Chief U.S. District Judge in the Middle District of Florida Timothy Corrigan delivered his first State of the District address Jan. 22 via Zoom to members of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Corrigan, who was appointed chief judge for the district on Nov. 2, said the federal court in Jacksonville continues to adapt to doing its business under the protocols required since March by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal judicial system, like everything else, had to adopt remote procedures overnight.
“I’m impressed with the way the lawyers have adapted to this new reality. I want to compliment the lawyers on the good work they’ve done to keep pushing the boulder uphill,” Corrigan said.
Plastic barriers are in place at person-to-person contact points. Everyone who enters the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse Downtown must wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Jury trials were restored on a limited basis in the courthouse for a few months, but the recent local spike in COVID-19 forced that to end, along with in-person proceedings. A few criminal jury trials might be scheduled in February, but only if the local coronavirus positive test level declines, Corrigan said.
The Middle District of Florida, which stretches from the Georgia border at Fernandina to almost to the Everglades, “has more judicial work to do than we have judges to do it,” Corrigan said.
Congress hasn’t appropriated money for more judges in the budget for more 20 years, he said. Corrigan was the last district judge appointed to the Middle District, in 2002.
“In that time, the workload has increased more than 31%,” Corrigan said.
“One of my goals as chief is to try to get at least one more district judgeship.”
There will be a vacancy on the federal bench in Jacksonville when U.S. Magistrate Judge James Klindt retires Oct. 31 after serving on the federal bench in Jacksonville since 2007.
After graduating from Florida State University College of Law in 1986, Klindt was a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Howell Melton and then became an assistant U.S. attorney in 1988.
He was first assistant U.S. attorney to U.S. Attorney Paul Perez from 2002 until 2007 when he became acting U.S. attorney before being appointed to the bench.
“He has served with great diligence, professionalism and class. The court is in his debt,” Corrigan said.
In conclusion, the chief judge said the court is in the customer service business.
“We exist to serve litigants, the Bar, and more generally, the 12.5 million residents of the district. As chief judge, I will try to make sure that we always remember that. I look forward to continuing to work with you as we advance the cause of justice,” Corrigan said.