USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia / S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 19, No. 3
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January 16, 2019
Her Honor
Bridging the Gavel Gap in Escambia County
A
Board. bench comprised of all one gender is nothing new. As Frydrychowicz welcomes anyone conrecently as 1999, all five of Escambia County Court judges sidering law school to come see her. In were men. However, for the first time in Escambia County’s giving advice, Frydrychowicz believes it history, all five Escambia County Court judges are women.
This development has been a long time coming. Since 1992, the ratio of female to male law school graduates has approached 50/50. Still, women are underrepresented in Florida state courts. Of the 1,034 state court judges in Florida, only 418, or 40 percent, are women. Some may see Escambia County’s all-female bench as a testament to the gains women have made in leadership positions in our area. Others may attribute it to the unique character of our community. Regardless, this milestone was the result of persistence, patience, and dedication by many, including the five distinguished women who currently comprise the county court bench for Escambia County. Judge Joyce H. Williams
Judge Joyce Williams assumed the bench in 2005. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, she attended the University of Florida, where she earned a B.S. in Journalism. She entered the Sears management training program in Norfolk, Virginia, and upon completion, worked as a Sears division manager in Jackson, Mississippi. She returned to the University of Florida to study law and graduated with a J.D. in 1981. She has held the titles of Escambia County staff attorney, first deputy county attorney and assistant city attorney for the City of Pensacola. When then-Governor Jeb Bush appointed her in 2005, she was the first black female county judge in the First Judicial Circuit. Williams advises those considering the legal profession to have very real, honest conversations with themselves and to be clear on their goals and aspirations. It is best to make sure those dynamics will transfer into becoming a successful lawyer. She emphasizes that being a lawyer takes more than just intelligence. It requires, among other things, determination, self-confidence, focus and a dose of humility, when needed. To her, the practice of law is truly a profession and not just a job. She advises anyone who intends to enter the profession to be prepared for hard work and sacrifice to achieve his or her goals. For those already in the profession, lawyers must take care of themselves before they can take care of others. She equates this advice to the flight attendants’ admonition on an airplane. Adults have to put the mask on themselves before putting the masks on children. Similarly, lawyers cannot help others until the lawyers help themselves first. A lawyer cannot have the
mindset that he or she can do and see it all. Instead, a successful lawyer will learn to prioritize every day and every hour. A lawyer should accept that a good day is a day that he or she got something, if not everything, done. She acknowledges that lawyers’ lists are endless. She believes that lawyers deserve compassion when they have done all they could on any given day without doing harm to themselves.
Judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz
Judge Jennifer “J.J.” Frydrychowicz assumed the bench in 2014. She was born in Pensacola and graduated from Gulf Breeze High School. She attended the University of Florida, where she earned a B.A. in Business Administration and a J.D. from the Levin College of Law. During law school, she served as a Florida Bar Foundation fellow and handled Attorney ad Litem cases for Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. She also worked as a Certified Legal Intern who handled dependency matters for the Department of Children and Families in Gainesville. After law school, Frydrychowicz moved to the Washington, D.C. area and was hired by U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. As a staff attorney for Specter, she handled the financial services portfolio and judiciary committee issues. In 2009, she returned to Pensacola and was hired by the State Attorney’s Office as an assistant state attorney. In 2012, she joined the law firm of Luther, Collier, Hodges & Cash, LLP, and primarily practiced insurance defense. In 2014, Governor Rick Scott appointed her to the county court bench. Frydrychowicz currently presides over county criminal matters, traffic matters, and T.E.A.M. Court, a Mental Health Court which is comprised of participants charged with both felonies and misdemeanors. She also serves as a member of the Escambia County Canvassing
is always helpful to know why someone thinks he or she wants to go to law school. She recommends that anyone considering law school seek guidance from practicing attorneys and others with a J.D. She warns that law school is a serious commitment in both time and resources and requires realistic expectations. She applauds the Florida Bar’s efforts to highlight balance in lawyers’ daily lives. She makes exercise a priority to alleviate stress and take care of herself. Also, she encourages others in the profession to ask for help from colleagues, family and friends, if needed.
Judge Amy P. Brodersen
Judge Amy Brodersen assumed the bench in 2016. While attending Woodham High School in Pensacola, Brodersen loved soccer, but her other passions were law and politics. Woodham High School teacher Harrison Ashler recognized this passion for law and arranged for Brodersen to shadow Judge Bill Green in Escambia County Court. Following high school, she interned at one of Pensacola’s largest plaintiffs’ firms. She never forgot the excitement of the courtroom but was concerned about being tied to a desk all day. Eventually, a serious leg injury curtailed her dream of competing in Division I soccer. Due to family commitments, she chose to attend school close to home at the University of South Alabama, where she pursued a path toward teaching, coaching and physical therapy. After graduating with degrees in Education and Sports Medicine, she taught and coached middle school and high school. Coaching taught her patience and time-management skills that she still uses, but she soon realized she yearned for more of an intellectual challenge. At the prompting of friends and family, Brodersen attended Florida Coastal School of Law. After graduation, she and her husband Geoff accepted jobs as assistant state attorneys with the First Judicial Circuit. In 2012, the Pensacola City Attorney recruited Brodersen to become an assistant city attorney for Pensacola. From 2013 to 2016, she served as the general counsel for the Pensacola Police Department, where she drafted policies, revised procedures, investigated claims and assisted with accreditation requirements. In addition, she worked with outside counsel to handle
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by Adrianna Spain complicated civil litigation involving forfeitures, employment law, and excessive use of force. In 2016, Scott appointed her to the bench where she currently presides over county civil and circuit court family law matters. Brodersen advises those who are considering a career in law to make sure law is what they really want to do. She notes that the job market is competitive and law school requires a significant financial investment. For this former competitive soccer player, she finds that her current job is relatively sedentary. She estimates that she spends 90 percent of her time behind computer screens. She recommends regular exercise and spending time with friends and family to survive the stress.
Judge Kerra A. Smith
Judge Kerra Smith assumed the bench in 2016. She is a Pensacola native and graduated from the University of West Florida with a B.A. degree in Legal Studies. She obtained her J.D. from Florida State University and started her legal career as an assistant state attorney with the First Judicial Circuit. She has also worked as an assistant general counsel with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, an assistant general counsel with Florida Board of Bar Examiners, and an assistant county attorney for the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners. Governor Rick Scott appointed her to the Escambia County bench in 2016. She currently presides over a county court criminal docket. Smith agrees that law in Florida is a very competitive field and law school should not be a back-up plan. She notes that Florida has more than 100,000 lawyers. The practice of law is challenging and rewarding, but not everyone is going to get rich or “take America by storm.” She recommends that anyone considering law school should perform a cost-benefit analysis. She also recommends seeking real-life experience. Anyone considering a career should talk with others in the profession and ask to shadow him or her in everyday tasks. She agrees that the best decision is an informed one. As for current attorneys, self-care is critical. She believes that lawyers can only perform their best when they are mentally and physically healthy. She emphasizes that taking time for rest and relaxation is not slacking. To her, rejuvenation is a key component to staying competent and joyful. County Court Judge Pat Kinsey was not available for this article.
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