Judge Belvin Perry Jr., Chief Judge in the Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, will receive the Historical Society of Central Florida’s highest honor at the ninth annual John Young History Maker Celebration.
The John Young History Maker Award is named after NASA’s longest serving astronaut, Captain John Young. Captain Young, who grew up in Orlando, attended Princeton Elementary School in College Park. This prestigious award is given each year to a Central Floridian whose achievement has made an historic impact on the community.
The John Young History Maker Celebration is the Historical Society’s largest fundraiser of the year and will be held at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park April 24, 2014. The gala event is expected to draw nearly 300 guests. Funds raised from the event support nationally important exhibitions and educational programs.
Judge Belvin Perry Jr. has been Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit since 1995. He has been recognized by Orlando Magazine as one of the 20 most powerful people in Orlando for four years and in 2013, he was recognized as one of the 50 most powerful people in Orlando. In 2011, he was recognized by Ebony Magazine as one of their Power 100.
Judge Perry’s dedication and work on the bench also earned him the 2009 FLABOTA Jurist of the Year presented by the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Other honors include the Central Florida Urban Bob Bilingsley Legacy Award, the James G. Glazebrook Memorial Bar Service Award by the Orange County Bar and the Golden Bell Award presented by the Mental Health Association of Central Florida.
In his role as Chief Judge, Judge Perry has achieved many milestones in the Ninth Circuit to include the start-up of Florida’s first complex business litigation court; serving as a driving force behind the Orange County Central Receiving Center to assist those with mental illness and substance use disorders. He has served on boards of numerous Central Florida organizations and continues to be an active member of the community.
