Seven months after winning 62 percent of the vote in the August elections and a seat as a 4th Circuit Court judge, Bruce Anderson Jr. officially became Judge Bruce Anderson Jr. on Thursday afternoon at his invesiture in the Ceremonial Courtroom at the Duval County Courthouse.
Longtime friends Judge Mark Borello, Jacksonville lawyer Butch Berry and law partners Angelo Patacca and Wayne Hogan of Terrell Hogan told the packed courtroom of Anderson’s journey to the bench.
Alternating between laugh-out-loud and serious anecdotes, they painted a picture of a boy who grew up in a Mayport trailer park where he learned humility and hard work and who used those traits and determination to become a prosecutor and trial attorney of high-risk lawsuits.
“Bruce Anderson will never, ever be anything but humble,” said Berry. Patacca and Hogan praised his unrelenting commitment to his clients, with Hogan noting: “Bruce Anderson will be a judge everyone can count on.”
As Anderson addressed the audience, his voice wavered twice as he became overcome with emotion. “For the past couple months, I’ve dreaded this day. I don’t want to be the focus. But actually, it’s my opportunity to thank you.”