by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The words civility and professionalism seemed to hang in the air in Courtroom 4 in the Duval County Courthouse Tuesday as three different speakers used them, or referred to them, during the retirement ceremony for Circuit Court Judge Charles Mitchell.
This was the first of two retirement ceremonies last week that were required due to the State’s mandatory retirement age for judges, which is 70. Circuit Court Judge Bernard Nachman was honored at the second ceremony, but he and the honoree agreed to preside over each other’s ceremony and Nachman pointed out how bizarre the Florida Constitution can be.
“Constitutional regulations have a number of unique and bizarre conditions,” said Nachman. “One of our constitutional amendments makes it unlawful to confine a pig in labor to a space that doesn’t allow her to completely turn around.”
The Animal Cruelty Amendment was on the Florida ballot during the 2002 election and it passed with 55 percent of the vote. Nachman didn’t pass on the chance to talk about a judge that has sat on the Fourth Judicial Circuit bench since 1979.
“I’d like to add something to what all of the speakers will say today,” said Nachman, “but I feel a little constricted because Judge Mitchell will serve the same function for me at my retirement. He is way too young to retire and his retirement will be a loss to us all.”
Mitchell worked as an Assistant Public Defender and Assistant State Attorney after graduating from the University of Florida Law School. During his time in both offices, attorneys were allowed to have private practices while serving the public and he partnered with one of his best friends, Gene Moss, who spoke at the ceremony.
“I think I can honestly say everybody loves you,” said Moss. “You’ve always been courteous on the bench and I’ve never heard of you talking to anyone in the court with anger in your voice. Charlie, we love you and we’ll miss you.”
Mitchell shared an office with Circuit Court Judge David Wiggins, and the two have always had a friendly rivalry because Wiggins is a Florida State University graduate.
“I could always count on him beating me to the office one day a year and he has been asking me the same question on that day for at least the last four years or so,” said Wiggins. “And my response, lately, has been, ‘We’re a basketball school.’”
Mitchell enjoyed the kind words from the speakers and had a chance to give some back at the end of the ceremony. Some of his words explained his business relationship with Moss.
“Gene has been a best friend of mine for a long time and we’ve rarely had a coarse word between us,” said Mitchell. “But when we were in practice together we would have the same argument once a year when we sat down to split the profits. I could never keep up with him in hours and I would always argue that he should get more and he would argue that I should get more. He would usually win, though.”
Mitchell plans to keep in touch with the court by serving as a Senior Circuit Court Judge. The position allows retired judges to fill in for judges and they are subject to review annually for competency.
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