By Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
Dawn Hudson is now officially the smallest person on the bench as Chief Judge Donald Moran pointed out at Hudson’s investiture last Thursday.
The investiture, which was the last of four, was held at the old City Council chambers at the City Hall Annex. Hudson was surrounded by roughly 150 friends, family members and colleagues ranging from Mayor John Peyton to Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland.
“I’m so thankful and grateful to all of you here that showed your support for me,” said Hudson. “They sound like such simple words, but I really am appreciative of what everyone has done to help me.”
State Attorney Harry Shorstein, whom Hudson jokingly referred to as her “old boss” was on hand along with a slew of others, to recall Hudson’s growth from a young attorney to her current role as Circuit Court Judge before she was sworn in.
“I have a message for you from the president,” said Shorstein, who added that he was talking about Florida Bar President Hank Coxe, not ‘W’. “Hank would have loved to have been here, but he’s at a chili cook-off in South Florida.”
Shorstein went on to share stories of Hudson’s earlier days when she worked at the State Attorney’s office.
The crowd then went on to attend a post-investiture reception at the River Club.
Also at the investiture:
• Shorstein spoke on behalf of Coxe who he said claimed he couldn’t be at the investiture because he was in “serious litigation in south Florida” which he went on to say, meant that he was at the Anna Nicole Smith hearings testifying that he’s the father of Anna Nicole’s baby.
• Hudson said she was thankful for Mayor Peyton’s support during her campaign and that by her being elected, he was sticking to one of the promises he made to the City of Jacksonville: “Keeping government small.”
• Hudson was presented with a booster seat to be used while on the bench by Judge Gary Flower.