Fry And New Staff Settling In To 13th District Judge Position

The 13th District’s new judge is settling in, with new support staff trying to get new protocols and procedures in place.

Governor Bill Lee appointed Judge Shaun Fry to fill the new position earlier this fall. The Legislature added another position to deal with increasing caseloads. Putnam Circuit Court Clerk Jennifer Wilkerson said Fry has been working as an attorney in the area for a long time which has led to a nice transition.

“Part of the challenge that we have here at the Justice Center is we’re busting at the seams,” Wilkerson said. “So there is some sort of a challenge in just figuring out the placement of any time you add additional staff, just trying to arrange and get that person in the building. The process has actually been fairly smooth though.”

Wilkerson said along with the judgeship, the district received some additional funding for several other new hires. Wilkerson said those new hires and Fry have worked hard to learn the system. Space has been the biggest issue.

“Other than that the transition has actually been very smooth,” Wilkerson said. “I guess I credit a lot of that to our judges, they’re a wonderful group of people and they’re very good to work with in helping the clerks learn those courts.”

Wilkerson said the appointment by Lee will be followed by an election to permanently fill the position.

“Judge Fry has picked up his papers,” Wilkerson said. “He will be on the ballot this next time and he’ll be running for the seat for criminal court judge here in the 13th Judicial District.”