Governor gives Judge Berger the nod

Governor Rick Scott announced to Historic City News today that he has appointed St Johns County Judge Wendy W Berger, of St. Augustine, to the 5th District Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David A Monaco.

Following the resignation of Circuit Judge Robert K Mathis in 2005, Berger began hearing criminal cases and she presides over the St Johns County Adult Drug Court.

In November 2009, Berger submitted her application to fill a vacancy on the First District Court of Appeals created by the resignation of Judge Edward T Barfield, but she was overlooked.

The 43 year-old Berger, earned her undergraduate and law degrees from Florida State University. She served four years as assistant general counsel for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. From 1993 to 2000, she served as an assistant state attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit.

“Judge Berger’s varied experience and abiding commitment to judicial restraint make her exceptionally well qualified for the appellate bench,” Governor Scott said in a statement. “I am confident that she will administer justice with wisdom and impartiality for years to come.”