15 Senior Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich Tampa 1936 1982–2018 1996–2002 2018–present Reagan
17 Senior Judge Patricia C. Fawsett Orlando 1943 1986–2008 2003–2008 2008–present Reagan
19 Senior Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger Jacksonville 1940 1991–2006 2006–present G.H.W. Bush
20 Senior Judge Anne C. Conway Orlando 1950 1991–2015 2008–2015 2015–present G.H.W. Bush
22 Senior Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. Jacksonville 1945 1993–2010 2010–present Clinton
23 Senior Judge Susan C. Bucklew Tampa 1942 1993–2008 2008–present Clinton
24 Senior Judge Richard A. Lazzara Tampa 1945 1997–2011 2011–present Clinton
25 Senior Judge James D. Whittemore Tampa 1952 2000–2017 2017–present Clinton
26 Senior Judge John Antoon Orlando 1946 2000–2013 2013–present Clinton
27 Senior Judge John E. Steele Ft. Myers 1949 2000–2015 2015–present Clinton
28 Senior Judge James S. Moody Jr. Tampa 1947 2000–2014 2014–present Clinton
29 Senior Judge Gregory A. Presnell Orlando 1942 2000–2012 2012–present Clinton
30 Senior Judge Timothy J. Corrigan Jacksonville 1956 2002–2024 2020–2024 2024–present G.W. Bush
31 Senior Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington Tampa 1955 2004–2020 2020–present G.W. Bush
34 Senior Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell Tampa 1957 2009–2023 2023–present Obama
35 Senior Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. Orlando 1952 2011–2022 2022–present Obama
37 Senior Judge Brian J. Davis Jacksonville 1953 2013–2023 2023–present Obama


Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
8 Tampa Charlene Edwards Honeywell Senior status December 4, 2023
9 Jacksonville Brian J. Davis December 30, 2023
15 Timothy J. Corrigan November 2, 2024

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John Milton Bryan Simpson FL 1903–1987 1962–1966 1962–1966 Truman/Operation of law elevation to 5th Cir.
2 Joseph Patrick Lieb FL 1901–1971 1962–1971 1966–1971 Eisenhower/Operation of law death
3 William McRae FL 1909–1973 1962–1973 1971–1973 Kennedy/Operation of law death
4 George C. Young FL 1916–2015 1962–1981 1973–1981 1981–2015 Kennedy/Operation of law death
5 Charles R. Scott FL 1904–1983 1966–1976 1976–1983 L. Johnson death
6 Ben Krentzman FL 1914–1998 1967–1982 1981–1982 1982–1998 L. Johnson death
7 Gerald Bard Tjoflat FL 1929–present 1970–1975 Nixon elevation to 5th Cir.
8 William Terrell Hodges FL 1934–2022 1971–1999 1982–1989 1999–2022 Nixon death
9 John A. Reed Jr. FL 1931–2015 1973–1984 Nixon resignation
10 Howell W. Melton FL 1923–2015 1977–1991 1991–2015 Carter death
11 George C. Carr FL 1929–1990 1977–1990 1989–1990 Carter death
12 Susan H. Black FL 1943–present 1979–1992 1990–1992 Carter elevation to 11th Cir.
13 William J. Castagna FL 1924–2020 1979–1992 1992–2020 Carter death
14 John H. Moore II FL 1929–2013 1981–1995 1992–1995 1995–2013 Reagan death
16 G. Kendall Sharp FL 1934–2022 1983–2000 2000–2022 Reagan death
18 Ralph Wilson Nimmons Jr. FL 1938–2003 1991–2003 G.H.W. Bush death
  1. ^ Reassigned from the Southern District of Florida.
  2. From 1962-1966, Judge Young was jointly appointed to the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

Seat 1
Reassigned from Southern District on July 30, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247
Simpson 1962–1966
Krentzman, Jr. 1967–1982
Sharp 1983–2000
Antoon II 2000–2013
Mendoza 2014–present
Seat 2
Reassigned from Southern District on July 30, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247
Lieb 1962–1971
Hodges 1971–1999
Whittemore 2000–2017
Barber 2019–present
Seat 3
Reassigned from Southern District on July 30, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247
McRae, Jr. 1962–1973
Reed, Jr. 1973–1984
Fawsett 1986–2008
Scriven 2008–present
Seat 4
Seat assigned on July 30, 1962 by 76 Stat. 247 (concurrent with Northern and Southern Districts)
Seat reassigned solely to Middle District on September 17, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Young 1962–1981
Kovachevich 1982–2018
Badalamenti 2020–present

Seat 5
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Scott 1966–1976
Carr 1977–1990
Conway 1991–2015
Jung 2018–present
Seat 6
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Tjoflat 1970–1975
Melton, Sr. 1977–1991
Schlesinger 1991–2006
Howard 2007–present
Seat 7
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Black 1979–1992
Adams, Jr. 1993–2010
Dalton, Jr. 2011–2022
Sneed 2024–present
Seat 8
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Castagna 1979–1992
Bucklew 1993–2008
Honeywell 2009–2023
vacant 2023–present
Seat 9
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Moore II 1981–1995
Lazzara 1997–2011
Davis 2013–2023
vacant 2023–present

Seat 10
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Nimmons, Jr. 1991–2003
Covington 2004–2020
Mizelle 2020–present
Seat 11
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Merryday 1992–present
Seat 12
Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501
Steele 2000–2015
Berger 2019–present

Seat 13
Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501
Moody, Jr. 2000–2014
Byron 2014–present
Seat 14
Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501
Presnell 2000–2012
Chappell 2013–present
Seat 15
Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501
Corrigan 2002–2024
vacant 2024–present

Courthouse history

Historic Federal Courthouse in Tampa

Completed in 1908 by architect John Knox Taylor, the historic Federal courthouse in Tampa stands as the only civic building constructed in the eclectic renaissance style. Initially serving as a U.S. Post Office, the courthouse moved two blocks down to its current location in 1998. Congress named the court in honor of long-time Tampa representative and University of Florida Law alumnus Sam Gibbons; the congressman is largely recognized as the founder of the University of South Florida.

U.S. Attorneys

Federal Defenders

  • Robert W. Knight (1977-1983) (office established)
  • H. Jay Stevens (1983-1999)
  • R. Fletcher Peacock (1999-2007)
  • Donna Lee Elm (2007-2021)
  • Alec F. Hall (2021-Present)

See also

References

  1. "History of the Federal Judiciary - Federal Judicial Center". Fjc.gov. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  2. "Meet the U.S. Attorney". January 3, 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022.
  3. 28 U.S.C. § 89
  4. "National Registry". Npgallery.nps.gov. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  5. Wade-Bahr, Linda H. "Official Site of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida". Flmd.uscourts.gov. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  6. "Public Law 104-230" (PDF). Gpo.gov. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  7. "Donna Bucella | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  8. "The United States Department of Justice – United States Attorney's Office". 2008-04-08. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  9. "Lawyer goes full circle: From defense to prosecution and back again". Florida Trend. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  10. "U.S. Attorneys Listing | USAO | Department of Justice". 2017-11-15. Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-07.

External links

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NoteAmerican Samoa does not have a district court or federal territorial court; federal matters there go to the District of Columbia, Hawaii, or its own Supreme Court.

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