Leon Jackson is a clerical support aide at the Duval County Courthouse.
WHAT DOES YOUR POSITION ENTAIL?
“I open all the mail that comes to the clerk’s office, sort it and deliver it to each department. I also deliver county civil files every morning to all the county civil judges.”
HOW HAS YOUR JOB CHANGED SINCE SEPT. 11?
“It’s scary. There’s the fear of opening mail that has anthrax. I have to wear rubber gloves. Before I just opened the mail without any thought.”
DO THE GLOVES REALLY HELP?
“No. They won’t help because you breathe it in. Masks wouldn’t work either because the spores would still be in the building. There’s no real safe way to do it. They’re looking into something that may kill the spores. It’s no big deal. It comes with the job.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
EDUCATION
Ribault High School and Florida Community College at Jacksonville.
TURNING IT AROUND
“I used to get in trouble all the time. That’s how I got this job. I used to be a real bad guy. I sold drugs and hung around people with guns. I was a juvenile delinquent. I credit Judge Robert F. Foster and my uncle [drug court police officer Adam Flucker] in getting this job for me because they saved my life. I would be dead by now the way I was going. I started seeing stuff differently; somebody gave me a chance. They talked to me a lot about life.”
GAINFULLY EMPLOYED
Jackson began working at the courthouse in the juvenile division, pulling files and filing pleadings before he transferred to the records facilities. Three years ago, he moved to a post in the mailroom.
WHAT’S REWARDING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
“I like everything about it. I just love the work and love the people. It’s a great place to work. People always ask why I’m smiling all the time. It’s because I love it. They don’t know where I came from.”
WHAT’S CHALLENGING ABOUT IT?
“Constantly moving. I never get to rest. We run over 45,000 pieces of mail a day.”
FAMILY MAN
Jackson resides on the Westside with his wife Stacey and their three preteen children, Leon II, Ciara and Tierra.
OUTSIDE OF KEEPING UP WITH YOUR CHILDREN, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?
“Ride my motorcycle and work out. I like shoot-em-ups like ‘Scarface.’ Al Pacino is my favorite actor. I also like reading about how to make your money grow. I’m going to start my own company, J. Solo Properties, in three or four years.” His real estate venture will involve acquiring properties to rent or sell. Other favorites include Italian food, traveling to Orlando or watching “Married with Children.”
EVER BUMPED INTO A CELEBRITY?
Through a friend, who is the niece of Ray Charles, Jackson got to meet the musical legend. “We sat down and talked and I took some pictures.” Jackson also had the opportunity to meet actor Omar Epps when they were filming “First Time Felon” at the courthouse. Jackson played an extra in the movie; he was one of the prisoners getting off of the bus.
WHO’S YOUR HERO?
“Rapper Ice Cube because he comes from the same background I come from. He’s trying to become a self-made millionaire and that’s my goal. I’m working on it.”
— by Monica Chamness