Gains State-Wide Reputation for His Method of Handling Office
“Only a hundred and costs this time, and don’t let me see you here again soon. That’s all for today.” And County Judge Paul ALBRITTON removes the cigar from his mouth and walks from the court room.
Since his appointment a year ago last June to county judgeship Mr. ALBRITTON has gained a state-wide reputation through his severity in dealing with criminals. But with this he has also made himself well known among all classes as an honest judicial officer.
To use his own words, the judge said, “I want every man who appears before me to know that I am not here to punish him but to correct him. Every man in my court is to make himself feel entirely at home, but those who acquire a habit of coming here I usually sentence heavily enough that they don’t appear a second time.”
Judge ALBRITTON, the youngest man to ever hold office of judge in Sarasota county, is a native of this state. He was born 29 years ago in Bee Ridge and attended school there until Sarasota high school was started in 1909. He was the first man to be graduated from the Sarasota high school.
In 1915 he enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended that school until World War was declared, when he enlisted in the United States Navy. Before the end of he war Judge ALBRITTON had gained the rank of ensign. He served in the <…> division at Pensacola until <…> armistice was signed, going back to Boston to complete his education at that time. In 1920 he was graduated with A.B. and LLB degrees and returned to Florida to practice law with the firm of ALBRITTON and CLARKE of this city.
In June of 1924 he was appointed county judge by Governor MARTIN. He was re-elected to the bench one year later when his term expired. Since taking office the judge has made many friends among the jurors, lawyers and officers of the county.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 4 October 1925. Available at Google News Archive.
Contributed by: Taneya Koonce