S P E C I A L F E A T U R E b y : L y n d s e y E . S i a r a – T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t
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rights , tax litigation , bankruptcy , and other government enforce - ment matters for 15 years . He always hoped to return to government service , but thought his opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a judge had passed . To his surprise , an opportunity materialized in 2017 with two circuit judge vacancies . In a frank moment , he revealed that he feared he had “ waited too long ,” but at the urging of family and close friends , took a leap of faith and threw his name in the hat . Then-Governor Rick Scott appointed him to the Circuit Bench on June 5 , 2017 .
Looking back , he was reassured by the investments of time he had made over the years . “ It doesn ’ t matter what you do , as long as you invest yourself in what you choose ; pour yourself into it ,” he advises . Judge Farfante participates in a men ’ s group at Christ the King Church and volunteers with Seniors in Service . While his three children were young , he primarily poured himself into activities involving them — such as “ coaching ” youth sports ( comically , he found this term a bit generous ) and leading a Cub Scout pack .
Now that his children are almost grown — his youngest a high school junior — he describes his time outside the courthouse as “ slow-paced .” Doubting this , I dug deeper to
Judge Farfante with his family .
uncover that Judge Farfante has been an avid runner for more than 15 years , though he insists on describing himself as a jogger . On his bucket list is to complete a 100-mile race — an Ultra — during his 50th year . His goal is simply to finish before the orange cone truck sweeps him up . Judge Farfante participates in a long trail race with a friend every year ; his most memorable race was in Cloudland Canyon State Park in northern Georgia in nine degree weather at the starting line with three to four inches of snow on the ground . Equally awe-inspiring was his 50-mile race through the Everglades , accessing
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2 8 M A Y - J U N E 2 0 2 1 | H C B A L A W Y E R