United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
(M.D. Fla.)
LocationOrlando
More locations
  • Fort Myers
  • Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse
    (Jacksonville)
  • Ocala
  • Tampa
Appeals toEleventh Circuit
EstablishedJuly 30, 1962
Judges15
Chief JudgeMarcia Morales Howard
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneySara C. Sweeney (acting)
U.S. MarshalWilliam B. Berger Sr.
www.flmd.uscourts.gov
Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, Tampa

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (in case citations, M.D. Fla.) is a federal court in the Eleventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The District was established on July 30, 1962, with parts of the Northern and Southern Districts transferring into the newly created Middle District.[1]

As of February 18, 2025, the acting United States attorney for the District is Sara C. Sweeney.[2]

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida is one of three federal judicial districts in Florida.[3] Court for the District is held at Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Tampa.

Fort Myers Division comprises the following counties: Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee.

Jacksonville Division comprises the following counties: Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union.

Ocala Division comprises the following counties: Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter.

Orlando Division comprises the following counties: Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia.

Tampa Division comprises the following counties: Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota.

Current judges

As of November 2, 2024:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
32 Chief Judge Marcia Morales Howard Jacksonville 1965 2007–present 2024–present — G.W. Bush
21 District Judge Steven Douglas Merryday Tampa 1950 1992–present 2015–2020 — G.H.W. Bush
33 District Judge Mary Stenson Scriven Tampa 1962 2008–present — — G.W. Bush
36 District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell Ft. Myers 1962 2013–present — — Obama
38 District Judge Paul G. Byron Orlando 1959 2014–present — — Obama
39 District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza Orlando 1970 2014–present — — Obama
40 District Judge William F. Jung Tampa 1958 2018–present — — Trump
41 District Judge Thomas Barber Tampa 1966 2019–present — — Trump
42 District Judge Wendy Berger Jacksonville 1968 2019–present — — Trump
43 District Judge John Badalamenti Ft. Myers 1973 2020–present — — Trump
44 District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle Tampa 1987 2020–present — — Trump
45 District Judge Julie S. Sneed Orlando 1969 2024–present — — Biden
46 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
47 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
48 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
15 Senior Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich Tampa 1936 1982–2018 1996–2002 2018–present Reagan
17 Senior Judge Patricia C. Fawsett Orlando 1943 1986–2008 2003–2008 2008–present Reagan
19 Senior Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger Jacksonville 1940 1991–2006 — 2006–present G.H.W. Bush
20 Senior Judge Anne C. Conway Orlando 1950 1991–2015 2008–2015 2015–present G.H.W. Bush
22 Senior Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. Jacksonville 1945 1993–2010 — 2010–present Clinton
23 Senior Judge Susan C. Bucklew Tampa 1942 1993–2008 — 2008–present Clinton
24 Senior Judge Richard A. Lazzara Tampa 1945 1997–2011 — 2011–present Clinton
25 Senior Judge James D. Whittemore Tampa 1952 2000–2017 — 2017–present Clinton
26 Senior Judge John Antoon Orlando 1946 2000–2013 — 2013–present Clinton
27 Senior Judge John E. Steele Ft. Myers 1949 2000–2015 — 2015–present Clinton
28 Senior Judge James S. Moody Jr. Tampa 1947 2000–2014 — 2014–present Clinton
29 Senior Judge Gregory A. Presnell Orlando 1942 2000–2012 — 2012–present Clinton
30 Senior Judge Timothy J. Corrigan Jacksonville 1956 2002–2024 2020–2024 2024–present G.W. Bush
31 Senior Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington Tampa 1955 2004–2020 — 2020–present G.W. Bush
34 Senior Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell Tampa 1957 2009–2023 — 2023–present Obama
35 Senior Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. Orlando 1952 2011–2022 — 2022–present Obama
37 Senior Judge Brian J. Davis Jacksonville 1953 2013–2023 — 2023–present Obama


Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
8 Tampa Charlene Edwards Honeywell Senior status December 4, 2023 Kyle Dudek June 16, 2025
9 Jacksonville Brian J. Davis December 30, 2023 Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe
15 Timothy J. Corrigan November 2, 2024 John M. Guard
11 Tampa Steven Douglas Merryday August 31, 2025[4] Jordan Pratt

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 John Milton Bryan Simpson FL 1903–1987 1962–1966[Note 1] 1962–1966 — Truman/Operation of law elevation to 5th Cir.
2 Joseph Patrick Lieb FL 1901–1971 1962–1971[Note 1] 1966–1971 — Eisenhower/Operation of law death
3 William McRae FL 1909–1973 1962–1973[Note 1] 1971–1973 — Kennedy/Operation of law death
4 George C. Young FL 1916–2015 1962–1981[Note 2] 1973–1981 1981–2015 Kennedy/Operation of law death
5 Charles R. Scott FL 1904–1983 1966–1976 — 1976–1983 L. Johnson death
6 Ben Krentzman FL 1914–1998 1967–1982 1981–1982 1982–1998 L. Johnson death
7 Gerald Bard Tjoflat FL 1929–present 1970–1975 — — Nixon elevation to 5th Cir.
8 William Terrell Hodges FL 1934–2022 1971–1999 1982–1989 1999–2022 Nixon death
9 John A. Reed Jr. FL 1931–2015 1973–1984 — — Nixon resignation
10 Howell W. Melton FL 1923–2015 1977–1991 — 1991–2015 Carter death
11 George C. Carr FL 1929–1990 1977–1990 1989–1990 — Carter death
12 Susan H. Black FL 1943–present 1979–1992 1990–1992 — Carter elevation to 11th Cir.
13 William J. Castagna FL 1924–2020 1979–1992 — 1992–2020 Carter death
14 John H. Moore II FL 1929–2013 1981–1995 1992–1995 1995–2013 Reagan death
16 G. Kendall Sharp FL 1934–2022 1983–2000 — 2000–2022 Reagan death
18 Ralph Wilson Nimmons Jr. FL 1938–2003 1991–2003 — — G.H.W. Bush death
  1. ^ a b c Reassigned from the Southern District of Florida.
  2. ^ From 1962-1966, Judge Young was jointly appointed to the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

Courthouse history

Historic Federal Courthouse in Tampa

Completed in 1908 by architect John Knox Taylor, the historic Federal courthouse in Tampa stands as the only civic building constructed in the eclectic renaissance style.[5] Initially serving as a U.S. Post Office, the courthouse moved two blocks down to its current location in 1998.[6] Congress named the court in honor of long-time Tampa representative and University of Florida Law alumnus Sam Gibbons; the congressman is largely recognized as the founder of the University of South Florida.[7]

U.S. Attorneys

  • Edward F. Boardman 1961–69
  • John L. Briggs 1969–78
  • John J. Daley 1978–79
  • Gary L. Betz 1979–82
  • Robert W. Merkle, Jr. 1982–88
  • Robert W. Genzman 1988–93
  • Douglas N. Frazier 1993
  • Larry H. Colleton 1994
  • Donna A. Bucella 1994
  • Charles R. Wilson 1994–99
  • Donna A. Bucella 1999–2001[8]
  • Paul Ignatius Perez 2002?–2007
  • James R. Klindt 2007
  • Robert E. O'Neill 2007–2008[9]
  • A. Brian Albritton 2008–2010[10]
  • Robert E. O'Neill 2010–2013
  • A. Lee Bentley III 2014–2017
  • William S. Muldrow 2017[11]
  • Maria Chapa Lopez 2018–2021
  • Karin Hoppmann 2021
  • Roger B. Handberg 2021–2025

Federal Defenders

  • Robert W. Knight (1977–1983) (office established)
  • H. Jay Stevens (1983–1999)
  • R. Fletcher Peacock (1999–2007)
  • Donna Lee Elm (2007–2021)
  • Alec F. Hall (2021–present)

See also

References

  1. ^ "History of the Federal Judiciary - Federal Judicial Center". Fjc.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "United States Attorney's Office Announces Departure Of Roger B. Handberg As U.S. Attorney" (Press release). U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. February 18, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  3. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 89
  4. ^ "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.
  5. ^ "National Registry". Npgallery.nps.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  6. ^ Wade-Bahr, Linda H. "Official Site of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida". Flmd.uscourts.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Public Law 104-230" (PDF). Gpo.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "Donna Bucella | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  9. ^ "The United States Department of Justice – United States Attorney's Office". April 8, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Lawyer goes full circle: From defense to prosecution and back again". Florida Trend. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Attorneys Listing | USAO | Department of Justice". November 15, 2017. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2024.

28°32′32″N 81°23′05″W / 28.5422°N 81.3847°W / 28.5422; -81.3847

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