Meet the Candidate: Pete Mallory, Circuit Judge 14TH Judicial Circuit Group 2

Pete Mallory is touting his legal experience as one of the main reasons voters should support him in the circuit judge race. “I believe I have the experience and knowledge to be a good circuit court judge,” Mallory said. He wants to be a judge because it is one of the few forms of public service available to attorneys, he added.

Mallory, 51, is running in Group 2 to be a judge in the 14th Judicial Circuit. Mike Reiter is also running for the opening, which was created when Dedee Costello announced she was retiring at the end of this year.

It will be something of a new era in the 14th Judicial Circuit next year. Chris Patterson was elected without opposition as a judge because of Don T. Sirmon’s retirement, and Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce Richard Albritton’s replacement later this year.

Mallory has 27 years of legal experience, served as a JAG Corps captain in the U.S. Army, got his juris doctorate from Loyola University in 1983 and passed the Florida Bar that same year. He is Florida Supreme Court-certified and was selected by a board of his peers as president of the St. Andrew Bay Inn of Court.

The Florida native moved to Bay County 21 years ago after visiting the area on vacation. “The people were friendly, the other attorneys were friendly — it’s been a great place to live,” he said.

Mallory currently runs his own firm, Mallory and Mallory, with his wife, Sherri Denton Mallory. The couple have a 12-year-old daughter.

Sherri Mallory handles commercial law almost exclusively, while Pete Mallory handles civil cases, including divorces, probate and commercial litigation. Mallory has represented every type of client from the indigent to billion-dollar corporations.

Although criminal cases might get most of the media attention, a circuit court judge does as much, if not more, civil work, Mallory stated. He added that he would be prepared to handle criminal cases and has done some criminal work over the years.

Mallory emphasised he has the demeanor and patience necessary to be a judge.

“I will always listen to and respect everybody that comes before me,” he added.