Plant City attorney Jamey Moody is looking to make the jump to judge in 2018.
Much like there must always be a Stark in Winterfell, so too, it seems, there must always be a Moody in the 13th Judicial Circuit Court.
James “Jamey” Moody III announced Nov. 8 that he’d be the next member of Plant City’s first family of justice to vie for a spot on the bench in Hillsborough County’s circuit court.
The Moody family has a close association with the 13th Judicial Circuit. Moody’s grandfather, James Moody Sr., was its presiding judge in the mid-1960s; his father, James Moody, Jr., served as a judge on the 13th between 1994 and 2000, before being appointed to the U.S. District Court by then-President Bill Clinton in 2000; and his sister, Ashley Moody, stepped down from the 13th Judicial Court’s bench in April to run for Attorney General.
“It’s always been an interest of mine to serve. If you do a good job and you do the job of a judge the way you’re supposed to, you’re an asset,” Moody said. “If you look, I’ve got 14 years of circuit experience. One-hundred-percent of my career is circuit experience.”
Moody has been a prosecutor for nearly 14 years and currently practices for the Tampa-based firm Jayson, Farthing, Skafidas & Wright. He also works with Bay Area Legal Services as a volunteer attorney taking on cases pro bono. In addition to his legal experience, Moody has a number of civic credits under his belt. He was recently reappointed to Plant City’s planning board, a member of Plant City’s Noon Rotary Club, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Historic Plant City Main Street and more. Moody said he is always fully engaged, serving on the boards of the organizations he joins.
Despite growing up in a family with a storied judicial history in Plant City and Florida as a whole, Moody said getting to the bench wasn’t always the goal. The legacy was an influence, he said, but not a mandate. Before completing law school, he worked in the finance sector. It wasn’t until then, he said that he decided to pursue law. It was only after beginning a legal career, he said, that the idea of being a judge became the goal.
“It’s something that, as I got out of law school and started practicing, I began to understand that it was something I want to pursue,” Moody said. “As a lawyer, you’re always learning, especially when it comes to litigation. Technically the minimum requirement is five years (of practice to become a judge). I didn’t feel I was ready. I wouldn’t be doing anyone any favors. At this point in my career, I feel I’m ready.”
Moody is also a member of the Federalist Society, an influential organization compromised mostly of conservative-leaning lawyers. Moody said any personal political beliefs would not influence him on the bench.
“You have to have the ethics and discipline to ignore that (personal beliefs) and follow where the law leads you,” Moody said. “When that doesn’t happen, the system breaks down.”
Moody is running to replace retiring Judge Robert Foster. His opponents so far include Cissy Boza Sevelin, Starr Brookins and Robin Fuson.
