2 Noted Polk Judges Get Circuit Court Promotions

LAKELAND | Two highly ranked Polk County judges have been appointed to the last two vacant 10th Judicial Circuit judges' posts.

Gov. Charlie Crist appointed County Judges Michael E. Raiden and Angela Cowden to fill the vacancies on the Circuit Court created by the retirement of Circuit Judges Susan Roberts and Ralph Artigliere.

Although the governor's press office had not released the information by late Thursday afternoon, officials at the Polk County Courthouse and the appointees themselves confirmed the appointments.

Raiden was ranked first among the 10 county judges and Cowden fourth in the recently released Ledger Judges Poll of local members of the Bar Association.

Raiden, in fact, has been number one in the biennial poll since 1996, with the exception of 1998 when he dropped to third.

One of the lawyers rating the judges wrote in his comments about Raiden: "Why is he not on the bench of the 2nd District Court of Appeal? Solomon himself was never a wiser judge of humanity and the human condition."

He was appointed to the county bench in 1994, but promotion to the Circuit Court seemed to elude him.

Raiden was fast becoming the Susan Lucci of judicial nominees after being nominated several times, but being passed over for appointment to the Circuit Court. Lucci, a soap opera star, was nominated for a daytime Emmy 18 years in a row before winning in the 19th year.

"Judge Raiden contributes greatly to all divisions of the court by devoting any time free from his docket to helping others," another lawyer wrote of him.

Raiden, 54, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978. He has previously worked as an assistant public defender and senior staff lawyer for the 2nd District Court of Appeal.

Noted for being reluctant to comment on his many number one ratings in the Judges Polls through the years, Raiden was still sparse in commenting on his appointment.

"I've been poring over my thesaurus for words that mean honored and elated," he said. "I thank the governor. I thank the committee. I thank all the people who encouraged me (to apply for the appointment)."

Cowden, 41, serves as the administrative judge for the county judges, making judicial assignments and keeping an eye on the case loads.

She has served on the county bench for 4 1/2 years and had been a prosecutor for 9 1/2 years prior to her appointment by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2003.

Cowden received her undergraduate degree in chemistry at Florida Southern College and a master's in business. She received her law degree from Stetson University.

She grew up in Lakeland, which is also her current home. She is single.

Cowden said she was "surprised, excited and thrilled" when she heard the news.

"I am always looking for new challenges," she said. "I enjoy serving the people of Polk County and the state of Florida."

One lawyer participating in The Ledger's poll said she "genuinely cares about the people of Polk County more than any other judge; possibly the smartest judge in the circuit; always polite and fair."

Another remarked that described her as "friendly, affable; puts clients at ease; good at explaining system to clients."

Both new Circuit Court judges were among those nominated by the 10th Judicial Nominating Committee and their names sent to Crist, who did his own interviews and then made the decision.

Circuit judges, whose salaries are set by the state, receive $145,080 a year.

[ Bill Rufty can be reached at 802-7523 or bill.rufty@theledger.com. Jason Geary can be reached at 802-7536 or jason.geary@theledger.com ]