Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. Re-Elected as Chief Judge

February 24, 2009

The Judges of the Ninth Judicial Circuit have unanimously elected the Honorable Belvin Perry, Jr. as Chief Judge for the term of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011.  By rule, a Chief Judge is chosen from among the circuit judges and county judges in each judicial circuit to carry out administrative responsibilities within the circuit.  This will be Judge Perry’s seventh term as Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit, having served from 1995 to 1999 and again from 2001 to present.   Judge Perry received his Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, a Masters Degree in Education from Tuskegee University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in History also from Tuskegee University.  Prior to taking the bench as a Circuit Judge in 1989, Judge Perry served as an Assistant State Attorney within the Ninth Circuit.  Along with currently serving as Chief Judge, Judge Perry also serves as the Chair of the Trial Court Budget Commission for the state court system. “I’m humbled and grateful for the confidence of my fellow judges in re-electing me to this position,” said Judge Perry, “The rough economic times we face in society have also brought new challenges to our circuit and the preservation of the rule of law.  As Chief Judge, I look forward to these challenges and the continued opportunity to ensure that an effective and efficient judicial system is maintained for the people of Central Florida.”    The Ninth Judicial Circuit serves Orange and Osceola Counties and is the third largest circuit in Florida.  Currently, there are 65 county and circuit judges serving in the Ninth Circuit.