On Monday, July 7, Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. announced that he will be retiring from the bench effective August 31, 2014. Judge Perry, who has served as Chief Judge for nearly two decades, is best known for his superb handling of the State v. Casey Anthony case. In his statement, Judge Perry made no mention of any future plans.
Throughout his tenure as Chief Judge, Judge Perry has been a staunch advocate of the downtrodden. Under his leadership, the Ninth Circuit opened Veterans Court division and the Central Receiving Center. Perry also championed the cause of the wrongfully convicted as a member and then chairman of the Florida Innocence Commission.