Thomas Gallen
American politician (1932–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Matthew Gallen Jr. (December 28, 1932 – February 5, 2025) was an American politician and jurist who served as a Florida state legislator and circuit judge.
Thomas Gallen | |
|---|---|
| |
| Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1965–1972 | |
| Florida Senate | |
| In office 1972–1978 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 28, 1932 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 2025 (aged 92) Bradenton, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Florida State University, University of Florida |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1955 |
Background
Gallen was born in Tampa, Florida in 1932.[1] He attended the University of Tampa, leaving during the Korean War in order to enlist in the Army Special Forces.[2] He was a member of the inaugural group of Green Berets formed in 1952 and deployed to Bad Tölz, Germany in 1953, serving until 1955.[1][3] After leaving the army he returned to school, receiving a BS in Business Administration from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida.[4] Gallen's father, Thomas Gallen, Sr., had been an attorney as well, practicing for only a few months before the Great Depression, then leaving law, but Gallen Jr. was never made aware of this fact until after his own graduation from law school.[2]
Gallen died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on February 5, 2025, at the age of 92.[5]
Legal career and public service
Gallen was a law partner at the law firm of Miller Gallen Kaklis and Venable from 1960 to 1985.[6] During this period he also held public office, serving as a member of the Florida legislature for 12 years, first in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1965 to 1972, before being elected to the Florida Senate.[7][8] During his time in the Senate, he became chairman of the senate rules and calendar committee.[9] He served in the Florida Senate from 1972 to 1978 before leaving office, opting to return to practicing law rather than seeking reelection.[10] In 1985, he was elected to the 12th Judicial Circuit as a circuit judge, where he was elected as chief judge in 1998, and served until he retired in 2002.[11] In 2005, Judge Gallen received the Manatee County Bar lifetime achievement award.[12] He served as a senior circuit judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit and associate judge on the 2nd District Court of Appeals.[13][14] In 2009, he issued a legal opinion that led to the release of James Bain following 35 years in prison, after DNA evidence was used to prove he was wrongfully convicted of rape.[15] In 2013, Gallen was named to the Manatee County Rural Health Services board of directors.[16]