Benchmarks THE FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

WELCOMES NEW CIRCUIT JUDGES

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Naturalization Ceremonies......2

Law Day Events .......................3

Teaching Judge of the Year .....4

Recent Retirements .................5

Mediation Training ..................6

Christmas Luncheon................6

November 1, 2017 Volume 3, Issue 2

Our Mission: Protect Rights and Liberties, Uphold and Interpret Law, and

Provide for the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes

The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit has welcomed two new Circuit Judges to the Bench in recent

months. Both new Circuit Judges, Judge Ana Maria Garcia and Judge James Jefferson

Goodman, Jr., were appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to fill vacancies left by the

retirements of William L. Wright and Hentz McClellan.

Circuit Judge Ana Garcia is a 2002 graduate of the University of

Florida College of Law. She previously practiced in the areas of

construction litigation with the firm of Moye, O’Brien, Pickert &

Martin, LLP and criminal law with the Office of State Attorney

for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. At the time of her

appointment she was the Chief Assistant State Attorney in

Jackson County for State Attorney Glen Hess.

On May 12, 2017, an Investiture Ceremony was held at the

Jackson County Courthouse. Judge Garcia was born in Cali,

Columbia. She and her family came to the United States when she

was five years old. She became a naturalized citizen while in high school. She and her husband

have three children and reside in Jackson County. Her current assignment is in Bay County

covering 25% of Bay Domestic Relations Cases, Bay Contested and Non Title IV-D Child

Support Cases, 100% Bay Shelter Hearings, and Bay County Dependency, Truancy and Infant

Court proceedings.

Circuit Judge Jeff Goodman is a graduate of Florida State

College of Law. He began his legal career with Balch &

Bingham, LLP. He also worked for the Denver Broncos

organization as the team’s Assistant General Manager. At the

time of his appointment he was operating his own private

practice based in Washington County where he represented

numerous governmental entities, including Washington

County, Holmes County, Washington County School District,

Holmes County School District and Chipola College. He also

served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Office of State

Attorney for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

An Investiture Ceremony was held for Judge Goodman on September 8, 2017 at the Washington

County Courthouse. He, his wife, and three children reside in Holmes County. His current

assignment covers 100% of Circuit proceedings in Gulf County as well as 25% of all Bay County

Domestic Relations cases.

To get to this point, candidates have submitted an Application for

Naturalization; the application has been approved; and they have also passed

their U.S. Citizenship interview. Then they must recite the oath that will allow

them to become a fully naturalized U.S. Citizen, making these ceremonies a

truly momentous occasion. Once the Oath of Allegiance has been taken,

candidates receive a Certificate of Naturalization that they can use to apply for a

U.S. passport, register to vote in national, state, and local elections, and update

their social security records.

During the ceremony following the Oath of Allegiance, the Pledge of Allegiance

is performed, the National Anthem is sung, and a small U.S. flag is presented to

each of the newly naturalized U.S. Citizens along with two large flags that are

given out – one to the youngest and one to the oldest of the newly naturalized

citizens. Guest speakers also take turns speaking to and encouraging the new

U.S. Citizens. Past ceremonies have enjoyed guest speakers such as

Congressman Neal Dunn and Representative Jay Trumbull.

The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of

the world. During the last decade, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

(USCIS) welcomed more than 6.6 million naturalized citizens into the fabric of

our nation. Each year, USCIS welcomes approximately 680,000 citizens during

naturalization ceremonies across the United States and around the world.

To learn more about the naturalization process, naturalization statistics, or to

read the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance, please visit the USCIS website at

www.uscis.gov.

NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES HOSTED BY

THE BAY COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Each month since May, 2017 the Bay County Courthouse has hosted the

naturalization ceremonies held by the United States District Court for the

Northern District of Florida. These ceremonies are the process by which U.S.

citizenship is conferred upon a foreign citizen after he or she fulfills the

requirements established by Congress.

The ceremonies are presided over by The Honorable Elizabeth M. Timothy,

Chief United States Magistrate Judge (pictured left with Chief Judge Elijah

Smiley). The ceremonies are held in the County Courtroom of the Bay County

Courthouse and typically last for one hour. The ceremonies are open to the

public, and friends and family of the candidates are invited into the courtroom

to witness the candidates swear the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of

America. Until the Oath of Allegiance is recited at a naturalization ceremony,

candidates are not yet a naturalized U.S. citizen.

NATURALIZATION

QUICK FACTS

In FY 2013, 75 percent of all

persons naturalizing resided in 10

states (in descending order):

California, New York, Florida,

Texas, New Jersey, Illinois,

Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia

and Pennsylvania.

In FY 2013, the top countries of

origin for naturalization were in the

following order: Mexico, India, the

Philippines, Dominican Republic,

and China.

Since Oct. 1, 2002, USCIS has

naturalized 102,266 members of the

military, with 11,548 of those

service members becoming citizens

during USCIS naturalization

ceremonies in 34 foreign countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Australia,

Bahrain, China (Hong Kong), Cuba

(Guantanamo), Djibouti , El

Salvador, Georgia, Germany,

Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland,

Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,

Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait,

Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Mexico, the

Philippines, Qatar, South Korea,

Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United

Arab Emirates and the United

Kingdom.

“Until the Oath of Allegiance is recited at a naturalization ceremony, candidates are not yet a naturalized U.S. Citizen… making these

ceremonies a truly momentous occasion.”

2

LAW DAY EVENTS IN THE CIRCUIT HISTORY OF LAW DAY

Law Day is a national day to

celebrate the rule of law and

its contributions to the

freedoms Americans enjoy.

On February 3, 1958,

President Dwight D.

Eisenhower established Law

Day by issuing a

P r o c l a m a t i o n . E v e r y

President since then has

issued an annual Law Day

Proclamation. The annual

Proclamation reads in part:

"is a special day of

celebration by the people of

the United States … in

appreciation of their

l i b e r t i e s a n d t h e

reaffirmation of their

loyalty to the United States

and of their rededication to

the ideals of equality and

justice under law in their

relations with each other

and with other countries; …

for the cultivation of the

respect for law that is so

vital to the democratic way

of life ... inviting the people

of the United States to

observe Law Day, U.S.A.,

w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e

ceremonies and in other

appropriate ways, through

public entities and private

organizations and in

schools and other suitable

places."

On April 7, 1961, Congress

passed a Joint Resolution,

Pub. L. 87-20, 75 Stat. 43,

designating May 1 as Law

Day, U.S.A.

Source Library of Congress

3

The Fourteenth Circuit hosted Law Day Celebration Events on May 4, 2017 in

Bay County. The program was held in one of the new courtrooms located in

the Circuit Annex of the main courthouse in Panama City.

The Circuit was honored to have Florida Supreme Court Justice C. Alan

Lawson participating in the program.

The Circuit’s Larry G. Smith Professionalism Award was presented to this

year’s recipient, Attorney Todd C. Brister. This award is presented by the

Courts of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and was established to honor those

in the legal community who exemplify and advance professionalism in their

field.

The program also recognized Senior Judge Thomas Ellinor for his many years

of service to the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit—first as a Bay County Judge and

in more recent years as a Senior Judge for the Circuit.

This annual event was well attending by both the Judiciary, members of the

local legal community, and staff.

Chief Judge Smiley, Todd C. Brister,

Justice Lawson, and Circuit Judge

Overstreet.

Gulf County Judge McFarland (seated),

Chief Judge Smiley, Justice Lawson,

Circuit Judge Overstreet.

Gulf County Judge McFarland (seated),

Chief Judge Smiley, Senior Judge Ellinor,

Bay County Judge Campbell and Bay

County Judge Grammer. View of the crowd attending the Law Day

Event.

WANT TO KNOW

MORE?

Are you interested in

finding out more about

Florida’s Justice

Teaching Program?

Would you like to

volunteer?

Do you know a school

that could benefit from

this program?

If so, please visit

www.justiceteaching.org

Today!

PATTERSON RECEIVES 2017 JUSTICE TEACHING

SELECT COMMITTEE AWARD

4

Judge Christopher N. Patterson was among three

honored at the Justice Teaching Awards on June 22,

2017 at the Florida Bar’s Annual Convention and was

presented his award by Florida Supreme Court

Justice R. Fred Lewis.

The awards honor a teacher, a volunteer, and a judge

for their dedication in teaching Florida students

about their government and the courts.

Justice Teaching is an effort that was initiated in

2006 by then Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice,

R. Fred Lewis.

Frequently, state and national surveys suggest that Americans in general know

little about the operation of the American justice system and they do not

understand the basic principles underlying our constitutional institutions and

structures. Chief Justice Lewis sought to further law-related education in the state

of Florida through the Justice Teaching effort by pairing a legal professional with

every elementary, middle, and high school in the state of Florida.

The program aims to benefit students by promoting an

understanding of Florida's justice system and our laws,

developing critical thinking abilities, problem solving

skills, and demonstrating the effective interaction of

our courts within the constitutional structure.

Judge Patterson has volunteered his time to civics

education since he became a member of The Florida

Bar in 1985. First as an attorney, Judge Paterson was an

active volunteer instrumental in the Bay County Teen

Court and in helping with the Washington County Teen

Court. As a judge, he has volunteered his time to train attorneys in the Justice

Teaching program and has presided as a courtroom judge and assisted with mock

trials. Most recently Judge Patterson was assigned to Roulhac Middle School, in

Chipley, Florida, and is active with the youth there.

For a more in depth discussion of the Justice Teaching Initiative, Judge Patterson

spoke about the program with Real Florida Magazine back in April 2015. The

interview can be viewed on YouTube and highlights the way the program works,

the need for volunteers, and the successes of the program. The title of the interview

is “Circuit Judge Chris Patterson Discusses Florida's 'Justice Teaching Initiative”.

Congratulations to Judge Patterson and thank you for all you do for our

educational (and judicial) system!

5

FOND FAREWELLS, RECENT RETIREMENTS

The Honorable Hentz McClellan retired from the bench on June 30, 2017. Most recently serving the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit as a Circuit Judge in Bay County, he had also served as Chief Judge from July 2007 to June 2015. He is a 1968 graduate of Blountstown High School and earned his law degree in 1976 from Florida State University and began practicing law, sharing an office with Phillip Knight in Blountstown. In 1981 , he joined with Frank Baker and David House and became a part-time Assistant State Attorney handling felony criminal and juvenile cases in Calhoun County in 1987. Following high school, McClellan served a tour of duty in Vietnam before returning home to finalize his education. After two decades in private practice, McClellan was named Circuit Judge in 2002 when he ran unopposed. He then presided over cases in all six counties in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. In 2007, Judge McClellan was elected Chief Judge, becoming the first resident judge of Calhoun County to be elected to this position. He married his wife Barbara in 1974 and they have three daughters, Angie, Missy, and Laurie. Nearing his retirement date

Judge McClellan stated that he was looking forward to spending time with family, friends, and especially his grandkids. Judge McClellan’s Judicial Assistant, Mira Phillips, stated of Judge McClellan “He truly stood for all that is right about the judiciary. We wish him all the very best in his retirement.”

Diane Wright retired on August 31, 2017 after serving nearly 25 years in the legal field. Diane

most recently served as Judicial Assistant to Bay County Judge Campbell, starting in 2009.

However, she also worked for Judge Campbell as his legal assistant from 2005-2008 during his

time in private practice.

Denise Hendrix, also retired on August 31, 2017 after many years in the legal field. Denise

worked for Judge Sirmons as his Judicial Assistant until his retirement in late 2010, then

continued as Judge Patterson’s Judicial Assistant after he was elected in May 2010 and was

officially sworn in to office in January 2011.

Myra Paxton, County Judges’ Receptionist in Bay County, retired on May 18, 2017. She worked

with the Bay County Judges and Judicial Assistants beginning in 1997. Their offices all agreed

that Myra “always had a smile, and something funny to say. She made our workplace a pleasant

place to spend the day.” We wish her the very best and a happy retirement.

Sue Ann Murray, Mediation Services Coordinator for the Circuit ADR Program, retired on May 31, 2017. Sue Ann began her work as a Mediation Services Coordinator in January of 2005. Prior to this she worked as a school administrator, a volunteer civil mediator, and worked in the Guardian Ad Litem Program. Carol Dunaway, ADR Director, added that “Sue Ann was a dedicated employee who believed and supported the mediation process. Her expertise will be greatly missed.”

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DEPENDENCY

MEDIATION TRAINING The Fourteenth Circuit

was honored to host a 40

h o u r t r a i n i n g f o r

participants to become

certified to conduct

dependency mediations.

There is only one certified

provider for this training

in the state—Dr. Gregory

Firestone. He traveled

from Tampa to provide the course, which took place from May 4th-8th, 2017. Instruction

was held in the Judicial Conference Room of the Bay County Courthouse Annex.

Participants included attorneys, mental health providers, and other master’s level

professionals. Topics included everything from the court process to infant mental health.

Local attorneys with the Guardian ad Litem program and Children’s Legal Services, as

well as representatives from Big Bend Community Based Care were present and spoke to

the group. Each participant was given the opportunity to participate in a role-play where

they served as the mediator and then were given feedback from a certified mediator.

Fifteen individuals completed the course (with only 5 from outside the local area) and

immediately began the mentorship process. Currently three participants have become

certified, one is waiting certification, and six are still in the mentoring phase.

A special thanks goes out to Dr. Firestone, Chief Judge Smiley, Robyn Gable, Carol

Dunaway, Gary Hagan, Michael Bonnin, Kendyl Sparkman and Big Bend Community

Based Care for all they contributed to make this a successful event.

News Letter Committee

Amber Baggett

Sarah Pearce

If you have any information

you would like to have

included in the next issue of

Benchmarks, please contact

Amber Baggett at

baggetta@jud14.flcourts.org

Friday, December 1, 2017

11:30-1:30PM

At the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club

218 Bunkers Cove Road

Panama City

Please RSVP by November 15th to

Amber Baggett, baggetta@jud14.flcourts.org

Or call (850)482-9844

Please inform Amber of your entrée choice

The Judges of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit cordially invite you

to the Annual Christmas Luncheon

Entrée Options:

Grilled Salmon with

Key Lime Beurre

Blanc

Crab Cakes with

Remoulade Sauce

Lemon Tarragon

Chicken

Vegetable Stir Fry

with Rice Noodles