Kenneth Bell (Florida)
Kenneth B. Bell is a former justice of the Florida Supreme Court. He served on the court from the time of his appointment on December 30, 2002, by Governor Jeb Bush through his retirement on October 1, 2008.
Bell's retirement means Florida's judicial nominating committee must compile a list of viable replacements to be submitted to Governor Charlie Crist for official selection.[1]
Bell, during his time on the court, was the only justice on the Court with prior experience as a trial judge.[2]
Legal education and experience
Justice earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Davidson College in North Carolina in 1978. He received his J.D. cum laude from Florida State University College of Law in 1982.
Upon graduation from law school, Justice Bell entered private practice in Pensacola where he practiced until January 1991. In August of 1989, Justice Bell became the first attorney in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to be designated by The Florida Bar as a Board Certified Real Estate Attorney. While in private practice, Justice Bell was an active member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections of both The Florida Bar and the American Bar Association. He was also active in the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association and a member of the American Judicature Society.[3]
Legal Focus
His private practice focused primarily upon commercial and residential real estate. He lectured at both state and local continuing education courses on tenancies, real estate contracts, leasing, commercial real estate financing, mechanic's lien law, attorney-realtor relationships, and other matters.
On Circuit and Supreme Court Service
In January of 1991, Justice Bell became the youngest circuit judge in the history of the First Judicial Circuit of Florida. As a trial judge, Justice Bell presided over a general jurisdiction division for the first 10 years. He handled more than 27,500 circuit court cases in his 12 years on the circuit bench. He also served as an administrative judge and on various circuit committees.
As a member of the Florida Supreme Court, Justice Bell serves as liaison to the Local Rules Advisory Committee, the Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Contract and Business Cases, the Court Accessibility Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity, the Trial Court Budget Commission, the Trial Court Performance and Accountability Commission, and the Florida Bar's Committees on the Rules of Judicial Administration, Small Claims Rules, and Traffic Court Rules. He also serves as a member of the Judicial Management Council.[4]
Judicial Interests and Associations
Throughout his service on the trial bench, Justice Bell was actively involved in improving the justice process. From 1996-2000, Justice Bell served as a Master Judge in the Pensacola Chapter of the American Inns of Court. In 1999, he was member of the Florida Delphi Study Commission-Judges Committee. From 2000-2002, he served on the Supreme Court's Circuit Committee on Professionalism. And from 1991-2001, Justice Bell was a member of the Board of Directors of Justice Fellowship, having served on the Executive Committee and as Vice President.
Justice Bell has also emphasized improving the judicial process as it impacted children. He opened the first child witness room in the circuit and catalyzed the opening of the only PACE Center for Girls in the First Circuit. He worked with local officials to establish a juvenile boot camp program and to develop system-wide school violence prevention programs. He also regularly trained guardian ad litem volunteers.[5]
Florida Constitution
Since his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court, Justice Bell has been invited by various groups around the state to speak on Revision 7 to Article V of the Florida Constitution, which regards courtroom professionalism, as well as on other subjects.
Foreign Interests
Justice Bell was active in helping to improve the lives of people in foreign countries. He was the Founding President and Board Member of Yan-Bian Chinese-Korean Technical University, the first private university in mainland China since the communist revolution. Justice Bell also served as a Board Member and President of Proclamation International, which assisted Ugandans in rebuilding their nation after the fall of Idi Amin.
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Footnotes
