Gary Robinson

Florida Supreme Court Library

Supreme Court Technology Librarian and Webmaster Gary Robinson outside the Florida Supreme Court Building. November 28, 2000.

In the fall of 2000 I was working at the Florida Supreme Court Library in the capacity of computer services librarian. As such I wore a number of hats, including acting as the Court webmaster, and doing various things involving technology including digital photography. The Library had previously acquired two digital cameras in the course of our work: a Mavica MVC with a built in floppy drive, and a Nikon Coolpix. When the election case came around, my assistant Tricia Knox and I were tasked with using these to build a photographic record of events. We found ourselves in the courtroom during oral arguments, taking pictures. That was really something, being right in the center of the whole thing.

Court Staff L-R: Tricia Knox, Gary Robinson, Craig Waters.

One moment that sticks out in my mind was standing in Clerk of Court Tom Hall's office next to a cart containing all the boxes of ballots from South Florida, taped up with evidence tape. There they were, a pile of boxes that could determine who would be the next President of the United States. Looking at those boxes, I was reminded of a line from Raiders of the Lost Ark: "We are simply passing through history. This, this is history."

The atmosphere outside was surreal. My office was just to the side of the front steps of the building, facing the Florida State Capitol grounds, where the press had set up a "tent city" reminisecent of what I had seen on TV during Desert Storm in 1991. Elaborate open tents everywhere and lots of bright lights deep into the night. Some people took advantage of the media presence to try to get publicity.

Batmobile in front of the Florida Supreme Court Building. November 30, 2000.

I recall a parade of decorated cars, including a very impressive Batmobile. During days when Craig Waters, the Court public relations officer, delivered information on the Court steps to the press and public, Tricia and I were outside as well, taking pictures of Court personnel and the sometimes ugly crowd. If you've never been close to a large crowd when they hear something they don't like and surge forward, it sends a jolt through your nervous system! It reminded me of being at the zoo near a massive animal like a rhino when suddenly it lurches in your direction. I'll never forget that feeling!

We also posted the Court's rulings and other documents on the Court's website, which of course was a popular site at that time. The world was watching and there was no room for mistakes! I remember Information Systems and Services' John Cook telling me that ISS had worked with Akamai Technologies to create a proxy server solution to allow us to withstand the huge demand for documents, which our systems and network could never have handled. I also recall John telling me we got a million hits in one day!

Other technology concerns included the phone system. Someone critical of the Court had published a list of the Justices' direct dial phone numbers on his political website, and urged his followers to bombard the Justices with calls asking for a particular outcome. Some Justices' office phone lines became essentially unusable.

Court decisions could be posted at any time and as a result we often worked into the night. Being late in the year, it got dark early. I was advised, however compelling the view of the lit-up media "tent city," not to leave my window blinds open after dark, for security reasons. In fact at one point, we were informed FDLE had posted snipers on the rooves of adjacent buildings. That was a bit sobering. The Court received a number of threats, and between that and the long hours and high stakes, staff were feeling stressed.

One thing that really impressed me was the cool, calm, and reassuring presence of Chief Justice Wells. I felt the Court, and the country, had been lucky to have Justice Wells at the helm at this moment in time. He made you feel like everything was normal and under control. His was the finest demonstration of leadership under pressure that I have personally witnessed.