Judge Tobin was a well-respected, student-centered, courtroom-savvy teacher, who served his community and country with humility, honor, and pride.
“Judge Dave Tobin was a wise, funny, and well-liked man who taught our students that being in the practice of law is primarily about being in the people business, and that it is important to relate to, connect with, and care about people to be successful,” said Professor H.T. Smith, Founding Director of the Trial Advocacy Program at FIU. He continued, “Judge Tobin would often say to our students that ‘people want to know that you care, before they want to hear what you have to say.’”
Appointed to the Miami-Dade Circuit Court in 1987, Judge Tobin sat on the bench for 14 years, serving as a senior Judge long after mandatory retirement, and continuing his good work thereafter as a mediator, special magistrate, and guardian ad litem.
Judge Tobin’s family wrote of him thusly: “He lived a full and happy life. He died with no regrets. He had a good family and a good run.”
We thank Judge Tobin for all that he always did — for our students and our Trial Advocacy Program, for our court system, and for our legal profession.
You may read Judge Tobin’s remembrance here.