- May 20, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
David Hood referred to as “type triple-A personality”
Colleagues of State Rep. David Hood Jr. spoke with humor and emotion about his personality and career at the Sept. 26 ceremony where he was sworn in as circuit judge.
Scott Cichon, representing Volusia County Civil Trial Attorneys, told the audience that Hood will bring a wealth of knowledge to the bench.
He also said after every trial, there are winners and losers, and a judge has to be willing to be disliked.
“He’s going to be a great judge,” he said to laughter.
It was a ceremonial session of court, with robed judges of the circuit court in attendance on stage at the Performing Arts Center. The crowd included many city and county officials. Hood, a former Ormond Beach city commissioner and mayor, is now the newest circuit judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which covers Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
Jeff Bigman, a law partner of Hood, referred to Hood’s “type triple-A” personality, saying he brings his “own brand of competitiveness” to the golf course.
But, he said he’s sure that Hood will handle his judgeship with “class, efficiency and ingenuity.”
Horace Smith said he has mixed emotions.
“I’ve lost a law partner of 26 years but we’ll have a great judge,” he said.
He said that in addition to his law career, Hood “has been president of every charitable organization in Volusia County.”
Smith also mentioned Hood’s battle with brain cancer, and said he is currently receiving treatment.
“If anybody’s going to beat it, he will,” Smith said. “He remains a positive influence on everyone’s life. His positivity is what keeps him going and what will make him victorious.”
Judge Richard Orfinger gave two bits of advice, with the first being “never pass up a chance to take a leak.” He said that didn’t mean much when he became a judge at the age of 39, but now that he is 62, he sees the wisdom.
The second bit of advice was to use his fellow judges as a resource.
“There is no issue you’re dealing with that they haven’t dealt with,” he said.
Hood mentioned all of the members of his family when it was his turn to speak, including his father who he said was his hero and his mother who gave him the joy of reading. He said he missed his son, Clay, who died this year, and said he thinks about him every day.
Hood said life is not about “finding yourself,” but about “creating yourself, “and said “money doesn’t make you rich, friends make you rich.”
Appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to fill the upcoming vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge David B. Beck, Hood will begin work on Oct. 6 and will preside over family law cases at the Volusia County Courthouse Annex at City Island in Daytona Beach.
Hood has been an attorney since 1978 and received both his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He served as mayor of Ormond Beach from 1994 to 1999 and as Ormond Beach city commissioner from 1992 to 1994. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012.
