F R O M T H E T H I R T E E N T H J U D I C I A L C I R C U I T C H I E F J U D G E
Judge Ronald Ficarrotta - Chief Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
what’s new in the new Year
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The Thirteenth Circuit is planning for addressing the needs of the
community we serve in way that can provide positive impact.
appy New Year! With the New Year
comes a few changes in the Thirteenth
Judicial Circuit. Change can either
be an unwelcome enemy or an
embraced event. Some of what we are
experiencing is bittersweet, while other events provide
an opportunity to forge new ground.
We recently bid farewell to four distinguished
colleagues who have begun experiencing the joys of
retirement: Judges Claudia Isom, Gaston Fernandez,
Robert Foster, and Herbert Berkowitz. With over 70
years of judicial experience combined, we will miss their
knowledge and dedication. But most of all, we’ll miss
their daily friendship and collaboration. Filling the
spaces they leave behind is not an easy task, one that
necessitates the reevaluation of judicial assignments.
Several judicial reassignments are taking place, making
room for three new colleagues resulting from the
mid-term elections (and another pending appointment
as I write this article).
• Robin Fuson worked in the Office of the State
Attorney for eight years before venturing into private
practice, where he represented clients in criminal,
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civil, family, and domestic violence matters. Judge
Fuson is assigned to Family Law Division A.
• Lisa Allen hails from Ansa Assuncao LLP, were she
was a civil litigator involved in commercial and
business disputes, including employment, insurance,
and business tort claims, in addition to contract and
real estate litigation. Judge Allen is assigned to the
newly created County Civil Division S and Domestic
Violence Division K, where she will work in conjunction
with Judges Frances Perrone and Jared Smith.
• Jack Gutman has been both a state prosecutor and
criminal defense attorney in Hillsborough County.
He also has civil experience having served in the
Office of the Attorney General and in private
practice, primarily in the area of eminent domain
litigation. Judge Gutman is assigned County
Criminal Division A.
I look forward to their service with the best circuit in
the state of Florida.
I am also happy to announce that I will preside over
the new Juvenile Mental Health Delinquency Division B
Continued on page 13
JAN - FEB 2019
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HCBA LAWYER