S P E C I A L
F E A T U R E
by Mike Hooker - Phelps Dunbar LLP
W
Meet the Judge:
Judge barber Goes “off the record”
When it comes to professionalism, criminal is much more civil than civil.
e are pleased to
Q: Have you always wanted to be a
present an “off the
lawyer or is that something that
record” interview
occurred later in life?
with the Honorable
A: I was always interested in civics
Thomas P. Barber,
and government and politics and
who was confirmed as a District Judge
debate ... and not so interested in
on the Middle District of Florida on
math! So my interests kind of led me
June 12, 2019. The interview has been
in that direction.
edited slightly for clarity.
Q: Your background as a lawyer is
Q: Judge, I understand you were
somewhat unique. You started in
born in Pittsburgh. Can you tell us a
private practice at a large firm, then
little about your background and how
served as Assistant State Attorney for
you ended up in Florida?
the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and
A: My family moved to Florida
then worked as a Statewide Prosecutor
before I started school, so I grew up in
for a couple of years, finally returning
Hon. Judge Thomas P. Barber
South Florida, went to kindergarten
to the same commercial firm. What
through high school there ... and then
inspired you to seek out those changes
the University of Florida undergrad. I went to law school
during your career?
in Pennsylvania. I thought that going to law school in the
A: I always wanted to do some type of public service.
northeast would open up a lot of other doors, and I just
I talked to the JAG Corps about maybe going into the
kind of wanted to see what opportunities presented
military and then decided not to do that. I was at a point
themselves outside of Florida because I wasn’t sure what
where I had my student loans paid down, and I also
I wanted to do. But I got an offer from a Tampa law firm
Continued on page 21
and that’s why I ended up here.
20
JAN - FEB 2020
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HCBA LAWYER