United States Bankruptcy Court in Florida Appoints Lee Ann Bennett as Clerk of the Court

Chief Bankruptcy Judge Paul M. Glenn announced today that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida has appointed Lee Ann Bennett as Clerk of the Court. Prior to her appointment as Clerk, Bennett, 45, was the Chief Deputy Clerk for almost three years and also served as Acting Clerk for the past seven months pending the Court's appointment of a permanent Clerk to the vacant position. "Hers is an American success story," said Glenn, she has literally come up through the ranks, having held almost every job within the Clerk's office during her 18 years of service to the federal court system. Her performance has been exceptional at every level and in every Division of this Court, she has proven her abilities, and she is highly regarded by all in the Court," he said.

The Clerk of the Court oversees an operating budget of more than $9.6 million and employs more than 160 senior staff, deputy clerks in charge, supervisors, and case managers resident in Tampa, the Court's headquarters, Jacksonville, and Orlando. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida is one of the busiest bankruptcy courts in the nation. Last year, over 64,000 bankruptcy cases were filed in the Middle District of Florida -- the fifth highest caseload in the nation. Demographically, approximately eight million of Florida's fifteen million people reside in the Middle District of Florida. The District comprises 35 of Florida's 67 counties including four of Florida's largest metropolitan areas (Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers). The Clerk of the Court is responsible for managing the administrative activities of the Clerk's office and overseeing the performance of the statutory duties of the office.

The position entails a large number of administrative and managerial functions, including preparing and managing the budget, managing personnel hiring and training, purchasing, case processing, space and facilities, and court information technology systems as well as working with various federal agencies necessary to the Court's fiscal, data processing, and personnel activities. Following Glenn's announcement to all Court employees, made via a live simulcast to the three courthouses housing the Clerk's staff, Bennett said, This truly is a dream come true. The last seven months have re-emphasized something that I have always known, that we have a great bench and a great court family -- one that I am very proud to be a part of. I so look forward to working with each of you [staff] in the years to come, and I look forward to serving the judges of the district and the people who come to this Court.