Beyond the Bench

Pulitzer-prize winning author, Gilbert King, stopped by the Supreme Court to discuss his two books based on true Florida legal cases: Devil in the Grove and Beneath a Ruthless Sun. Mr. King discusses Florida's history of racial justice -- sometimes racial injustice -- and the role the courts played during the time his books take place starting in the 1940s.  Find out more about Florida's legal history, the role the Florida Supreme Court played, and why it sometimes is important to change the narrative of our own past.

Transcript (pdf)

Justice Kenneth Bell was the 81st Justice (2003-2008) of the Florida Supreme Court. At the time of his appointment, he was the first justice from Pensacola in a century and the first from west of Tallahassee since 1917. Justice Bell is a seventh-generation Pensacolian whose paternal ancestors immigrated to the Pensacola area around 1819, when Florida still was a Spanish colony.  Listen as he discusses why he's proud of his Northwest Florida roots.

Transcript (pdf)

In this Beyond the Bench episode, Justice Barkett describes her 1985 appointment to the Florida Supreme Court by then-Governor Bob Graham, the justices she met during her first visit to 500 S. Duval Street, and the remodeling issue her appointment created. She also discusses her life today as a judge on an international treaty court, the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal based in The Hague. 

Transcript (pdf) 

Retired Justice Gerald Kogan stopped by the Florida Supreme Court long enough to sit down with Craig Waters, Director of Public Information, and reminisce about life before, during and after his time on the Court. 

Justice Kogan was the 73rd Justice (1987-1998) and is best known for his work as Chief Justice from 1996 to 1998 when he started the first live TV broadcasts of court arguments and began using the Web to post court documents for easy access by the public. Read his biography on the Supreme Court website.

Listen as he tells his story, talks about the justices he served with and shares his philosophy about life. 

Photo courtesy of the Florida Memory Project.

Transcript (pdf)

On Justice Barbara Pariente's last day at the Florida Supreme Court (January 7, 2019), she sat down to reminisce about her 21 years (1997-2019) on the state's highest court. She became a national symbol in 2003 when she continued work as a Justice through breast cancer treatment, even hearing cases on live television without wearing a wig. Listen as she reflects on this event and others and life at 500 South Duval Street.

Recorded: January 7, 2019

Transcript (pdf)

What does it take to run Florida's judicial branch? Justices Jorge Labarga and Charles Canady sit down to discuss the role of the chief justice and what it means to "pass the gavel" from one chief justice to the next.

Justice Labarga's two-term chief justice service ends June 30, 2018. Justice Canady begins his second term as head of the Supreme Court and the state judiciary July 1, 2018. Justice Canady previously served as chief justice from 2010 to 2012.

Recorded on June 6, 2018.

Transcript (pdf)

Why do justices need attorneys? A. Mireille Fall-Fry and Michelle Ballard, both staff attorneys who have worked for the court for 12 and 19 years respectively, answer this question. Their unique perspectives provide insight into the daily life and work of a staff attorney at the supreme court. They serve as a resource for justices to facilitate impartial, well-reasoned decisions.

Links: Transcript / Internal Operating Procedures / The Operation and Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Florida (2005)

Deputy clerks Christie Davis and Lindsey Champion discuss their day-to-day duties and the functions of the clerk's office. The Office of the Clerk is responsible for maintaining all case files and tracking the progress of all cases through the Supreme Court. This look "behind the counter" provides an overview of processing cases, issuing opinions and disposition orders, posting case information online, and providing information and resources to understand court procedures better.

 Transcript of podcast (pdf)

Supreme Court Librarian Billie Blaine and Archivist Erik Robinson provide a fascinating look into the history of the law library (one of the oldest libraries in Florida), its rare book collection and the plethora of resources available to justices, court staff and the public. 

Transcript of podcast (pdf)

This inaugural podcast features Florida Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and Leon County Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson talking about how Florida courts communicate with people. Their discussion touches on the importance of jurors and impartial courts, social media, cameras in the courtrooms and some classic movies about the legal system.

Transcript of podcast (pdf)