Meet the Author — Thomas R. Eineman
Thomas R. Eineman was a James B. Angell Scholar at the University of Michigan and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with High Distinction in 1979. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in 1985. Mr. Eineman is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar. He has used his expertise to write Florida Family Law Trial Notebook, an invaluable resource for family law attorneys practicing in Florida. In this exclusive Q&A, we get some insight into his transition from attorney to judge.
Q: What made you want to become a judge?
A: I wanted to become a judge to help people solve their problems, and I believe that I possess the attributes of a good judge. As a practicing attorney for more than 28 years, I appeared in front of some good judges—but also some judges of lesser caliber. I want to emulate those judges I thought were very good jurists.
Q: What was the application process like?
A: The application process was nerve-racking, at least once you make it out of committee and your name is sent to the Governor. Initially, you fill out a very long questionnaire and then appear before the judicial nominating commission for your area. From those applicants (there were about 25 when I was appointed) five were chosen to have their names submitted to the Governor. At that point, you obtain letters of recommendation, which are sent to the Governor and his staff; and eventually, you are interviewed by the Governor’s general counsel. Then you just wait (it seems like an eternity) and hope that you are the one selected.
Q: How do you feel your experience as an attorney has helped you in your new appointment?
A: As an attorney, I learned how to prepare and present a case to the cou 
Q: What is the most difficult challenge you’ve faced on the bench?
A: It is difficult to know when a witness or party is being candid in his or her testimony. In my short time on the bench, I have conducted a number of hearings wherein the parties are telling diametrically opposed stories. It is not easy to determine who is telling the truth. Knowing the law is the easy part.
Q: Has your perspective on family law changed?
A: I would not say that my perspective on family law has changed since I became a judge. As an attorney, I knew that family law is a very difficult area within which to practice and not an area in which an attorney should “dabble.” My role as a judge has only solidified my opinion in this regard. It is an area of law that is very dynamic, and whether you are an attorney or a judge, you have to be willing to study and keep up with changes in the law.
