The Florida First District Court of Appeal, also known as the First DCA, is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital. It is unique among the six Florida District Courts of Appeal in that, much like the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit at the federal level, it handles most of the appeals in state administrative law matters. It is also solely responsible for handling appeals in workers' compensation cases. It is the Court of Appeals for 29 Florida counties, covering the Panhandle as well as the north-central parts of the state. The First DCA includes the following: First Circuit (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa & Walton); Second Circuit (Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty & Wakulla); Third Circuit (Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee & Taylor); Eighth Circuit (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy & Union); and Fourteenth Circuit (Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson & Washington).
Before December 2010, the First DCA had been located two blocks from the Supreme Court of Florida in downtown Tallahassee. During December, the First DCA moved into a new courthouse on the southeastern outskirts of the city. The $48.8 million construction cost of the new courthouse generated considerable controversy, particularly given that the new building contained details and amenities such as "miles" of African mahogany, granite top desks, and a sixty-inch flat screen television in each judge's chamber. The opulence of the new building led many critics to dub the new courthouse as the "Taj Mahal," and eventually led to the forced resignation of Paul M. Hawkes as the court's chief judge.[1]
Investigation into the building's construction revealed that after receiving an initial $1.8 million appropriation in the 2006 state budget, then-Governor Jeb Bush threatened to veto the appropriation unless the judges considered remodeling and expanding their existing facility. After receiving letters containing such assurances, the governor left the money in the budget. In 2007, judges on the court had the Florida Legislature appropriate an additional $7.9 million toward construction of a new courthouse. In the final days of that year's legislative session, judges had lawmakers slip an amendment into a transportation bill authorizing a $33.5 million bond issue for the new building.[2]
^Morgan, Lucy (Jan 18, 2011). "Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady imposes order to prevent another 'Taj Mahal'". St. Petersburg Times. from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
^Morgan, Lucy; Katie Sanders (Jan 15, 2011). "Judge behind lavish courthouse "lied" in his testimony, legislator says". St. Petersburg Times. from the original on 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
^"District Courts of Appeal". Flcourts.gov. State of Florida. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
^"Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Totals: 2010-2020". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
^Succession of Justices of Supreme Court of Florida 2016-12-06 at the Wayback MachineFlorida First District Court of Appeal
External links
Florida First District Court of Appeal Website
Website of the Florida District Courts of Appeal
August 22, 2023
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The Florida First District Court of Appeal also known as the First DCA is headquartered in Tallahassee Florida the state capital It is unique among the six Florida District Courts of Appeal in that much like the U S Court of Appeals for the D C Circuit at the federal level it handles most of the appeals in state administrative law matters It is also solely responsible for handling appeals in workers compensation cases It is the Court of Appeals for 29 Florida counties covering the Panhandle as well as the north central parts of the state The First DCA includes the following First Circuit Escambia Okaloosa Santa Rosa amp Walton Second Circuit Franklin Gadsden Jefferson Leon Liberty amp Wakulla Third Circuit Columbia Dixie Hamilton Lafayette Madison Suwannee amp Taylor Eighth Circuit Alachua Baker Bradford Gilchrist Levy amp Union and Fourteenth Circuit Bay Calhoun Gulf Holmes Jackson amp Washington Florida DCA mapContents 1 Controversy over new courthouse 2 Sixth DCA 3 Former Chief Judges 4 Active Judges 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksControversy over new courthouse EditMain article Florida Taj Mahal scandal The Taj Mahal courthouseBefore December 2010 the First DCA had been located two blocks from the Supreme Court of Florida in downtown Tallahassee During December the First DCA moved into a new courthouse on the southeastern outskirts of the city The 48 8 million construction cost of the new courthouse generated considerable controversy particularly given that the new building contained details and amenities such as miles of African mahogany granite top desks and a sixty inch flat screen television in each judge s chamber The opulence of the new building led many critics to dub the new courthouse as the Taj Mahal and eventually led to the forced resignation of Paul M Hawkes as the court s chief judge 1 Investigation into the building s construction revealed that after receiving an initial 1 8 million appropriation in the 2006 state budget then Governor Jeb Bush threatened to veto the appropriation unless the judges considered remodeling and expanding their existing facility After receiving letters containing such assurances the governor left the money in the budget In 2007 judges on the court had the Florida Legislature appropriate an additional 7 9 million toward construction of a new courthouse In the final days of that year s legislative session judges had lawmakers slip an amendment into a transportation bill authorizing a 33 5 million bond issue for the new building 2 Sixth DCA EditWhen the Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal was established in 2023 the caseload for the Fourth Circuit including the counties of Duval Nassau and Clay was shifted from the 1st DCA to the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal 3 The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1 6 million people 4 Former Chief Judges EditJudges who have served as Chief Judge of the First DCA include Stephanie W Ray 2019 2021 Joseph Lewis Jr 2013 2015 Bradford L Thomas 2017 2019 L Clayton Roberts 2015 2017 Active Judges EditThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information July 2023 Name 5 Appointed Term expires Appointing GovernorLori S Rowe Chief Judge September 15 2009 2022 Rick Scott RepublicanStephanie W Ray June 27 2011 2024 Rick Scott RepublicanJoseph Lewis Jr 2001 2020 Jeb Bush RepublicanBradford L Thomas 2005 2024 Jeb Bush RepublicanL Clayton Roberts January 18 2007 2020 Charlie Crist RepublicanTimothy D Osterhaus May 20 2013 2020 Rick Scott RepublicanRoss L Bilbrey January 6 2015 2022 Rick Scott RepublicanSusan L Kelsey April 2015 2022 Rick Scott RepublicanThomas D Winokur July 6 2015 2022 Rick Scott RepublicanM Kemmerly Thomas June 20 2016 2024 Rick Scott RepublicanRachel E Nordby 2019 2020 Ron DeSantis RepublicanAdam S Tanenbaum 2019 2020 Ron DeSantis RepublicanRobert E Long Jr June 10 2020 2024 Ron DeSantis RepublicanSee also EditFlorida Second District Court of Appeal Florida Third District Court of Appeal Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal Florida Sixth District Court of AppealReferences Edit Morgan Lucy Jan 18 2011 Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady imposes order to prevent another Taj Mahal St Petersburg Times Archived from the original on 2011 01 20 Retrieved 2011 01 21 Morgan Lucy Katie Sanders Jan 15 2011 Judge behind lavish courthouse lied in his testimony legislator says St Petersburg Times Archived from the original on 2011 01 18 Retrieved 2011 01 21 District Courts of Appeal Flcourts gov State of Florida Retrieved 8 May 2023 Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Totals 2010 2020 United States Census Bureau Retrieved November 7 2021 Succession of Justices of Supreme Court of Florida Archived 2016 12 06 at the Wayback Machine Florida First District Court of AppealExternal links EditFlorida First District Court of Appeal Website Website of the Florida District Courts of Appeal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Florida First District Court of Appeal amp oldid 1166166450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
