by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The Fourth Judicial Circuit’s Judicial Nominating Commission will interview Monday 10 lawyers interested in becoming Duval County’s next judge.
The nine-person commission will recommend the best candidates to Gov. Jeb Bush, who will make the final decision. Typically, 3-6 names are forwarded to Bush. Interviews will begin at 9 a.m. in Chief Judge Donald Moran’s chambers at the Duval County Courthouse, room 220.
This is the third time in a year the Fourth Circuit’s JNC has convened. The JNC earlier recommended County Judge Angela Dixon and Circuit Court Judge Mallory Cooper for their posts.
The following are candidates for Duval County’s judicial vacancy:
Kevin Blazs
Born: March, 26 1960 in Jacksonville.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: Oct. 21, 1986.
Area of Practice: Partner in the firm of Gobelman, Love, Gavin, Blazs and Wasilenko. Practice focuses on personal injury and employment law defense. Also does plaintiff work in civil litigation and represents claimants in workers compensation cases.
College: Received law degree in 1986 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich.
Misc.: Says well-rounded career has given him experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation. Also has litigated criminal cases in state and military courts, representing the government as well as defendants.
Mark Borello
Born: Dec. 12, 1962 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: Oct. 9, 1987.
Area of Practice: Assistant State Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit, State of Florida. Currently serving as director in the State Attorney’s Office, overseeing the Repeat Offender Courts and the Traffic Homicide Division. Borello also chairs the Hiring Committee.
College: Received law degree in 1987 from Florida State University College of Law.
Misc.: SAO experience makes him “intimately familiar” with County Court procedures. Administrative experience as director provides an ability to manage heavy case loads, “an overlooked skill” that a County Court judge needs, according to his application.
Frederic Buttner, III
Born: July 31, 1968 in Jacksonville.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: Sept. 27, 1995.
Area of Practice: Partner at Hamilton and Buttner, PA. Practice focuses on commercial and residential transactions.
College: Received law degree in 1995 from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law.
Misc.: Has experience in delinquent and criminal trials. Also has prepared and researched civil cases for plaintiffs and defendants. Well versed in real estate law, contract disputes and probate.
Susan Cohen
Born: October 29, 1955 in Gainesville, Fla.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: Nov. 20, 1985.
Area of Practice: Associate at Epstein & Robbins, a criminal defense firm.
The majority of Cohen’s clients are charged with DUI. Practice is limited mostly to appellate and post-conviction work.
College: Received law degree in 1985 from University of Florida College of Law.
Misc.: Touts a diverse legal background and mature understanding of the legal system. Says 20-year career as a lawyer has given her respect for competence and professionalism in the courtroom.
Mose Floyd
Born: July 30, 1955 in Brewton, Ala.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: February 1994.
Area of Practice: Assistant State Attorney, SAO, Fourth Judicial Circuit, State of Florida. Floyd is currently assigned as a division chief and homicide prosecutor.
College: Received law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1994.
Misc.: Floyd is a former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1977. In addition to his law degree, he holds graduate degrees from the Marine Corps University and the University of Southern California.
Hope Isley
Born: March 10, 1964 in Miami, Fla.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: April, 1990.
Area of Practice: General Counsel for Florida Department of Children and Families. Isley represents the state in dependency actions.
College: Received law degree in 1989 from University of Florida College of Law.
Misc.: Says experience conducting permanency staffings for DCF, in which permanency decisions on children must be made in 15-30 minutes, gives her experience acting quickly and decisively.
Gary Joseph
Born: June 20, 1953 in Jacksonville.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: Oct. 1, 1979.
Area of Practice: Civil Traffic Infractions Hearing Officer and Special Master for Duval County Court judges. Joseph handles civil traffic cases from arraignment through trial, adjudication and sentencing. As special master, Joseph handles municipal code violations, including deposing witnesses and making recommendations to the judge.
College: Received law degree from Nova University in 1979.
Misc.: Joseph believes his quasi-judicial experience gives him insight into the role of a judge. He says he is fair-minded and treats all parties to a case equally.
Sheila Ann Loizos
Born: August 25, 1963 in Greenville, S.C.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: May 4, 1990.
Area of Practice: Assistant State Attorney, SAO, Fourth Judicial District, State of Florida. DUI Division Chief of County Court.
College: Received law degree in 1989 from University of Florida.
Misc.: Has lectured all over Florida on DUI prosecution as a member of the DUI Technical Advisory Committee, a statewide committee comprising prosecutors, judges and law enforcement agencies.
Virginia Norton
Born: April 6, 1972 in Jacksonville.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: Oct. 15, 1997.
Area of Practice: Assistant General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, City of Jacksonville. Assigned to both Commercial Litigation and Tort Divisions. Practice consists of eminent domain, fair housing, labor and general contract law, civil rights and property damage litigation.
College: Received law degree in 1997 from University of Florida.
Misc.: Learned importance of community involvement from watching parents. Norton’s experience with law goes back to her high school days at The Bolles School, where she served on the honor court. Sen. Connie Mack presented her high school diploma after she became the first female elected as Chair of the Florida Federation of Teenage Republicans.
Tatiana Salvador
Born: March 14, 1968 in Providence, R.I.
Admitted to the Florida Bar: April 25, 1994
Area of Practice: Shareholder at Rogers Towers. Represents local and national business clients in areas including general commercial litigation, business torts and breach of contract claims.
College: Received law degree in 1991 from University of Florida College of Law.
Misc.: Says varied practice experience provides solid base of knowledge to apply law and decide cases. Also says her selection would bring a Hispanic perspective to Duval County’s courts.