Circuit Judge Sanders retires from the bench

Circuit Judge Gary Sanders (second to right) and his family. [Gary Sanders on Facebook]

Marion County Circuit Judge Gary Sanders is leaving the bench and retiring after nine years of serving the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

After spending time presiding over felony drug court and adoption proceedings since becoming a judge in 2016, Sanders is retiring with the goal of spending more time with his family.

“I’m going to take time to enjoy my family,” he said. “I have a granddaughter who’s 3 up in Connecticut, and one on the way in a couple of weeks.”

Sanders’ last day on the bench is Jan. 6, and his second granddaughter is due to be born about a week later, he said.

He and his wife, Sandy, hope to spend more time traveling, camping, hiking and going to the beach in his retirement. With his newly found free time, he said he hopes to enjoy reading, writing, cooking and bike riding.

Sanders, 62, previously worked in private practice for 29 years. He was appointed to the Fifth Judicial Circuit by former Gov. Rick Scott to fill the vacancy left by Circuit Judge David Eddy.

Sanders worked at the Bice Cole Law Firm, P.L. from 2000 to 2016; Pattillo, McKeever & Bice from 1993 to 2000; and Pattillo & McKeever in 1987.

Sanders will be replaced by Circuit Judge-Elect Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky, who defeated Ben Boylston for the Group 20 Circuit Court seat in the August election. Kwatkosky has been practicing law since 2003 and has been a full-time magistrate in Marion and Sumter counties since 2016.

Over the past five years, Sanders presided over the felony drug court docket.

“It’s very rewarding for me that court is focused more on restorative justice, as opposed to penalties or prosecuting people,” Sanders said. “It’s about second chances and getting people the help that they need for their addictions.”

Sanders said serving in this capacity gave him a new perspective on his community and the opportunity to help send people on the right path.

“No matter what my decision ultimately is, they feel like they were heard, that I listened to them and that I thought their case mattered,” he said.

He also spent three years presiding over the juvenile dependency and delinquency dockets, presiding over family reunification.

“Terminating parental rights was one of the hardest things I had to do,” Sanders said. “But when I was able to reunite kids with their families, because their parents were able to complete their case plans and become better parents, that was great.”

In circumstances where he ruled that children must be removed from their homes, he was often able to see their cases come full circle and end in adoption proceedings, Sanders said.

“I was able to preside over adoption proceedings and get those kids into permanent loving situations for the most part, and that was really meaningful for me, too,” he said.

Sanders said he has no intention of returning to private practice in his retirement but has thought about working in mediation. But for now, he’ll spend his time with those he loves.

“Time is a precious commodity, and I want to spend more time with my family,” he said.