Dick Prince
Dick Prince
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By Bill Rufty
The Ledger
The practice of law and almost 26 years on the bench have been interesting and rewarding, said Circuit Judge Dick Prince, but he is now looking forward to pursuing his passion for music.
Prince, scheduled to retire May 31, ranked seventh out of 28 circuit judges in this year's Ledger survey of lawyers. His overall rating was 8.01. He was ranked sixth in the last survey two years ago, with an overall score of 7.90 percent.
"The most attentive and deliberate judge in the civil division. Makes reasoned and thoughtful decisions. He will be sorely missed," one attorney wrote.
"Most scholarly judge in the circuit," said another.
As in the case of all the judges, there were negatives. Most centered around a longtime complaint about the amount of time Prince takes in deciding a case.
"Too slow to me. Story of his career. He will be missed though," one wrote.
"It is a valid argument," Prince said. "I do take my time. ... Sometimes I will write an order three times. I have been in civil for two years at a time when foreclosures rose."
Positive comments vastly outnumbered negative ones.
"I'm really going to miss Judge Prince. One of my all-time favorite judges. And an excellent fiddle player," one lawyer wrote.
Music is a great love of Prince's. He plans more attention to it when he retires.
"I played with a group of Canadians a couple of weeks ago. People were laughing, slapping their legs and holding hands; totally different" from his day job.
Prince, 58, grew up in Largo and graduated from Stetson University School of Law in 1976.
He worked for the State Attorney's Office until 1984 when he was elected as a county judge. In 1989 he was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Bob Martinez.
Prince and his wife, Lydia, live in Auburndale. He has four adult children.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.01 | 8.08 | 8.07 | 7.68 | 8.22 |
Comments
He will be sorely missed when he retires.
An excellent judge who will be missed when he retires.
It's good he's ready to retire. Will be happier off the bench.
A prince of a man. Compassion, intelligence and temperament. Though to a fault. We'll miss you.
Fine person. Very good judge.
Always fair to all parties. Hate to lose one of our top judges.
Another terrific judge.
The most attentive and deliberate judge in the civil division. Makes reasoned and thoughtful decisions. He will be sorely missed.
We will miss. Best judge!
Most scholarly judge in the circuit.
Pragmatic; fair.
I'm really going to miss Judge Prince. One of my all-time favorite judges. And an excellent fiddle player.
Will miss him when he retires.
Sad to see him go.
Sorry to see him retire.
Excellent judge. He was fair and courteous to both sides. He will be missed.
The best.
Great guy, below average judge.
Lazy.
A scholar and what a judge should be. Great speaker too.
Very intellectual - perfectionistic and thorough. Very conscientious but slow.
His retirement is a terrible loss to the bench.
His retirement is a huge loss to the bar.
Takes too long to decide. Good trial judge. He's retiring soon.
Too slow to me. Story of his career. He will be missed though.
Great courtroom prescence.
Will miss him.
An excellent judge who will be missed when he retires.
It's good he's ready to retire. Will be happier off the bench.
A prince of a man. Compassion, intelligence and temperament. Though to a fault. We'll miss you.
Fine person. Very good judge.
Always fair to all parties. Hate to lose one of our top judges.
Another terrific judge.
The most attentive and deliberate judge in the civil division. Makes reasoned and thoughtful decisions. He will be sorely missed.
We will miss. Best judge!
Most scholarly judge in the circuit.
Pragmatic; fair.
I'm really going to miss Judge Prince. One of my all-time favorite judges. And an excellent fiddle player.
Will miss him when he retires.
Sad to see him go.
Sorry to see him retire.
Excellent judge. He was fair and courteous to both sides. He will be missed.
The best.
Great guy, below average judge.
Lazy.
A scholar and what a judge should be. Great speaker too.
Very intellectual - perfectionistic and thorough. Very conscientious but slow.
His retirement is a terrible loss to the bench.
His retirement is a huge loss to the bar.
Takes too long to decide. Good trial judge. He's retiring soon.
Too slow to me. Story of his career. He will be missed though.
Great courtroom prescence.
Will miss him.
Article
By Bill Rufty
The Ledger
The practice of law and almost 26 years on the bench have been interesting and rewarding, said Circuit Judge Dick Prince, but he is now looking forward to pursuing his passion for music.
Prince, scheduled to retire May 31, ranked seventh out of 28 circuit judges in this year's Ledger survey of lawyers. His overall rating was 8.01. He was ranked sixth in the last survey two years ago, with an overall score of 7.90 percent.
"The most attentive and deliberate judge in the civil division. Makes reasoned and thoughtful decisions. He will be sorely missed," one attorney wrote.
"Most scholarly judge in the circuit," said another.
As in the case of all the judges, there were negatives. Most centered around a longtime complaint about the amount of time Prince takes in deciding a case.
"Too slow to me. Story of his career. He will be missed though," one wrote.
"It is a valid argument," Prince said. "I do take my time. ... Sometimes I will write an order three times. I have been in civil for two years at a time when foreclosures rose."
Positive comments vastly outnumbered negative ones.
"I'm really going to miss Judge Prince. One of my all-time favorite judges. And an excellent fiddle player," one lawyer wrote.
Music is a great love of Prince's. He plans more attention to it when he retires.
"I played with a group of Canadians a couple of weeks ago. People were laughing, slapping their legs and holding hands; totally different" from his day job.
Prince, 58, grew up in Largo and graduated from Stetson University School of Law in 1976.
He worked for the State Attorney's Office until 1984 when he was elected as a county judge. In 1989 he was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Bob Martinez.
Prince and his wife, Lydia, live in Auburndale. He has four adult children.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By Bill Rufty
The Ledger
Dick Prince dropped from fifth to sixth place among the 25 circuit judges critiqued in The Ledger's judges survey, hardly a crash.
He remains in the top quarter of circuit judges with an overall ranking of 7.9 compared to 8.01 in the 2006 survey.
"Still one of the best," one lawyer wrote.
His highest score was in the category of professional conduct and activities at 8.10. His lowest was 7.56 for written decisions.
Prince received praise from a majority of the lawyers: "Fine judge, appellate court material," "Bright scholar of the law," "Another star; only problem is (he) lets attorneys talk too long," and "Methodical, but good."
"I think he's brilliant, a true Renaissance man," another admirer said.
But he also received criticism along the line of: "Slow, slow, unbelievably slow .<0x200A>.<0x200A>.", "Can't make a timely decision."
They are criticisms he has heard back to his county judge days in the 1980s.
"I appreciate the criticism, and I will certainly try to do better," Prince said. "I think criticism helps us. (But) sometimes with crowded dockets and the complexity of a case, it takes longer."
"I try very hard to listen. I think listening and patience are the attributes of a good judge," Prince said.
Prince has handled a civil docket since January. Last year he was assigned to felony court.
Prince, 56, grew up in Largo and graduated from Stetson University and Stetson Law School in 1973 and 1976, respectively.
He worked for the State Attorney's Office and in 1984 was elected as a county judge. In 1989 Prince was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Bob Martinez. His current term expires this year.
He and wife, Lydia, live in Auburndale. He has four adult children.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.90 | 8.01 | 7.93 | 7.56 | 8.10 |
Comments
Dick Prince
A fine judge, appellate court material.
Bright scholar of the law.
Too slow! Wonderful personality and demeanor but needs to move his docket and rule on issues quickly!
Very intelligent, good personality.
Still one of the best.
Excellent in my courtroom; cares for people.
Slow, slow, unbelievably slow; tries to make everyone happy and always has the most crowded docket in the
courthouse.
Always listens to both sides equally.
Runs a lowkey courtroom.
Dick Prince
A great judge and by the book.
Should work more and play less.
Fair; helps work out solutions; good judge.
Can't make timely decisions.
Another star; only drawback is lets attorneys talk too long.
Very slow but good.
Needs to be more active in Bar groups.
Methodical, but good.
Clogs the docket by talking too much, repeating himself and giving endless continuances on cases.
Continues to make practicing law enjoyable.
Judge Prince strives to make the correct decisions, but he is a bit indecisive.
A fine judge, appellate court material.
Bright scholar of the law.
Too slow! Wonderful personality and demeanor but needs to move his docket and rule on issues quickly!
Very intelligent, good personality.
Still one of the best.
Excellent in my courtroom; cares for people.
Slow, slow, unbelievably slow; tries to make everyone happy and always has the most crowded docket in the
courthouse.
Always listens to both sides equally.
Runs a lowkey courtroom.
Dick Prince
A great judge and by the book.
Should work more and play less.
Fair; helps work out solutions; good judge.
Can't make timely decisions.
Another star; only drawback is lets attorneys talk too long.
Very slow but good.
Needs to be more active in Bar groups.
Methodical, but good.
Clogs the docket by talking too much, repeating himself and giving endless continuances on cases.
Continues to make practicing law enjoyable.
Judge Prince strives to make the correct decisions, but he is a bit indecisive.
Article
By Bill Rufty
The Ledger
Dick Prince dropped from fifth to sixth place among the 25 circuit judges critiqued in The Ledger's judges survey, hardly a crash.
He remains in the top quarter of circuit judges with an overall ranking of 7.9 compared to 8.01 in the 2006 survey.
"Still one of the best," one lawyer wrote.
His highest score was in the category of professional conduct and activities at 8.10. His lowest was 7.56 for written decisions.
Prince received praise from a majority of the lawyers: "Fine judge, appellate court material," "Bright scholar of the law," "Another star; only problem is (he) lets attorneys talk too long," and "Methodical, but good."
"I think he's brilliant, a true Renaissance man," another admirer said.
But he also received criticism along the line of: "Slow, slow, unbelievably slow .<0x200A>.<0x200A>.", "Can't make a timely decision."
They are criticisms he has heard back to his county judge days in the 1980s.
"I appreciate the criticism, and I will certainly try to do better," Prince said. "I think criticism helps us. (But) sometimes with crowded dockets and the complexity of a case, it takes longer."
"I try very hard to listen. I think listening and patience are the attributes of a good judge," Prince said.
Prince has handled a civil docket since January. Last year he was assigned to felony court.
Prince, 56, grew up in Largo and graduated from Stetson University and Stetson Law School in 1973 and 1976, respectively.
He worked for the State Attorney's Office and in 1984 was elected as a county judge. In 1989 Prince was appointed to the Circuit Court by Gov. Bob Martinez. His current term expires this year.
He and wife, Lydia, live in Auburndale. He has four adult children.