Former Clerk of Florida's Third District Court of Appeal Mary Cay Blanks. Courtesy photo. Former Clerk of Florida's Third District Court of Appeal Mary Cay Blanks. Courtesy photo.

Clerk of Florida's Third District Court of Appeal Mary Cay Blanks retired Tuesday after 21 years in the post.

Blanks was the third clerk in the court's 62-year history and has 37 years of public service under her belt, having worked as deputy clerk, assistant clerk and judicial assistant to former Chief Judge Alan R. Schwartz, who died in February.

In Third DCA Judge Vance E. Salter's 11 years on the appellate bench, he's never known another clerk.

“She's the most dedicated public servant I've ever run into,” Salter said.

Blanks became deputy in 1982 — back when new Florida Supreme Court Justice Robert Luck was 3 years old, as Chief Judge Kevin Emas put it. The court appointed her clerk in 1998 and since then she's overseen vast changes and transitions.

That wasn't an easy feat, according to Third DCA Judge Edwin A. Scales III, who said judges are  typically “reluctant and hesitant to embrace change almost by nature.” But Blanks somehow did it seamlessly “and always with a smile.”

“It's like watching Eric Clapton play the guitar. She's that good,” Scales said.

Blanks kept the court ticking along through construction work, and took the lead in switching case management systems to electronic files, back when all records were on paper and “people were signing things in pencil,” Salter recalled. The court is now 100% paperless.

Former Chief Judge Leslie Rothenberg called Blanks “so much more than a clerk,” as her calm, quiet leadership style made her one of the “strongest fibers” of the institution.

Rothenberg said, “She's going to take with her so much of the history and institutional knowledge of the court that can't be replaced.”

'It won't be the same'

The way Salter tells it, Blanks was widely considered the go-to person for court-related queries from clerks, staff and judges, thanks to her range and depth of experience.

“When you had a question, that's who you called,” Salter said. “Among the appellate clerks of court, the five DCAs and the Supreme Court, Mary Cay was always looked at as the expert.”

Emas agreed.

“Mary Cay is legendary, not simply here at the Third District, but at every District Court of Appeal around the state,” Emas said. “We will carry on, but it won't be the same without her.”

Blanks also served on the Supreme Court Commission on DCA performance and accountability, crunching the numbers necessary to measure court caseload, efficiency and overall performance for more than 10 years.

Third DCA Judge Bronwyn C. Miller described Blanks as “an institution.”

“Her sheer breadth of knowledge is surpassed only by her efficiency, perfect temperament, and commitment to serving the lawyers and litigants of our community.” Miller said. “Although I wish her well on the next chapter of her life, I know she will be wholeheartedly missed by all.”

At a rededication ceremony Friday, Emas told staff, “There's a reason why the deputy clerks are so loyal and have continued working here for so long. That reason is Mary Cay Blanks.”

Third DCA Judge Norma Lindsey struggled to define Blanks — who's had a new clerk's office conference room named after her.

“There are not enough superlatives to adequately describe Ms. Blanks and her service to this court. It has been an honor and a privilege to know her and to work with her,” Lindsey said.

Mercedes M. Prieto took the baton from Blanks Wednesday. An experienced public servant and career research attorney to various judges, including Salter, she joined the court in 1989 as a law clerk for former Judge Natalie Baskin. She's also taught at the University of Miami and Florida International University.

 

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