Bar Associations Release Results of 2007 Judicial Evaluation

Members of the local bar association have, over the years, expressed the collective majority opinions that attorneys have a duty and responsibility both to the legal profession and to the public to be instrumental in evaluating sitting judges. To that end, the Sarasota County, Manatee County, and Venice-Englewood Bar Associations recently conducted the 2007 Judicial Evaluation. The process was developed over several years with input from lawyers, local judges and the media using qualification categories consistent with the standards adopted by the American Bar Association and many state bar associations for the judiciary.

The Evaluation was mailed to approximately 1,700 members of The Florida Bar practicing in the 12th Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto Counties. The Evaluation was voluntary and required the lawyers responding to have personal knowledge of the judge being evaluated. All 31 circuit and county judges and 8 magistrates and hearing officers were evaluated on a scale of one (unsatisfactory) through five (outstanding). Such categories included Legal Ability/Knowledge, Impartiality/Lack of Bias, and Decisiveness/Timely Decision Making.

Three hundred five responses were received.  According to Sarasota County Bar President, Morgan Bentley, “We are very pleased with the number of lawyers responding.  Only about 40% of the lawyers in the circuit have trial practices and, therefore, knowledge of the judges.  Another percentage is retired.  To get an almost 50% response rate from the active trial lawyers is noteworthy.”

The results are the accumulated opinions of lawyers responding in a particular category and do not reflect the opinions of the majority of lawyers in the 12th Judicial Circuit or the boards of directors of the Sarasota County, Manatee County and Venice-Englewood Bar Associations. To view the results of the 2007 Evaluation click here.

The bar associations do not analyze or interpret the results; however, questions as to the evaluation may be directed to SCBA President Morgan R. Bentley, mbentley@williamsparker.com