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Editorial: Menendez leaves strong legacy as Hillsborough chief circuit judge

 
Manuel Menendez Jr. leaves the Hillsborough County Courthouse a much better place as he retires after serving nearly 14 years as chief judge.
Manuel Menendez Jr. leaves the Hillsborough County Courthouse a much better place as he retires after serving nearly 14 years as chief judge.
Published Dec. 30, 2014

Manuel Menendez Jr. leaves the Hillsborough County Courthouse a much better place as he retires after serving nearly 14 years as chief judge. His successor as chief, Circuit Judge Ron Ficarrotta, should build on Menendez's achievements by continuing to make the circuit more professional, visible and accountable.

Menendez, 67, was first appointed to the county bench in 1983 by then-Gov. Bob Graham, later rising to the circuit bench. He was elected by his peers as chief judge in July 2001 amid the fallout of a sweeping number of misconduct cases that triggered the forced retirement of several longtime judges.

Although he took over during a difficult time, Menendez quickly asserted his authority and raised the ethical bar, improving public confidence in the Hillsborough courts along the way. The former federal prosecutor got authorities to declare a clean bill of health at the courthouse, and his steadying influence won the praise of then-Gov. Jeb Bush. In recent years, Menendez has raised the circuit's profile across the state as he has worked with lawmakers on court funding issues.

Menendez had help turning around the courthouse; during his tenure, successive governors filled some judicial vacancies with strong appointments, and voters over the years have helped strengthen and diversify the bench. But Menendez fostered a more open environment that led to more competitive elections. And he recognized the need to project a positive, public face for the sake of maintaining public faith in the judicial system.

Ficarrotta, who takes over Thursday, needs to be equally protective of the circuit's image. A 56-year-old former prosecutor, he is the grandson of an Ybor City baker, an experienced and personable hand who can juggle the many demands of the 62 judges in the circuit. As chief, Ficarrotta plays more than a ministerial role in assigning judges to the various civil and criminal divisions. He also has the obligation to ensure the circuit is well-run and the authority to try new approaches to deal with caseloads.

In one of his final acts as chief, Menendez this month disbanded Hillsborough's sex offender court, which had become highly charged under Circuit Judge Chet Tharpe. It was a good move by Menendez that should bring greater fairness to these proceedings. And Ficarrotta is sending the right signals, too, vowing to be open, transparent and collegial.

The public doesn't see much about how the courthouse works aside from occasional jury duty. But chief judges hold sway over which judges hear certain types of cases, and the tone they set in their dealings with court clerks, elected officials, lawyers and law enforcement goes a long way in establishing professional standards in the courthouse. The community should be proud of Menendez's service and look forward to Ficarrotta's tenure.