by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
There is no doubt Circuit Court Judge David Gooding enjoys his job presiding over Dependency cases. It was his number one request to keep that seat for 2008.
“Every year we are subject to rotation, but we can give our first, second and third requests. And this was my first,” said Gooding. “I am very happy doing what I am doing.
“You are grafting a branch onto the family tree and you are changing a branch, changing a tree and the whole forest.”
Gooding was elected to the Circuit Court in 2002, but it wasn’t until a year later he began hearing Dependency cases. Gooding has done over 800 adoptions and figures to do about 200 a year.
In fiscal year 2002-03, there were 108 adoptions, which was the highest in Duval County and the first year adoptions hit triple digits. In 2005-06 Gooding signed 200 adoptions, including 52 in one day.
“Before I started, children were in foster care for about 23.7 months, and we have reduced the length to 12.1 months,” said Gooding. “But I didn’t do that alone.”
Gooding works with the Department of Children and Families, Family Support Services and the Guardian ad litem’s Office.
“The quicker we can get the children out of foster care the better,” said Gooding. “Time damages children.”
He has received many awards for his accomplishments, but Gooding said, “Whenever you see a turtle sitting on top of a fence post, he sure didn’t get there by himself” — one of Gooding’s favorite quotes, but he is unsure who said it.
Gooding told a story about a man who approached him and told Gooding that his father did his adoption in the 1950s.
“He said he has the photo of himself, his mother, father, and my father on his mantel,” said Gooding. “It just shows you how important it is what we do for the kids.”
Gooding has been married to his high school sweetheart for 33 years. They didn’t attend college together — Gooding attended the University of Florida and his wife attended the University of Georgia — and it makes for an interesting rivalry with the annual Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville.
“She has had the bragging rights for awhile now,” he said.
When asked if they attend the game together, Gooding said his children (two big Gators fans) “take dibs on the tickets.”