Age: 46
Family: Wife, Kate Gordon
Pets: Two Gordon setters (Hunter and Fyvie) and one West Highland white terrier (Torin)
Education: B.A., University of Florida, 1990, and J.D., University of Louisville, 1996
Admitted to the Bar: Florida and Kentucky, 1997
Employed: Office of the Public Defender, 4th Judicial Circuit
Field of practice: Criminal law, problem-solving courts (Veterans Court, Adult Drug Court, Juvenile Drug Court, Mental Health Court) in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties
Professional organizations: The Florida Bar, the Kentucky Bar, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and Florida Association of Drug Court Professionals
Community involvement: Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival and Magnolia Setter Rescue
How did you become involved?
I was always interested in my Scottish heritage and when I learned that a Scottish Games had started locally, I joined as soon as I moved back to Jacksonville after completing law school. Given that I had a Scottish dog, a Gordon Setter, I was able to get the Scottish dog breed area added to the games, making us the only games south of Virginia to have a Scottish Dog area. Soon after the dogs, and a move to the Clay County Fairgrounds, came Highland cows, Clydesdale horses, Shetland ponies and Scottish Fold cats.
How can someone else become involved?
They can either contact us through the website, neflgames.com, or come to the planning meetings held at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Golden Corral on San Jose Boulevard.
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
As the president of the games for four years, I learned how to get people to work together even when their personalities clash. This experience has served me well in working with the non-adversarial, multi-disciplinary problem solving courts.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand