by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Four more area attorneys submitted applications to be considered to fill the seat being vacated by Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Weatherby in February 2010.
All 24 applicants that previously filed to be considered for Circuit Court Judge Peter Fryefield’s seat had the option to forward their applications to be considered for Weatherby’s seat pushing the total of candidates to 28. The group includes judges and attorneys from government, private and public practice. The deadline for applications for Weatherby’s seat was Friday at 5 p.m. and new applications were filed by attorneys Steven Fahlgren, Octavius A. Holliday Jr., Hope Iseley and Lynn Martin.
“It is a very talented list of people applying,” said Fahlgren, a solo practitioner and attorney for the Town of Hilliard.
The four attorneys will join an applicant pool that includes: Duval County Court Judges Roberto Arias, Tyrie Boyer, Pauline Drake and Russell Healey and attorneys Suzanne Bass, Thomas Beverly, Mark Borello, Frederic Buttner, John Cascone, Alan Chipperfield, Steven Combs, Paul Daragjati, Mose Floyd, David Hallman, Corinne Hodak, Thereasa Hunnewell, Harvey Jay, Nancy Kemner, Don Lester, Donald Mairs, Blane McCarthy, James Pimentel, William Scott and Rhonda Peoples-Waters.
Gov. Charlie Crist has requested that the JNC submit the second list of candidates by Dec. 14.
“We are hoping to have a decision on the first group before we send the list for the second group,” said Ava Parker, chair of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), “so it would make our job a little easier.”
The JNC has sent a list of six candidates to Crist to consider for Fryefield’s seat. That list consists of Arias, Chipperfield, Beverly, Hodak, Jay and Lester. Crist has 60 days to review the candidates.
Members of the JNC include attorneys William Adams Jr., Richard Alexander, Charles Alford, Vivian Gallo, Robert O’Quinn, Parker and William Prichard Jr. and, Gregory Strickland, an investigator with the Public Defender’s Office and businessman Deno Hicks.
Several seeking appellate judgeship
The following 27 people have submitted applications for the vacancy in the First District Court of Appeal created by the resignation of Judge Edward T. Barfield:
Paul Amundsen, Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Wendy W. Berger, Duval County Court Judge Kevin A. Blazs, Meredith Charbula, Garnett Chisenhall, James Clifton Cox, Gerald B. Currington, Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge James Daniel, Susan B. Dawson, Florida Coastal School of Law Professor Stephen M. Durden, Karen Gievers, Glen P. Gifford, James C. Hankinson, Michael Jay Hauversburk, Darren K. Jackson, Wendy S. Loquasto, Florida Solicitor General Scott D. Makar, Simone Marstiller, Patrick John McGinley, Miguel A. Olivella, Jr., Colin M. Roopnarine, Charles A. Stampelos, Margaret E. Sojourner, Jessica Enciso Varn, Karen Walker, Circuit Court Judge Waddell A. Wallace III, Craig B. Willis.
Interviews will be conducted Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The Commission will meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. via teleconference to select applicants for interviews.
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