The Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association joined its new neighbor Jan. 23 at an event at the Duval County Courthouse.
Members of the Bar mingled with more than 40 members of the federal and state judiciary at a lunch meeting.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan welcomed the 4th Circuit to a neighborhood that includes the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse and City Hall. The new courthouse opened in June.
"Today, we federal judges are kind of like the nosey neighbors. We've invited ourselves over for lunch so we could see the place," said Corrigan.
Corrigan also discussed the good relationship shared between the federal and state courts. He partly attributed it to judges serving on the federal bench who once served on the state bench in Jacksonville.
U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Gerald Tjoflat, Senior U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Susan Black and Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams all served on the 4th Circuit bench.
"The state and federal courts have always been friends. Your judges have helped us with criminal duty and in the past have provided courtrooms for us when we were short," said Corrigan.
He then presented a gift from the judges of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to the judges of the 4th Judicial Circuit — a framed print of the seals of the federal and state courts.
"This has been a lovely event and sign of the collegiality among the courts and we look forward to working with you in the future," said Chief Circuit Court Judge Donald Moran.
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