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PUBLIC DISCUSSION - L. B. (BUCKS VOCELLE, M. REGARDING COURT DECISION AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF HONORABLE L. B. VOCELLE Attorney L. B. (Buck) Vocelle, Jr., came before the Board and reported on his activity in the legal proceedings involving his father, Judge L. B. Vocelle, Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit. He requested that the County Attorney take over the case and that the Board support the case and fund the costs. Mr. Vocelle recounted that the case was initiated when a defendant, Robert Lee Dozier, challenged County Judge Wild's ability to hear his felony case. The 4th District Court of Appeal issued an opinion called Dozier v. the Honorable Joe Wild, in which they struck down two administrative orders issued by Judge Vocelle. Those administrative orders appointed Judges Wild and Balsiger to felony cases here in Indian River County. The net effect of the 4th District's decision was to quash these orders, and county judges are no longer able to blanket themselves for hearing felony cases. They must do so on individual assignments. Mr. Vocelle related that we_have a backup in felony caseload in Indian River County and the action of the 4th District has created havoc. Mr. Vocelle stated that he requested to be heard by the Board to help further the legal proceedings and to fund the costs. His legal services on his father's behalf have been pro bono. Mr. Vocelle researched the case and concluded that the best way to challenge the opinion was by a vehicle called a Petition for Writ of Prohibition to the Supreme Court of Florida. He contacted the Attorney General's office but they 'would not represent Judge Vocelle because there is a conflict in that they are representing Judge Wild. They consider it a political football and they did not want .to get involved. in it. Mr. Vocelle felt that the County Attorney's office could become involved because it affects the County so severely. We have more felony cases handled by county judges than other counties, and the speedy trial rule affects those cases. Defendants will not waive speedy trial, and prosecutors are scrambling to get their cases to trial, but we do not have the circuit judge manpower to hear all the cases. Attorney Vitunac advised that -first the Board must decide if this is a Board of County Commissioner issue. He recognized that it is a state issue and a circuit issue, but he was not convinced it is a Board of County Commissioners issue. If the Board took any action, Indian River County would be funding a defense for the whole circuit. The Board members must also decide if they agree October 25, 1994 77 BOOK 93 PAGE 640'