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New judge almost gave up

Sticking with law school paid off for Don Scaglione, who spent 14 years as a prosecutor.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published February 19, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - County Judge Don Scaglione almost gave up his quest to become a lawyer when he was a struggling first-year law student, his mentor revealed to a crowd of 200 at Scaglione's official swearing-in ceremony on Friday.

Appellate Judge Emiliano Jose "E.J." Salcines, who sits on the state's 2nd District Court, had encouraged a young Scaglione to attend his alma mater, South Texas College of Law.

He also advised Scaglione to stick with law school, despite hardships during his first year, because he said Scaglione was too smart to settle for a job in a sheriff's office.

"Don't be intimidated by those professors of law who look down at you and scare you and give you diarrhea," Salcines told the crowd. "They put their pants on just like the rest of us; they just put them on a little faster."

More than 20 years later, Salcines administered Scaglione's oath of office during the ceremonial investiture service Friday afternoon at the old Hernando County courthouse.

Scaglione, 45, actually had been sworn in before he started conducting judicial business in January. Yet Friday's event was a more formal affair, during which Scaglione received a Bible, a gavel and his black judge's robes in front his family and peers.

It was standing room only in the old-style courtroom with large windows, hardwood floors and high ceilings. Scaglione said he was overwhelmed by the attendance, which included law enforcement officers, lawyers and dignitaries ranging from the 5th Circuit's Chief Judge Victor Musleh and Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy to local bigwigs like developer Gary Schraut, Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court Karen Nicolai and Brooksville Vice Mayor David Pugh.

Scaglione thanked his friends, family members and mentors who had helped him in his career and campaign for office, which he won by defeating 14-year-incumbent Judge Peyton Hyslop.

Scaglione held his wife's hand through much of the ceremony and smiled proudly at his two children, Rachel and Andrew.

"It's been tremendous; I've loved every minute of it," Scaglione said of his first two months on the job. So far, he says, he's especially liked the civil cases, since it's different and new to him. Scaglione served as an assistant state attorney, specializing in homicides, for 14 years.

State Attorney Brad King attended the ceremony and said he hated to see Scaglione leave his office.

"I think he'll be of better service to Hernando County as a judge than he was as a prosecutor," King said.

Longtime family friend Mark MacKinlay of Spring Lake lauded Judge Scaglione's success. He also accepted a bit of credit for persuading Scaglione to pursue law instead of law enforcement. MacKinlay, a retired Florida Highway Patrol lieutenant, had taken a teenage Scaglione on ride-alongs.

"He wanted to be a trooper, and I told him no," MacKinlay said. "There were bigger and better things waiting for him."

The entire county attorney staff also attended. Chief attorney Garth Coller said he has yet to notice a difference in legal decisions under Judge Scaglione, because it's still early and more of the county's legal disputes are now handled by a special master rather than by the county judge.

"We're looking forward to working with him," Coller said.

Jennifer Liberto can be reached at 352848-1434 or liberto@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:57:17]