Judge Christine investiture Friday night

Local attorney Alexander R. Christine was installed as County Court Judge Friday, in an induction ceremony with his mother Kathleen, daughter Sara, and brother, Bobby L. Christine, chief Magistrate Court judge in Columbia County, Georgia, by his side.

Historic City News reported in December that then Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Christine to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Patti Christensen to the Seventh Circuit 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,” Crist said. “Alex will serve the citizens of St. Johns County well.”

Christine earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Florida in 1981. 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 among a whirlwind of congratulatory telephone calls and excitement once the good news was first received.

“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.

Friends, family and contemporaries in the judicial system attended the ceremonies at the Flagler College auditorium to wish Christine well in his new role; which will include hearing ordinance violations, traffic violations, driving under the influence, domestic battery, and stalking.

In 2006, his wife, Maureen, former Division Chief of the St. Johns County State Attorney’s Office, joined him in his law practice. Christine lost his wife to cancer. She died in April 2010 at 55. Christine said his wife was “a great trial lawyer, friend and mother.” He pointed to the sky at the conclusion and said, “Maureen, this one’s for you.”

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer