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Appellate Practice Section Chairs : DavidCostello – FLOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral & DimitriPeteves – Creed & Gowdy , P . A .
I worked as a criminal appellate Assistant Attorney General for twenty years . In March 2024 , I accepted a position in Central Staff at the Second District Court of Appeal . Here are just a few things I ’ ve learned about the court in my short time there .
The Court
The Second District Court of Appeal , established in 1956 in Lakeland , has historically been one of the busiest appellate courts in the country . Between 2000 and 2015 , the court fluctuated between 5,500 and 6,300 cases covering fourteen counties . With the formation of the Sixth District Court of Appeal on January 1 , 2023 , the court now covers the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit ( Hillsborough County ), the Sixth Judicial Circuit ( Pasco and Pinellas Counties ), and the Twelfth Judicial Circuit ( Manatee , Sarasota , and DeSoto Counties ). The Court has fifteen judges .
Collaboration The Second District Court of Appeal works well because the many moving parts that comprise the court , work together . Staff Attorneys , Judicial Assistants , the Clerk ’ s Office , Central Staff Attorneys , Support Staff , and the Marshall ’ s Office all play a part in the everyday operations of the court . All of these offices openly communicate with theseconddistrictCourtofappealhashistoricallybeen oneofthebusiestappellatecourtsinthecountry . Between2000and2015 , thecourtfluctuatedbetween 5,500and6,300casescoveringfourteencounties .
each other on a daily basis to efficiently run the court .
Consensus
Generally , each case is decided by a panel of three judges , at least two of whom must agree on how the case is resolved . Consensus does not mean that all the judges agree on every case . Consensus means trying to get to the right answer and making sure that the opinions that are published are clear , concise and conform to the rules . Each opinion is reviewed multiple times before it is published . Reviewers verify citations , local rules , and grammar for each opinion . This ensures that when a practitioner is reading a case after it is published there will be no confusion as to what it says .
Congeniality After being hired as a Central Staff Attorney , my first introduction to the court was during a monthly gathering . The Second District Court of Appeal holds a monthly court conference where the judges meet and take care of the business of the court . On that same day , after the judge ’ s conference , everyone at the court gathers for lunch or dessert . My first interaction with the court showed me that everyone that works there respects each other and treats each other like family .
Change
As mentioned , the counties the court served changed in January 2023 . The court started using a new case management system in April 2024 . We will be moving into our new permanent courthouse in St . Petersburg , the Bernie McCabe Courthouse , in 2025 . The court was recently temporarily displaced , from its current home at the Stetson Law School building in Tampa , due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton . But each of these changes has been met with the same collaboration , consensus and congeniality that is the standard for the Second District Court of Appeal . It is truly a great place to work . n
Author : Elba Caridad Martin – Second District Court of Appeal
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