Governor appoints Christine county court judge

Sterling Ivey reported to Historic City News from the Executive Office of the Governor today that local attorney Alexander R. Christine has been appointed to the St. Johns County Court.

“With over 28 years of legal experience, I am confident that Alex possesses the wisdom, professionalism and leadership that will make him a fair and unbiased judge,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “Alex will serve the citizens of St. Johns County well.”

55 year-old Christine has served as Senior Partner at Christine & Christine, P.A. since 2007.

Historic City News Editor Michael Gold visited Christine in his downtown office this afternoon among a whirlwind of congratulatory telephone calls and excitement over the good news. When we arrived, Christine was receiving congratulations from Senior Circuit Judge Richard O. Watson.

“I am very humbled,” Christine told Gold. “I was being considered among a field of well qualified candidates.” Others nominated for the seat awarded to Christine included Howard O. McGillin Jr., a St. Augustine attorney, Carlos E. Mendoza, assistant city attorney for St. Augustine, Kathleen McNeilly, a DeLand attorney, Denise E. Mensh, a Daytona Beach attorney and Michael B. Wingo, general master-magistrate and child support hearing officer in DeLand.

Christine received the call from Governor Crist earlier today — “it was somewhat of a surprise,” he said. He half-jokingly remarked that he thought it might have been a prank call — he says he had to check the caller ID, just to be sure. It started to sink in as the congratulatory calls continued to come in. Christine had only been able to call his mother and tell her the good news fifteen minutes before we arrived.

In 2006, his wife, Maureen Sullivan Christine, former Division Chief of the St. Johns County State Attorney’s Office, joined him in his law practice. Christine lost his wife to cancer in April.

When Christine returned to work this summer, he was joined by Allyson Boyles Currie, attorney and counselor at law. Currie told Historic City News today that she is very happy for her associate and is eager to continue the practice when Christine takes office as judge.

Christine earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Florida in 1981.

Christine will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Patti Christensen to the Seventh Circuit Court.