J. David Langford
J. David Langford
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
J. David Langford's overall rating didn't change, but he did slip one spot in The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers.
He was ranked fourth among 28 circuit judges, with an overall rating of 8.25 out of 10. The same overall rating in 2008 garnered him third place.
This year, his highest individual category was 8.57 for professional conduct. His lowest was 8.00 for written decisions.
His current assignment is primarily handling various administrative matters as chief judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit, which covers Highlands, Hardee and Polk counties.
Some lawyers commented they wished Langford was still handling a regular docket but felt he was doing well as chief judge.
"He is missed on the bench," one wrote. "Embodiment of professionalism."
"Really good choice as chief judge," another wrote. "Gets along well with bench/bar."
A few criticized Langford, saying he hasn't been tough enough in the role of chief judge.
After hearing the anonymous comments, Langford said, "I am doing it the best I know how."
Langford, 59, earned his law degree from the University of Florida.
His legal career includes serving as an assistant state attorney, and working in private practice.
He was elected to the Highlands County bench in 1986 and then appointed to the circuit bench in 1989.
He lives in Avon Park with his wife, Anna. They have three children.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.25 | 8.12 | 8.31 | 8.00 | 8.57 |
Comments
Always a pleasure to appear before David.
Wish there were more like him. Courteous to all. Well reasoned decisions.
Excellent judge. Has patience of Job.
Excessive self-regard, which sometimes spills over into the courtroom. Arrogant, sometimes capricious. His success is owed to the "good ole boy" network.
Bored lately.
Common sense.
Fabulous and well deserving of respect.
Not tough enough as a chief judge.
He allows his personal feelings about various attorneys affect the propriety of his rulings. Displayed an utter lack of courage in his failure to take action to deal with Judge Susan Roberts' inappropriate behavior as detailed by The Ledger article "Judgi
Excellent job as chief judge.
Great speaker and good person. Takes too long to reach a decision and is too helpful to Pro Se's.
He is missed on the bench. Embodiment of professionalism.
He is missed on the regular bench. A great jurist loss to administration.
Really good choice as Chief Judge. Gets along well with bench/bar.
Arrogant.
Too political. Too often chooses the safe decision rather than showing leadership on an issue.
A gentleman's gentleman. Very deliberate, bright and analytical.
Great Administrative Judge
Wish there were more like him. Courteous to all. Well reasoned decisions.
Excellent judge. Has patience of Job.
Excessive self-regard, which sometimes spills over into the courtroom. Arrogant, sometimes capricious. His success is owed to the "good ole boy" network.
Bored lately.
Common sense.
Fabulous and well deserving of respect.
Not tough enough as a chief judge.
He allows his personal feelings about various attorneys affect the propriety of his rulings. Displayed an utter lack of courage in his failure to take action to deal with Judge Susan Roberts' inappropriate behavior as detailed by The Ledger article "Judgi
Excellent job as chief judge.
Great speaker and good person. Takes too long to reach a decision and is too helpful to Pro Se's.
He is missed on the bench. Embodiment of professionalism.
He is missed on the regular bench. A great jurist loss to administration.
Really good choice as Chief Judge. Gets along well with bench/bar.
Arrogant.
Too political. Too often chooses the safe decision rather than showing leadership on an issue.
A gentleman's gentleman. Very deliberate, bright and analytical.
Great Administrative Judge
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
J. David Langford's overall rating didn't change, but he did slip one spot in The Ledger's biennial survey of local lawyers.
He was ranked fourth among 28 circuit judges, with an overall rating of 8.25 out of 10. The same overall rating in 2008 garnered him third place.
This year, his highest individual category was 8.57 for professional conduct. His lowest was 8.00 for written decisions.
His current assignment is primarily handling various administrative matters as chief judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit, which covers Highlands, Hardee and Polk counties.
Some lawyers commented they wished Langford was still handling a regular docket but felt he was doing well as chief judge.
"He is missed on the bench," one wrote. "Embodiment of professionalism."
"Really good choice as chief judge," another wrote. "Gets along well with bench/bar."
A few criticized Langford, saying he hasn't been tough enough in the role of chief judge.
After hearing the anonymous comments, Langford said, "I am doing it the best I know how."
Langford, 59, earned his law degree from the University of Florida.
His legal career includes serving as an assistant state attorney, and working in private practice.
He was elected to the Highlands County bench in 1986 and then appointed to the circuit bench in 1989.
He lives in Avon Park with his wife, Anna. They have three children.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By GARY WHITE
The Ledger
Chief Circuit Judge J. David Langford is making steady progress up the local judicial rankings.
Langford placed fifth among area circuit judges in The Ledger's 2004 survey of lawyers. In 2006, he rose to fourth. This year, Langford was rated third among 25 circuit judges with an average overall rating of 8.25.
Langford, who was elected chief judge by a conference of judges in 2007, received a cumulative rating of 8.66 in professional conduct, second-best among the 25 judges. He ranked third in the other categories, legal ability, communication ability and written decisions.
"While Judge Langford has made some rulings I didn't agree with, his logic and legal reasoning are clear," one lawyer wrote. "He always treats everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism."
One called him "a great judge and a great human being," and another labeled him "the pride of the 10th Circuit" and "an inspiration to attorneys."
Still another had this to say: "Sounds like Andy Griffith, thinks like Perry Mason."
While Langford received mostly complimentary assessments, he did have his detractors. One lawyer called him indecisive, and another claimed he is "sometimes afraid to rule against the good ole boys." Another critic charged that he "lets his dislike of certain attorneys affect his rulings."
"Whoever that is responds that same way every time," Langford said. "You can't please all the people all the time, and in this job you've got to make a call."
"I just appreciate the comments," he said. "That's how we move forward - you hear the good and you hear the bad and you try to keep doing the things that are good and improve on the things that are bad."
Langford, 57, grew up in Frostproof and earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Florida. He served as a prosecutor in Sebring before going into private practice. He was appointed to the circuit in 1989 and has been elected three times since, most recently without opposition in 2002. He is up for election this year.
He lives in Avon Park with his wife, Anna. They have three children and two grandchildren.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.25 | 8.18 | 8.26 | 7.88 | 8.66 |
Comments
J. David Langford
While Judge Langford has made some rulings I didn't agree with, his logic and legal reasoning are clear.
He always treats everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism.
A gentleman of the first order.
A great judge and a great human being.
An outstanding jurist.
Extremely patient; very knowledgeable; most professional judge I've ever been in front of.
Fair and professional.
Fantastic judge; the pride of the 10th circuit, an inspiration to attorneys.
Great as administrative judge.
Great choice for chief judge.
Hard worker, excellent trial judge; always professional
A Good judge.
Knowledgeable, fair.
Model judge who others should emulate; does not play favorites, he learns the facts and follows the law.
Slow to rule at times, but makes good decision when he does.
Sometimes afraid to rule against the good ole' boys.
Sometimes distant.
Sounds like Andy Griffith, thinks like Perry Mason; great leader very visible even in Lakeland; amazing.
Underappreciated; one of the best.
What more can you say.
While Judge Langford has made some rulings I didn't agree with, his logic and legal reasoning are clear.
He always treats everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism.
A gentleman of the first order.
A great judge and a great human being.
An outstanding jurist.
Extremely patient; very knowledgeable; most professional judge I've ever been in front of.
Fair and professional.
Fantastic judge; the pride of the 10th circuit, an inspiration to attorneys.
Great as administrative judge.
Great choice for chief judge.
Hard worker, excellent trial judge; always professional
A Good judge.
Knowledgeable, fair.
Model judge who others should emulate; does not play favorites, he learns the facts and follows the law.
Slow to rule at times, but makes good decision when he does.
Sometimes afraid to rule against the good ole' boys.
Sometimes distant.
Sounds like Andy Griffith, thinks like Perry Mason; great leader very visible even in Lakeland; amazing.
Underappreciated; one of the best.
What more can you say.
Article
By GARY WHITE
The Ledger
Chief Circuit Judge J. David Langford is making steady progress up the local judicial rankings.
Langford placed fifth among area circuit judges in The Ledger's 2004 survey of lawyers. In 2006, he rose to fourth. This year, Langford was rated third among 25 circuit judges with an average overall rating of 8.25.
Langford, who was elected chief judge by a conference of judges in 2007, received a cumulative rating of 8.66 in professional conduct, second-best among the 25 judges. He ranked third in the other categories, legal ability, communication ability and written decisions.
"While Judge Langford has made some rulings I didn't agree with, his logic and legal reasoning are clear," one lawyer wrote. "He always treats everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism."
One called him "a great judge and a great human being," and another labeled him "the pride of the 10th Circuit" and "an inspiration to attorneys."
Still another had this to say: "Sounds like Andy Griffith, thinks like Perry Mason."
While Langford received mostly complimentary assessments, he did have his detractors. One lawyer called him indecisive, and another claimed he is "sometimes afraid to rule against the good ole boys." Another critic charged that he "lets his dislike of certain attorneys affect his rulings."
"Whoever that is responds that same way every time," Langford said. "You can't please all the people all the time, and in this job you've got to make a call."
"I just appreciate the comments," he said. "That's how we move forward - you hear the good and you hear the bad and you try to keep doing the things that are good and improve on the things that are bad."
Langford, 57, grew up in Frostproof and earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Florida. He served as a prosecutor in Sebring before going into private practice. He was appointed to the circuit in 1989 and has been elected three times since, most recently without opposition in 2002. He is up for election this year.
He lives in Avon Park with his wife, Anna. They have three children and two grandchildren.