Stetson University College of Law

Feb 4, 2003:  Gulfport, Fla. - The Florida Second District Court of Appeal signed a historic agreement on Feb. 3 to house its Tampa branch on the Stetson Law Center and Campus in downtown Tampa. The Court will move to the new site when construction is completed in late fall 2003.

"Any university is proud to have a teaching hospital as part of its medical school, and I'm proud to announce that Tampa will be the first place in Florida that is going to have a teaching court facility." said Chief Judge Chris Altenbernd of the Second District Court of Appeal. Only one other law school in the United States has a similar lease agreement with a working court.

The District Court of Appeal will house its Tampa offices and judges chambers on the second floor of Stetson's first major building at the Law Center and Campus. As part of the agreement, the Court will have access to Stetson's state-of-the-art courtroom and law library.

"It's a perfect marriage for everyone involved," said Stetson Dean Gary Vause. "It serves the court and the law school because the court will be able to use modern first class facilities, and of course, it's a great advantage to us to have our students there to see the court in session."

The agreement was signed by Judge Altenbernd, Judge Thomas Stringer, and Dean Vause.

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Stetson University College of Law is Florida's first law school. It has educated lawyers for more than 100 years, and offers continuing legal education programs for regional, state, national and international audiences. Stetson University College of Law tied for first place in Trial Advocacy in the 2003 U.S. News & World Report rankings of law schools. It is also the future headquarters for the National Conference of Law Reviews.