FLORIDA BAR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE VOLUNTARY SELF-DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Transcription

1 FLORIDA BAR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE PLEASE BEAR IN MIND YOUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER JUDICIAL CANON NO.7 IN PROVIDING ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THE FLORIDA BAR DOES NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ANSWERS NOR WILL THE BAR EDIT YOUR ANSWERS TO COMPORT WITH THE CANONS. Name: Edward C Spaight June 15, 2018 Date disclosure statement completed: Fifth Judicial Circuit, Group 4 Judicial position sought: Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Lake and Sumter Counties Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction(s) in which admitted to practice law: Jurisdiction Date Admitted Florida 2009 Florida Bar No Years admitted to practice law: Years in the legal profession: Maine , Florida 2009-present 2001-present Personal Statement: In 100 words or less, without discussing any particular issue that may come before you as a judge, explain why you believe you would be a good judge: People don't generally choose to go to court. Whether it is a family in crisis, or a criminal matter, a contract dispute or any other legal matter, the people coming before the court are entitled to be treated with respect and to have their matters addressed promptly and according to the law. I have represented people on a wide range of legal matters -- family, civil, corporate and criminal for many years. I understand the impact that the courts can have on the lives of individuals, families and businesses. I have broad experience. I have served in leadership capacities in a number of legal and civic organizations. I am rooted by my family, my faith and my commitment to serve. As a judge, I would be humbled and honored to serve the people of my community. 1

2 Prior Candidacy in Judicial Election(s): If you have run in an election for judicial office before, please list the court, relevant date(s) and position: Court Relevant Dates Position Prior and/or Current Judicial Experience: If you have held judicial office, please state the Courts involved, the dates of service, and the office: Court Relevant Dates Office Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments over which you have presided: Please provide the number of jury trials and the number of bench trials over which you have presided. Current judges may respond to the following questions regarding legal practice only with reference to pre-judicial legal experience. Area(s) of practice: Civil Criminal Government Other 2

3 Please list the primary areas in which you have specialized or have legal expertise and allocate a percentage of your practice to each area Present Criminal Law 99%, Family Law < 1% Family Law 70%, Corporate 25%, General civil and appeals 5% Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments in which you have participated as legal counsel: Please provide the number of jury trials 27 and the number of bench trials 65 in which you have participated. Number of arbitration hearings in which you have participated as legal counsel or hearing officer: Number of administrative hearings in which you have participated as legal counsel or hearing officer: To the extent applicable, please quantify any additional alternative dispute resolution/negotiation experience: The overwhelming majority of cases are resolved short of trial. I have participated in hundreds of court ordered mediations in the family law context as well as hundreds of plea negotiations in the criminal context. 3

4 Have you ever been Board Certified in any area(s) of practice? If yes, please identify: The area(s) of practice: When you were certified in each area of practice: Whether you are currently certified in those areas: Please provide the percentage of your practice that has involved representing plaintiffs % and the percentage that has involved representing defendants 100 %. Undergraduate Education: Name of institution: Siena College, Loudonville, New York Degree received/major: B.A., Political Science, 1992 Academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations: Cum Laude Graduate Study Abroad, Regents College, London, England Certificate in International Studies, Foreign Language and Business 4

5 Law School Education: Name of institution: Degree received: Western New England College School of Law Juris Doctor, 2001 Internships/in-school clerkships, academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations (e.g., law review, moot court, legal clinics): Western New England Law Review: Note Editor, , Junior Staff, Honors: George Thompson Memorial Scholarship, , Joanne Grummel Memorial Scholarship, Excellence for the Future Awards (awarded for highest grade in the class) in the following subjects: Business Organizations, Constitutional Law (I & II), Conflict of Laws, Consumer Protection, Criminal Law, Evidence, Labor Law and Property Number of hours devoted to public work while in undergraduate or law school. Additional Educational History (if applicable): Name of Institution Degree Received Special awards, recognitions, honors, or leadership roles (if any) Employment: Present employer: Law Office of Mike Graves, Public Defender, Fifth Judicial Circuit Number of years with present employer: 9 Present position: Chief Assistant Public Defender for Citrus County Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: As an Assistant Public Defender, I am responsible for all aspects of legal representation for indigent persons, including jury trials, depositions, as well as drafting and arguing motions. My caseload includes all levels of felony cases, including First Degree Murder and crimes punishable by life imprisonment. I am also responsible for the Juvenile docket and the United Family Court cases. As the Supervising Attorney of the Citrus County Office, I manage a staff of approximately fifteen people, including attorneys and support staff. 5

6 List All Prior Employers and Occupations, Legal or Non-legal, for the Last Ten Years: Employer: Vafiades, Brountas & Kominsky, Bangor, Maine Number of years employed with this employer: 7 Position/specialty: Attorney Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: I was an attorney in private practice in Bangor, Maine. Appeared before Courts throughout the State of Maine. I participated in mediations, drafted pleadings and other necessary documents and assisted clients throughout the judicial process. I assisted clients in forming corporations and similar entities; served as clerk for several Maine corporations; drafted several appellate briefs to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Employer: Number of years employed with this employer: Position/specialty: Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: Employer: Number of years employed with this employer: Position/specialty: Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: 6

7 Law Organizations: Please list legal organizations in which you have been an active member for more than two years and all legal organizations in which you hold a leadership position or which required nomination to join: Organization Name Dates of Participation Office Held (If applicable) Citrus County Bar Association 2016-present President, Florida Bar Association present Fellow, Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy, Class IV Maine State Bar Association, Family Law Section Vice Chair, ; Secretary/Treasurer, Honors and Publications: Please list relevant published articles or books that you have authored, speeches or lectures you have given, and honors, prizes or awards you have received: Title Date Additional Information Lecturer, Florida Conference for Circuit Judges Annual Education Program 2016 Presented Juvenile Case Law update to Statewide Conference of Circuit Court Judges Vice Chair, Maine State Bar Association, Family Law Section 2009 I was responsible for putting together the Family Law Section's 2009 Continuing Legal Education Program. Lecturer, Maine State Bar Association 2006 Presented Seminar on Grandparents' Rights at the Bar Association's Family Law Institute 7

8 Public Service Pro Bono, Volunteer Work or Military Service: Please provide the dates, activities and any special accomplishments, honors or leadership roles you have played in volunteer, public or military service organizations or in providing pro bono, volunteer, public or military service: In 2008, I recieved the Lew Vafiades Pro Bono Award from the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project - which is the top award granted by that organization each year. I was also recognized on several occasions for my outstanding efforts in the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project's Lawyer of the Day program, where I helped to pair volunteer attorneys with indigent clients who were in need of services. I have been an Apprentice Deacon for my church since Health: Do you currently suffer from or have you suffered from any of the following ailments in the last three years: Dependence on narcotics, drugs or intoxicating beverages Pathological or compulsive behavior Memory loss or impaired judgment Yes No If yes, please identify the ailment and provide full details, including the relevant dates, including dates of diagnosis, if applicable, the treatment received and any additional relevant information: Discipline: If you have ever been found, either involuntarily or by consent, to have committed a violation of The Florida Bar Disciplinary Rules, the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration or the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct for which the discipline imposed was one of the following: (a) public reprimand; (b) suspension; or (c) disbarment, please provide the following information: Date of charge: Date of disposition: Rule(s) found to have violated: Discipline imposed for rule violation(s): Date reinstated to the Bar or bench: Any conditions imposed for reinstatement (e.g., financial penalty, probation or public service): 8

9 If you have been found to have committed a violation of the ethical or discipline rules, please explain the circumstances surrounding your discipline: For Current or Former Judges: Has the Florida Supreme Court, or a similar body in another state, ever ruled against you on a Notice of Formal Charges by the Judicial Qualifications Commission? If so, please explain the circumstances surrounding the charges and include a description of any discipline imposed: Military Discharge: If you served in the military and your discharge was anything other than honorable or you received a court martial, please provide that information here: Criminal Convictions: Have you ever been convicted or pled no contest to a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude? If so, provide the following information: Date of conviction or plea of no contest: Crime for which you were convicted or pled no contest: Sentence: Any additional conditions imposed: If you have been convicted or pled no contest to a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude and would like to explain the circumstances surrounding your criminal conviction, you may do so here: 9

10 CERTIFICATION I certify that the information given on The Florida Bar Judicial Candidate Voluntary Self-Disclosure Statement is complete, true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. 15th June 18 Executed this day of, 20. Name Edward C. Spaight Certification Confirmation (must be checked prior to submission): 10