High Springs' Judge Glant dies

HIGH SPRINGS – Former High Springs attorney and Circuit Court judge, David A. Glant, died at his home in High Springs surrounded by friends and family on Wednesday, Oct. 23, following a lengthy illness.

A long-time resident of High Springs, Glant announced his early retirement from the bench on Thursday, June 13, at the age of 63. He said at that time he had been suffering from cancer and felt he had become physically unable to meet his own high expectations.

In 1989, Glant set up his law practice in High Springs. He lived in Ft. White for four years and then moved to High Springs in 1994, where he remained in private practice until he was elected as one of 13 judges to the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2002.

During his third year at the University of Florida, he clerked for the Honorable Judge John A. H. Murphree.

“I traveled with him to the six counties he covered,” Glant said in June. “It really gave me a fire to want to do that job.”

He was practicing law in High Springs when the state legislature created a new seat in this district. He ran for it against a couple of other opponents and won the 2002 election. Glant continued to live in High Springs and was eventually also appointed as an administrative judge in the criminal division in 2009.

“I have had two satisfying careers and I did the best I could in both instances,” Glant said after retirement. “I don’t feel I need to accomplish anything else.”

Glant’s wife of 13 years, Casey, remembered how loved her husband was in the community.

“He was an extremely loving and kind person who was always considerate,” she said. “He was a real gentle man with impeccable integrity, which is why I believe he was so well loved and respected.”

Glant had a great sense of humor, Casey said. His writing had quick wit, but never at anybody else’s expense.

“I feel very honored and blessed to have had him as my husband for 13 years,” she said.

Ed Garvin, Glant’s close friend, fellow musician and the best man at his wedding remembers Glant as a person who had faced more tragedy in his life than most people, “but handled it always without bitterness.” David was the same person in tragedy as he was in triumph, he said.

“He was the kind of person you hope your children grow up to be,” Garvin said. “He treated all people with the same consideration and kindness, whether they were important officials or ordinary folks.”

Glant, Garvin and about eight more musicians would get together as a gospel group called WSU, “Whoever Shows Up,” about six or seven times a year and perform at different churches in the area. Glant was the leader and organizer, where he would play his guitar and sing.

Donations were always given back to the church hosting their performance, Casey said.

“We did it out of love,” she said.

Stacy A. Scott, public defender for the Eighth Judicial District, described him as a person of great faith. “He was very kind and had very strong moral beliefs,” she said.

“I enjoyed the time we were able to spend together outside of the courtroom, and I will miss him,” she said.

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