[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF JUDGE FRANK BELL FROM THE FIRST JUDICIAL 
                            COURT OF FLORIDA

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                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Judge Frank 
Bell, upon his retirement from presiding on the county and circuit 
benches for the past 38 years. Judge Bell spent his career serving the 
northwest Florida community, and I am proud to recognize his dedication 
and service.
  Judge Bell was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida. After 
graduating from Pensacola High School, Judge Bell enlisted in the Army. 
After serving on active duty and in the reserves, Judge Bell attended 
the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received a B.S. in 
accounting. He furthered his education at the Cumberland School of Law, 
Samford University, where he graduated in 1966.
  Judge Bell returned to his native Pensacola to practice law. He 
worked as a sole practitioner, in addition to prosecuting both capital 
and non-capital cases. In 1972, he was chosen by the people of Escambia 
County, Florida to serve as a County Judge, and in 1985 he was 
appointed to the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, a job which 
Judge Bell has carried out with honor and distinction for 25 years.
  Judge Bell adheres to the judicial philosophy that impartiality must 
be preserved to ensure fairness in our legal system. In Judge Bell's 
view, it is of the upmost importance that judges ``convince the 
litigants that all we want is a fair fight for the party.'' Some 
Americans view the justice system with fear and trepidation; however, 
Judge Bell believes that when citizens experience a fair and impartial 
judiciary firsthand their opinions change completely. According to 
Judge Bell, citizens, ``after serving on a jury where they see the 
system work, they develop a positive attitude.'' Judge Bell's 
unwavering commitment to upholding the law in an unbiased manner is a 
prime example of our legal system working at its best and is a great 
credit to his beloved community.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am honored 
to recognize Judge Frank Bell for his service to northwest Florida and 
to the United States of America.

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