Gerald B. Cope, Jr.
Gerald B. Cope Jr. is an American lawyer and former judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.[1]
Background
He was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1946. In 1951, his family moved to Melbourne, Florida.
He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1968 and J.D. degree from Florida State University College of Law in 1977, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Florida State University Law Review. He received an LL.M. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992.
Legal career
Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Cope practiced law with Arky, Freed, Stearns, Watson & Greer, P.A. (1978–86) and Greer, Homer, Cope & Bonner, P.A. (1986–88).
He was appointed by Governor Bob Martinez to the Third District Court of Appeal in 1988. He has announced his retirement effective October 31, 2010. He served a two-year term as Chief Judge of the Third District Court of Appeal from July 1, 2005 until June 30, 2007.
He is now in private practice with Akerman Senterfitt.
Notable cases
Florida Department of Children and Families v. In re: Matter of Adoption of X.X.G. and N.R.G. (2010):[2] This ruling struck down the Florida’s statutory ban on gay and lesbian people adopting children in the state.