Longtime judge plans retirement

Circuit Judge Catherine Harlan was appointed in 1975 by Gov. Reubin Askew.

By ANITA KUMAR

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 8, 2001

CLEARWATER -- Circuit Judge Catherine Harlan, who has handled criminal and civil cases for more than a quarter century in Pinellas and Pasco counties, plans to retire at the end of the year.

Harlan, who was appointed Pinellas' first female county judge in 1975, will leave office Dec. 31 to spend more time with her family after more than 30 years of service with the state.

"I wanted some more flexibility," Harlan said. "My mother's not in good health. There were so many considerations."

The judge's decision to leave the bench before her term ends in 2005 means Pinellas and Pasco counties will get a total of four new judges in January, including three added by the state Legislature because of the increasing population and caseload.

Harlan, 54, presided over the case of a police officer's involvement in a drug dealing investigation. She declared a ban on judicial endorsements an unconstitutional restriction of free speech. She suggested the idea of adopting a program, now called Helping Children Cope with Divorce, for divorced and divorcing parents.

She was first appointed by Gov. Reubin Askew in 1975 after spending just over four years in the public defender's office. She became the second female on the Pinellas-Pasco circuit bench in 1986 when she was appointed by Gov. Bob Graham.

Since then, she has served as a criminal and family judge, and is now a civil judge. The job, which pays $130,000 a year, has led her to handle felonies, divorce cases and lawsuits alleging damages in excess of $15,000.

She even managed to swear her husband into office.

Harlan is married to Pinellas County Property Appraiser Jim Smith, whose term ends in 2005. She has two adult sons, one who just graduated from Florida State University and another still in college.

Gov. Jeb Bush will appoint Harlan's replacement and the three other judges after receiving recommendations from a judicial board that sorts through nominations. Though the new judges will be appointed, they must run to keep their seats in the next election.

Thirty-five people have applied for the three new judgeships -- one each for the Pinellas-Pasco circuit, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

The Sixth Judicial Nominating Commission now is accepting applications for Harlan's seat.

Applicants must live in Pinellas or Pasco counties, be registered voters, and be a member of the Florida Bar for the past five years.

To apply, lawyers must fill out an application, make nine copies, and deliver the papers to Elise Winters, 600 Cleveland St., Suite 940 in Clearwater by 5 p.m. Oct. 1. Applications are available from Winters and on the Florida Bar Web site at www.flabar.org.

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