Sylvia Melvin

Southern Sage: the Honorable Woodrow Melvin Sylvia Melvin

How many attorneys who start out as small town lawyers end their carees as a judge on the Appellate Court? Woodrow Melvin's passion for the law takes him on a journey into the courts of Florida as well as the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. The stories Woodrow tells from his twenty years working as a circuit court judge are charged with emotion as the reader sees the gut-wrenching decisions he must make whether it be a life-changing child custody case or the life-sentencing off a hardened criminal. Anecdotes, shared by his family, friends and peers show Woodrow as a man of conviction, fairness, humility and humor. A familiar southern, down-home phrase often heard from him by attorneys when discussing a case goes like this, "You know, I don't believe that dog will hunt." The legacy of this hard-working public servant continues to touch the lives of Floridians to this day, especially, in the areaa of public health and education. The old cliche', 'Home town boy makes good' more than applies to Woodrow M. Melvin