FLORIDA BAR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE VOLUNTARY SELF-DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

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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: GERALD L. WILKERSON 6/16/2018/ Date disclosure statement completed: DUVAL COUNTY COURT JUDGE Judicial position sought: 4TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, GROUP 3 Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction(s) in which admitted to practice law: Jurisdiction Date Admitted FLORIDA 9/15/2000 Florida Bar No Years admitted to practice law: Years in the legal profession: 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: I have practiced law in every area in which a County Court Judge would preside with extensive courtroom experience in Family and Criminal law. In addition to those two practice areas, I have also practiced worker's compensation, social security, personal injury, construction litigation, landlord/tenant and appellate law, Personal Experience: I come from a humble background, and understand the value of hard work and the value of people's time. I was involved in a bitter custody battle as a young child, and in my family law practice, I am mindful of how traumatic this experience can be for children. I have served our country in the United States Army during the cold war. I am married and have two children, and know how hard and important it is to raise decent children. I have served this circuit as an assistant public defender, worked for a private law firm, and run a successful law practice for 13 years. I know the difficulties of running a business, and empathize with attorneys and litigants who would come before me. I bring humility and a desire to serve. I graduated with my B.A. with HONORS from F.I.U., and then my Juris Doctorate with HONORS in I earned the coveted BOOK AWARD in family law in law school, served on the Technology Law Journal, was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity, and have a Superb Rating with AVVO, and a Preeminent Ethical Rating with Martindale-Hubbell. I am an A+ member of the Better Business Bureau, former Vice President of the Jacksonville Miracle League, and current member of the Board of Hope Haven,. I care about each and every client and represent each one of them as if they were my only client. I believe all of these experiences make me uniquely qualified to understand the facts, the law, and have the patience to consider them all fairly and unbiased. 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 Fourth Judicial Circuit Court November 2012 Circuit Judge (Write In) Fourth Judicial Circuit Court August 2016 Circuit Judge 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 General Litigation, Appellate Law 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. I am a trial attorney who practices mostly in the areas of family law which includes dissolution of marriage, custody, child support, paternity, and guardianship, The percentage varies throughout the year, but on average this is over 80% of my practice. About 15% is primarily criminal defense trial practice, and injunctions. The remaining 5% is general litigation, personal injury, and appellate law. Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments in which you have participated as legal counsel: Please provide the number of jury trials 7 and the number of bench trials 200+ in which you have participated. I am assuming that bench trials refers to my family law trials. All of my criminal trials were jury trials. I believe that a good attorney avoids trials and a good negotiator almost never goes to trial. Going to trial is a last resort and very rarely in a client's best interests. 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: This is an estimate. I have attended so many child support hearings that the number is incalculable. To the extent applicable, please quantify any additional alternative dispute resolution/negotiation experience: I have attended hundreds of court-ordered, and voluntary mediations. 3

4 Have you ever been Board Certified in any area(s) of practice? If yes, please identify: The area(s) of practice: NA 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 40 % and the percentage that has involved representing defendants 60 %. Undergraduate Education: Name of institution: Florida International University Degree received/major: Bachelor's Degree with HONORS Academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations: Golden Key National Honor Society 4

5 Law School Education: Name of institution: Degree received: University of Florida Levin College of Law Juris Doctor with HONORS Internships/in-school clerkships, academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations (e.g., law review, moot court, legal clinics): 1999 Clerkship with Mclin, Burnsed, Morrison, Johnson, Newman and Roy. Book Award in Family Law (highest grade in the class) Gator Teamchild Certified Legal Internship Member of the Journal of Technology Law and Policy Member of Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Society Number of hours devoted to public work while in undergraduate 50+ approx. or law school. 10 Additional Educational History (if applicable): Name of Institution Degree Received Special awards, recognitions, honors, or leadership roles (if any) Miami-Dade Community College AA Honors Employment: Present employer: Law Office of Gerald Wilkerson Number of years with present employer: 13+ Present position: Owner/Managing Attorney Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: I have been able to hone my skills as a balanced trial attorney in all of the major areas over which a County Court Judge might preside, including criminal, family, and juvenile law. In addition I have experience, and have handled personal injury, worker's compensation, social security disability, probate, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, and general litigation. I have a superior grasp of the Rules of Evidence, and Legal Procedure. My wife was a prosecutor, and a Guardian ad Litem attorney and together we have dedicated our careers to helping children. Judges are often called upon to protect the best interests of our children. 5

6 List All Prior Employers and Occupations, Legal or Non-legal, for the Last Ten Years: Employer: Sullivan and Associates, P.A. Number of years employed with this employer: 3 years Position/specialty: Criminal Defense, Family Law, Juvenile, Probate, Workers Comp, P.I., and Social Security lawyer. Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: I was recruited by Mr. Sullivan right out of the Public Defender's office. Mr. Sullivan's main practice was worker's compensation, and he wanted to expand his practice. He charged me with the task of starting the criminal defense, and family law division of his practice. Of course I had already gained invaluable experience as a criminal defense attorney, but started the family law practice from scratch. Through many trials, and tribulations, I became a very skillful negotiator, and trial attorney in the areas of criminal defense, and family law. In addition, Mr. Sullivan had me handing worker's compensation, social security, personal injury, and general litigation. Changes in the worker's compensation laws decimated the practice, and the firm decided to downsize. That is when I decided to start my own law practice. Employer: 4th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office Number of years employed with this employer: 2 Position/specialty: Criminal Defense law, including felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile. Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: The Public Defender's office under the tutelage of such great criminal defense attorneys as Ann Finnell, Pat McGuiness, Bill White, and Lou Frost, I learned how to become a very skilled criminal defense attorney. I learned how take a balanced well reasoned look at each case, without emotions. and to determine the best strategy in each case, which was often to negotiate a fair plea deal. I became very adept at using the Rules of Evidence, and the Rules of Criminal Procedure to my advantage because I knew them so well. This is where I cut my teeth, and learned how to become a professional. Additionally, I have graduated with honors from every college, including law school, from which I graduated, and have never failed the bar examination. You will please notice that I graduated in May 2000, and began practicing law immediately. I passed the bar the very first time. Employer: McLin, Burnsed, Morrison, Johnson, Newman and Roy, P.A. Number of years employed with this employer: 2 months Position/specialty: Paid Law Clerk Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: Practiced in the areas of community development and planning, commercial real estate, and class action property lawsuits, as well as developed very good legal research and writing skills. 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) Florida Bar September 2000 to present Member Jaksonville Bar Association Present Member 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 Trial Award, Public Defender's Office August 2000 Avvo, Superb Rating and Top Contributor Present Preeminent Ethical Rating Martindale-Hubble Present 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: United States Army 1986 to 1989, Honorable Discharge Member Christian Legal Society Jacksonville Women's Lawyer's Association Former Vice President Jacksonville Miracle League Hope Haven Children Clinic Board of Directors, Governance Committee 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: No, and in fact, I am a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. 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: I received an Honorable Discharge 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. 16 June 18 Executed this day of, 20. Name Gerald L. Wilkerson Certification Confirmation (must be checked prior to submission): 10