M E E T
T H E
J U D G E S
by Lyndsey E. Siara – Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Meet the Judges: Judge Wesley Tibbals
“I am just one of many captains on the team.” — Judge Tibbals
I
He spoke fondly of his hometown
— Umatilla, Florida — and told stories
born of warm childhood memories.
Never heard of Umatilla? Me neither.
Located just north of Orlando on
Family. If there were only one
the edge of the Ocala National Forest,
take-away from my time with Judge
Umatilla was home to fewer than
Tibbals, it would be that family is
2,000 people through out Judge
his life’s epicenter. Most of our
Tibbals’ childhood. That number
conversation focused on family: his
has now blossomed to approximately
immediate family of five (his wife and
4,000 residents strong, but the small
three kids pictured below), his extended
hometown feel remains. In a town
family (his mother, father, brother, and
where “everybody knows everybody,”
grandparents), and tales of family life.
Judge Tibbals’ paternal grandfather
The point of these features is to get to
was the local pharmacist. His mother
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know our judiciary on a more personal
was a teacher before moving into
level — to uncover some interesting tidbits we might not
administration. She has since retired, but substitute
otherwise know about them. So I suppose I led him down
Continued on page 15
the family path by inquiring into his familial history.
;
n the fourth segment of this
recurring series on Thirteenth
Circuit judges, I introduce
Judge Wesley Tibbals.
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