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. Circuit Judge David C. Miller Name: June 17, 2018 Date disclosure statement completed: Circuit Court Judge Judicial position sought: Miami Dade County - 11th Judicial Circuit Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction(s) in which admitted to practice law: Jurisdiction Date Admitted State of Florida May, 1979 # 273252 Florida Bar No. Years admitted to practice law: Years in the legal profession: In my 40th year In my 40th year 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 been serving as a Miami Dade County Circuit Court Judge for the past eighteen years. Prior to serving on the bench, I spent 22 years pracicing as a Civil trial lawyer. Collectively, I've been serving the Miami-Dade's legal community for almost 40 years. I have been told that I am known for my hard work ethic, intellect, integrity, stabliity, independence, and patience. I arrive at the Courthouse around 6am and hold hearings as early as 7am when needed. I have given up vacaton days and holidays to hear cases. I possess the experience and qualities needed to continue delivering justice to Miami Dade County residents for another 6- year term. 1
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 11th Judicial Circuit 2000 Circuit Court Judge 11th Judicial Circuit 2006 Circuit Court Judge 11th Judicial Circuit 2012 Circuit Court 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 11th Judicial Circuit 2000 through 2018 Circuit Court Judge Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments over which you have presided: 0-5 6-15 16-30 31-50 51-100 101-200 201+ As a Judge for 18 years: 201+, of Civil, Criminal, and Family court evidentiary hearings, trials and or oral arguements. See below for additional jury/bench trials in State and Federal courts prior to becoming a Judge. 25 many Please provide the number of jury trials and the number of bench trials over which you have presided. Prior to becoming a Judge in 2000, 25 jury trials as lead counsel through verdict, many of which were complex and lengthy in both State and Federal courts. 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 Family Court division 2
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 was elected to the bench in 2000. I have served the past 18 years as a Circuit Court Judge: 8 years in the Civil division, 7 years in Criminal division, and 3 years in the Family division. Prior to serving on the bench, I spend 22 years practicing as a Civil trial lawyer and was an equity shareholder partner doing work in the State and Federal courts in Florida. I specialized in professional liability defense including lawyers, realtors, insurance agents, title agents, accountants, engineers, and land surveyors. Number of evidentiary hearings, trials and/or oral arguments in which you have participated as legal counsel: 0-5 6-15 16-30 31-50 51-100 101-200 201+ I was an attorney for 22 years before taking the bench. I would say more than a thousand, but I made no attempt to keep track of all these activities hundreds hundreds Please provide the number of jury trials and the number of bench trials in which you have participated. Number of arbitration hearings in which you have participated as legal counsel or hearing officer: 0-5 6-15 16-30 31-50 51-100 101-200 201+ I can only remember one arbitration Number of administrative hearings in which you have participated as legal counsel or hearing officer: 0-5 6-15 16-30 31-50 51-100 101-200 201+ none To the extent applicable, please quantify any additional alternative dispute resolution/negotiation experience: I have participated in hundreds of mediations before taking the bench. 3
Have you ever been Board Certified in any area(s) of practice? If yes, please identify: The area(s) of practice: No When you were certified in each area of practice: N/A Whether you are currently certified in those areas: N/A Please provide the percentage of your practice that has involved representing plaintiffs % and the percentage that has involved representing defendants %. Undergraduate Education: Name of institution: University of Florida Degree received/major: BS Degree August, 1975 Academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations: Criminal Law book Award, Chief Justice of the Honor Court, Moot Court participant, Published Law ReviewArticle in Law School. 4
Law School Education: Name of institution: Degree received: Nova University Center for the Study of Law JD received December, 1978 Internships/in-school clerkships, academic awards, recognitions, honors, leadership roles and participation in academic organizations (e.g., law review, moot court, legal clinics): Law School Honor Court Chief Judge Moot Court Law Review 0 0 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: State of Florida - 11th Judicial Circuit Number of years with present employer: I am in my 18th year Present position: Circuit Court Judge Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: 18 years of experience on the bench includes: 8 years in Civil division, 7 years in Criminal division, and 3 years in Family division. Prior to becoming a Judge, 22 years practicing as a Civil trial lawyer and was an equity sharebholder partner doing work in both State and Federal courts in Florida. 5
List All Prior Employers and Occupations, Legal or Non-legal, for the Last Ten Years: Employer: I have had numerous jobs before becoming an attorney in 1979. Number of years employed with this employer: summers and part time Position/specialty: various Explain relevant experience or skills gained that you will bring to the bench: Virtually all of my pre-law work experiences have been bought to the bench. My life experiences as fast food preparer/server, heavy duty truck maintaince worker, roofing laberor, factory worker, union heavy consrtruction laberor, lawn maintanece worker, librarian and volunteer coach have helped give me perspective and insight necessary to perform well as a judge. 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
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 While I have participated in numerous Bar associations, I would not say I have been active in any of them. Dates of Participation Office Held (If applicable) 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: I co-authored a Law Review Article titled Joint Tenencies and the Tax Reform Act of 1976 Title Date Additional Information 1978 7
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: 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: NONE 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
If you have been found to have committed a violation of the ethical or discipline rules, please explain the circumstances surrounding your discipline: NEVER 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: NO 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: N/A 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: NONE except a few traffic tickets 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
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. 17th June 18 Executed this day of, 20. Name Circuit Judge David C. Miller Certification Confirmation (must be checked prior to submission): 10