Gregory A. Presnell

Gregory A. Presnell (born November 10, 1942)[1] is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Gregory Presnell
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Assumed office
April 1, 2012
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
In office
July 31, 2000 – April 1, 2012
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded bySeat established
Succeeded bySheri Polster Chappell
Personal details
Born (1942-11-10) November 10, 1942
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
EducationCollege of William and Mary (BA)
University of Florida (JD)

Education and career

Presnell received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the College of William & Mary in 1964. He received his Juris Doctor from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in 1966. He was in private practice in Orlando, Florida from 1966 until 2000, serving also for part of that time in the United States Army Reserve from 1967 to 1973.[2]

Federal judicial service

On June 8, 2000, he was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida established by 113 Stat. 1501. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 21, 2000, and received his commission on July 31, 2000. On April 1, 2012, he assumed senior status.[2] He was succeeded by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell.[3]

Notable cases
  • In the 2006 case Avista Management, Inc. v. Waussau Underwriters Insurance Company, Judge Presnell ordered the representatives of the two parties to compete in a game of "rock, paper, scissors" to determine which party could select the location for a pre-trial deposition, a matter he considered should have been trivially simple to come to agreement on.[4] Presnell's comments on the crack/powder sentencing disparity were also noted by the media in that year.[5]
  • In October 2016, he dismissed the H-1B visa lawsuit that two IT workers brought against Disney for outsourcing their jobs.[6]
  • In June 2023 Presnell granted a preliminary injunction in a case challenging the constitutionality of Florida's statutory ban on drag show performances. He ruled that the statute both failed to survive strict scrutiny, which is necessary since it regulated speech on the basis of content, and that it was vague and over-broad.[7]

References
  1. "BIOGRAPHIES OF FEDERAL COURT JUDGES SITTING IN FLORIDA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  2. Gregory A. Presnell at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the US District Court". whitehouse.gov. 25 June 2012 – via National Archives.
  4. "Judge to lawyers: Play the game - Jun. 7, 2006". money.cnn.com.
  5. "Tampabay: Rock, paper, scissors - and gavel - will settle it". Archived from the original on 2006-06-14.
  6. Brinkmann, Paul. "Orlando judge tosses Disney IT outsourcing lawsuit".
  7. "HM Florida-ORL LLC v. Melanie Griffin" (PDF). courtlistener.com. Court Listener. Retrieved 23 June 2023.


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