Judicial Profiles
by
Mark A. Sylvester*
Judge Thomas S. Wilson, Jr.
by
Mark A. Sylvester*
Judge Thomas S. Wilson, Jr.
With 18 years on the bench, Judge Wilson is one of the most experienced Judge’s serving on the Miami Dade County Circuit Court. In August of 2008, Judge Wilson was re-elected for yet another 6 year term. He ran without opposition, and in fact has not had opposition since his first campaign for election in 1989. This term, however, will be Judge Wilson’s last term on the bench. The Florida Constitution provides that “no judge or justice shall serve after attaining the age of seventy years except upon temporary assignment or to complete a term...” Judge Wilson will reach the age of 70 at the conclusion of his current 6 year term in 2014. At that time, he will leave behind a 24 year legacy on the bench, and another 20 years of service in the Florida legal community.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Judge Wilson moved to Maryland at a young age when his father took a job as a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. He attended elementary and junior high school in Maryland, and completed the majority of his high school education at the Blair Academy in New Jersey. Judge Wilson completed his undergraduate studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, obtaining a B.A. in history in 1971. While at Dickinson, he lettered in soccer and baseball. He was also a member of the Skull & Key Honorary Society.
His path to law school was based on practicality and the importance of education which was always stressed in his family. Judge Wilson has an older brother who was enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law while the judge was engaged in his undergraduate studies. Judge Wilson reasoned that his older brother may be onto something good by choosing a law school in a warm climate; so he followed his brother south.
While in law school at the University of Miami, Judge Wilson was elected President of the Student Bar Association, and was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society and the Bar and Gavel Honor Society. After his first year of school, he was enlisted into the United States Navy, where he served our country for one year before returning to obtain his Juris Doctorate in 1971.
Upon graduation from law school, Judge Wilson accepted a position as a research aid for Florida Supreme Court Justice James C. Adkins, Jr. Thereafter, in 1973, the Judge worked briefly as an associate with the law firms of Preddy, Haddad, Kutner & Hardy, P.A., and John R. Farrell, P.A. In 1974, Judge Wilson left private practice and accepted a position as an Assistant Public Defendant with the Dade County Public Defender’s Office. As a young Public Defender, he was assigned to Judge Gerald T. Wetherington’s Division. One could call this assignment a “turning point” in the Judge’s career. During his first year in Judge Wetherington’s Division he tried over 20 trials; everything from minor crimes to 1st degree murder. Over time, he and Judge Wetherington developed not only a respect for each other, but a friendship that continues to this day.
Judge Wilson credits Judge Wetherington for planting the seed in his mind to pursue a career on the bench. “From my first appearance in front of Judge Wetherington, I was impressed with how he handled the courtroom, and his passion and perspective on the law,” Judge Wilson commented. “It was that experience, and my friendship with Judge Wetherington, that influenced me to consider a career on the bench.”
In 1978, after 4 years with the Public Defender’s Office, Judge Wilson re-entered private practice creating the Law Office of Thomas S. Wilson, Jr., P.A. In private practice the judge primarily handled criminal matters. He continued in private practice until 1984, when he began seriously considering a career on the bench. In order to obtain his goal, Judge Wilson decided that he needed to round-out his legal experience by accepting a position with State Attorney’s Office. In 1984, he took a position as Assistant State Attorney working under Janet Reno. He prosecuted cases for another 3 years before being appointed by then Governor Robert Martinez to serve as a General Magistrate in the Family Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. “Being assigned to the Family Court with no previous family law experience presented a very steep learning curve, but I enjoyed the challenge and it prepared me thoroughly for what was to come,” said Judge Wilson. What was to come was a successful campaign in 1989 that resulted in the Judge’s election to the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
Eighteen years later, Judge Wilson still enjoys his job as much as he did when he first took the bench. “I’ve been blessed to have a great group of people to work with,” the judge said. “My judicial assistant, Patty Mendez-Puerto, has been with me for 19 years. My bailiff Todd Jackson “TJ,” was with me for 16 years,” the judge said. TJ recently accepted a job with the Department of Corrections, but in keeping with the team and family approach of Judge Wilson’s chambers, Patty’s son Ralph has taken over as bailiff. The feeling in the Judge’s Chambers is certainly mutual as Patty Mendez-Puerto said, “Judge Wilson exemplifies the characteristics of what a Judge should be - honorable in every aspect. Yet his kindness and compassion are attributes that really define his personality, all with a great sense of humor. He seizes every opportunity to praise his staff and that moves us to always do our very best.”
Judge Wilson particularly enjoys the Civil General Jurisdiction Division in which he now serves, and due to his seniority, he will likely remain there for the next 6 years. “In the Civil General Jurisdiction Division, we cover a very broad range of issues, “ the judge said. “Even after 18 years, I’m always learning something knew, and it’s always interesting.”
Throughout the years, Judge Wilson has been recognized for his service on the bench by several organizations. In 1999, the American Board of Trial Advocates, Miami Charter, recognized Judge Wilson as their “Trial Judge of the Year.” In 2003, Judge Wilson received the Steve Levine Award from the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association.
Outside of the courtroom, Judge Wilson is an avid golfer. Unfortunately, like many athletes, Judge Wilson has recently been slowed by injuries, but if you keep a look-out you may spot the judge on the links at Melreese or the Key Biscayne Golf Course.
While mandatory retirement precludes Judge Wilson from continuing to serve from the bench after 2014, he is not planning on slowing down. When asked about what the future may hold, Judge Wilson commented, “I may once again follow in my friend Judge Wetherington’s footsteps and try my hand at mediation. The law has been my life and I have enjoyed it greatly and really can’t imagine any other career.”
Born in Portland, Oregon, Judge Wilson moved to Maryland at a young age when his father took a job as a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. He attended elementary and junior high school in Maryland, and completed the majority of his high school education at the Blair Academy in New Jersey. Judge Wilson completed his undergraduate studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, obtaining a B.A. in history in 1971. While at Dickinson, he lettered in soccer and baseball. He was also a member of the Skull & Key Honorary Society.
His path to law school was based on practicality and the importance of education which was always stressed in his family. Judge Wilson has an older brother who was enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law while the judge was engaged in his undergraduate studies. Judge Wilson reasoned that his older brother may be onto something good by choosing a law school in a warm climate; so he followed his brother south.
While in law school at the University of Miami, Judge Wilson was elected President of the Student Bar Association, and was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society and the Bar and Gavel Honor Society. After his first year of school, he was enlisted into the United States Navy, where he served our country for one year before returning to obtain his Juris Doctorate in 1971.
Upon graduation from law school, Judge Wilson accepted a position as a research aid for Florida Supreme Court Justice James C. Adkins, Jr. Thereafter, in 1973, the Judge worked briefly as an associate with the law firms of Preddy, Haddad, Kutner & Hardy, P.A., and John R. Farrell, P.A. In 1974, Judge Wilson left private practice and accepted a position as an Assistant Public Defendant with the Dade County Public Defender’s Office. As a young Public Defender, he was assigned to Judge Gerald T. Wetherington’s Division. One could call this assignment a “turning point” in the Judge’s career. During his first year in Judge Wetherington’s Division he tried over 20 trials; everything from minor crimes to 1st degree murder. Over time, he and Judge Wetherington developed not only a respect for each other, but a friendship that continues to this day.
Judge Wilson credits Judge Wetherington for planting the seed in his mind to pursue a career on the bench. “From my first appearance in front of Judge Wetherington, I was impressed with how he handled the courtroom, and his passion and perspective on the law,” Judge Wilson commented. “It was that experience, and my friendship with Judge Wetherington, that influenced me to consider a career on the bench.”
In 1978, after 4 years with the Public Defender’s Office, Judge Wilson re-entered private practice creating the Law Office of Thomas S. Wilson, Jr., P.A. In private practice the judge primarily handled criminal matters. He continued in private practice until 1984, when he began seriously considering a career on the bench. In order to obtain his goal, Judge Wilson decided that he needed to round-out his legal experience by accepting a position with State Attorney’s Office. In 1984, he took a position as Assistant State Attorney working under Janet Reno. He prosecuted cases for another 3 years before being appointed by then Governor Robert Martinez to serve as a General Magistrate in the Family Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. “Being assigned to the Family Court with no previous family law experience presented a very steep learning curve, but I enjoyed the challenge and it prepared me thoroughly for what was to come,” said Judge Wilson. What was to come was a successful campaign in 1989 that resulted in the Judge’s election to the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
Eighteen years later, Judge Wilson still enjoys his job as much as he did when he first took the bench. “I’ve been blessed to have a great group of people to work with,” the judge said. “My judicial assistant, Patty Mendez-Puerto, has been with me for 19 years. My bailiff Todd Jackson “TJ,” was with me for 16 years,” the judge said. TJ recently accepted a job with the Department of Corrections, but in keeping with the team and family approach of Judge Wilson’s chambers, Patty’s son Ralph has taken over as bailiff. The feeling in the Judge’s Chambers is certainly mutual as Patty Mendez-Puerto said, “Judge Wilson exemplifies the characteristics of what a Judge should be - honorable in every aspect. Yet his kindness and compassion are attributes that really define his personality, all with a great sense of humor. He seizes every opportunity to praise his staff and that moves us to always do our very best.”
Judge Wilson particularly enjoys the Civil General Jurisdiction Division in which he now serves, and due to his seniority, he will likely remain there for the next 6 years. “In the Civil General Jurisdiction Division, we cover a very broad range of issues, “ the judge said. “Even after 18 years, I’m always learning something knew, and it’s always interesting.”
Throughout the years, Judge Wilson has been recognized for his service on the bench by several organizations. In 1999, the American Board of Trial Advocates, Miami Charter, recognized Judge Wilson as their “Trial Judge of the Year.” In 2003, Judge Wilson received the Steve Levine Award from the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association.
Outside of the courtroom, Judge Wilson is an avid golfer. Unfortunately, like many athletes, Judge Wilson has recently been slowed by injuries, but if you keep a look-out you may spot the judge on the links at Melreese or the Key Biscayne Golf Course.
While mandatory retirement precludes Judge Wilson from continuing to serve from the bench after 2014, he is not planning on slowing down. When asked about what the future may hold, Judge Wilson commented, “I may once again follow in my friend Judge Wetherington’s footsteps and try my hand at mediation. The law has been my life and I have enjoyed it greatly and really can’t imagine any other career.”
Mark A. Sylvester is a partner at the law firm of Leesfield & Partners, P.A. He specializes in representing plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases.
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