There were several people who could not attend the celebration of the life of Jim Slater and they asked me to write an account. Believe me I can not do the event justice but here is a brief summary of what occurred.
Courtroom E in the Manatee County Courthouse was overflowing as the noon hour approached. Most of the judges from the 12th Judicial Circuit were present, including old friends Lynn Silvertooth, Bob Boylston and Harry Rapkin. Lots of attorneys who got their start at the Public Defender’s Office and who had worked with Jim came to remember him. Jim was loved by attorneys throughout Florida, and there were representatives from Public Defender’s offices in Bartow, Orlando, Pinellas, Ocala and Daytona Beach on hand. There was a nice turnout from the State Attorney’s Office showing that adversaries don’t have to be enemies. And then there were the court reporters, clerks, legal and judicial assistants, and the other necessary people in the criminal justice system who had been touched by Jim in one manner or another.
Judge Peter Dubensky officiated and made clear from the outset that there would be humorous recollections of Jim. Judge Dubensky described trying cases with Jim and the great friendships that had developed under stressful conditions. Elliott Metcalfe first met Jim as a prosecutor and they had several epic battles. After Elliott was elected, he made Jim one of his first hires because of the respect he had developed for Jim’s legal skills. Jim had married Elliot and Becky on May 5th, 1985. Judge Deno Economou was formerly the lead prosecutor in a number of serious cases where Jim was defense counsel. Judge Economou praised Jim’s skills and said that he made all of us better at our jobs. He gave the example of a crime scene technician who had vowed to do a thorough job so that she would be ready for all of Jim’s questions at deposition.
Nancy Smith had prepared a touching and funny photo montage that was played on a screen at the front of the courtroom. I don’t have the skills to post it on the web but I could forward a copy to you.
Judge Rick Defuria and Jim Slater had been the best of friends since law school. Judge Defuria told us what a comfort Hospice had been over the past few weeks, and how they had advised that they spend Jim’s short time left by recounting happy memories. Judge Defuria then proceeded to leave the crowd in stitches as he told a number of funny stories. Apparently Judge Defuria has asked for a pony for his birthday since he was a little boy. One year he was called off the bench to take a phone call, and found a camera crew and pony that Jim had arranged as a birthday surprise.
Everyone left the ceremony with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye. There is no doubt that Jim Slater had a positive impact upon others during his life, and that his memory is an inspiration to those he left behind.
