It will be permanently displayed in the lobby at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse.
The legal career and community contributions of Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan were honored Feb. 21 at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse.
Witnessed by Corrigan’s fellow judges, attorneys, family and friends, the ceremony concluded with the unveiling of his official judicial portrait that will be permanently displayed in the lobby at the courthouse.
The ceremony began with the national anthem performed by the marching band from Bishop Kenny High School, Corrigan’s alma mater.
The band also performed the Notre Dame Victory March in honor of his undergraduate alma mater.
After graduating from Duke University Law School in 1981, Corrigan was a law clerk for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat and then went into private practice at the Bedell Firm.
He was selected as U.S. magistrate judge in 1996 and was appointed U.S. district judge in 2002.
Corrigan became chief judge of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, in 2020 and remained in that office until November 2024 when he passed the gavel to Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard.
She cited Corrigan’s dedication to pro bono legal service as a defining aspect of his career.
“Both as a young lawyer and as a judge, Tim Corrigan has understood that from one to whom much is given, much is expected. And he’s never shied away from that expectation as demonstrated by his commitment to pro bono service. He’s fond of telling the story of receiving a box of homemade chocolate chip cookies from an elderly woman for whom he provided pro bono assistance. And to this day he says it was the best fee he ever received,” Howard said.
A colleague on the federal bench since 2007, Howard cited her long association with Corrigan as one of her mentors.
“The issues that come across a chief judge’s desk are never-ending. Many of them are visible to the bench and the Bar, but most are not. And the ones that are not visible are often the most complex and challenging. Judge Corrigan addressed all of those difficult and delicate matters with thoughtful judgment, compassion, patience and a firm commitment to the administration of justice.
“Your career stands as a testament to the profound impact that one hardworking person can have on the pursuit of justice. Thank you for your years of selfless service, tireless dedication to the court and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law,” Howard said.
Before unveiling his portrait with his wife, Nancy, and artist Pablo Rivera, Corrigan recalled something he learned from one of his colleagues on the bench.
“The late William Terrell Hodges used to say that being a federal judge was the greatest job in the world. Well, I suppose that’s debatable, but I know for sure it has been the surpassing honor of my life to serve my country in this way. I look forward to continuing as a senior judge in the years to come,” Corrigan said.