When attorney Eric Roberson accompanied his wife to her doctor’s appointment May 8, he knew he’d remember it as one of the happiest moments of his life.
While he and his wife, Helen, were viewing the sonogram image of their 18-week-old son — counting 10 fingers and 10 toes, he said — Roberson’s cellphone vibrated and displayed “unknown number.”
The call was from Gov. Rick Scott, notifying Roberson he was appointed Duval County judge, filling the vacancy created when Judge Angela Cox was named a circuit judge.
“That morning turned out to be two of the happiest moments of my life,” said Roberson.
He discovered the law after enrolling at the University of North Florida intending to earn a degree in criminal psychology.
One of his instructors suggested Roberson might enjoy some related study and after a taste of moot court competition, he set his sights on the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida.
A solo practitioner since 2014, Roberson began his legal career in 2005 as an assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Two years later, he entered private practice at McGuireWoods and then practiced at Jason Porter P.A. from 2011-14.
Roberson, 35, said his experience as a prosecutor combined with private practice should serve him well as he transitions to the bench.
“I’ve had experience in every kind of case I’ll hear in county court,” he said. “But it will be from a different vantage point.”
While the story began with two of the happiest moments of Roberson’s life, the call from the governor set up two big challenges.
The first is to “wind down” his practice at Roberson Law, he said.
“Being a solo practitioner, I have to find new homes for everything,” Roberson said.
The next big step will come after he puts on the robe and grasps the gavel.
“I’ll be taking off the advocate’s hat and putting on the neutral arbiter’s hat,” he said.
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