HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 29, No. 5 | Page 16

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 .%'?09 $9?&,$ 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. 6 >= ? / ? - ) * < ? : 5 ; 2 +??.38>?7>0=<1