--- title: "Maurice Paul | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maurice-paul-7020" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Maurice Paul District Court of Appeal of Florida · Judge ## Profile - Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida - State: Florida - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1973-present - 1997–2016: Senior Judge, Northern District of Florida - Maurice Mitchell Paul (May 16, 1932 – December 29, 2016) was an American lawyer and federal judge who served on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida for over three decades - 1993–1997: Chief Judge of the Northern District of Florida - 1982–1997: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, appointed by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the Senate on June 18, 1982 - 1973–1982: Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - After law school, Paul held the role of an interim instructor at the University of Florida College of Law in 1960, then spent over a decade in private practice in Orlando, rising to partner at Akerman Senterfitt and later founding his own firm. ### Education - He obtained a B.S.B.A. from the University of Florida in 1954 and later a J.D. (LL.B.) from the University of Florida College of Law in 1960, graduating with honors and receiving the Order of the Coif. ### Additional information - Maurice Paul died on December 29, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, at age 84. - He first joined the court in 1982 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. - From 1954 to 1957, Paul served in the U.S. Air Force, training in Nevada and California and eventually piloting bombers in the Strategic Air Command’s atomic bomb fleet based in Riverside, California. - Paul was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1932 into a modest family during the Great Depression and World War II. - Succeeded as senior judge by Stephan Mickle. - His career reflected a blend of legal expertise, public service, and community involvement, and he is remembered for his contributions to the federal judiciary and the Orlando legal community. - He also played a key role in creating the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the governing jurisdiction for Walt Disney World. - During his tenure, Paul handled thousands of cases, including civil rights, contract, property, and Social Security matters. - His appellate record showed a high affirmation rate — 217 of 258 reviewed cases were affirmed. - He worked various jobs as a youth, including delivering groceries by bicycle and picking fruit. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media and still photography Scope: statewide Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration. Evidence excerpt: Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowed [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7020/maurice-paul/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7020/maurice-paul/) - [District Court of Appeal of Florida current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7020/maurice-paul/) - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7020/maurice-paul/) - [Paul, Maurice Mitchell](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/paul-maurice-mitchell) - [Maurice Paul](https://ballotpedia.org/Maurice_Paul) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maurice-paul-7020", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maurice-paul-7020", "name": "Maurice Paul | KnowJudges", "description": "Maurice Paul, District Court of Appeal of Florida. 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