Debbie Howells

Executive Assistant, Office of the State Courts Administrator

I have worked in the Supreme Court Building since June 1988.  At the time of Election 2000, I was serving as the executive assistant to the state courts administrator.

While the Office of the State Courts Administrator is not directly involved in the processing of Supreme Court cases, our office was nevertheless affected by that historic event, in ways both large and small.  For example, security at the building increased and Highway Patrol officers were stationed in the employee parking lot making it a more complicated to come and go, so I tended to just stay in the building all day. 

The experience also changed my personal interactions, when meeting someone new.  Before the event, when asked about where I worked, I might have said Supreme Court, Office of the State Courts Administrator, or court system.  During the election I would simply say I work for the State of Florida.

Others have shared their memories about the numerous satellite trucks and press from around the world that were camped out in front of our building during Election 2000.  Here is an anecdote that I believe explains a little about what it was like to work in this building at that time.  One day I was talking on the phone with my husband, Steve.  All of a sudden, vehicles began circling the building with their horns blaring loudly.  Steve asked what was happening, and I replied "I don't know!  Just a minute, while I turn on CNN to find out."  And I meant that literally:  the quickest and easiest way to discover was happening outside my window was to turn on a 24-hour news channel.