A.G. Gancarski
Gerald Wilkerson, a candidate for Duval County Court Judge, announced Wednesday his decision to start taking cryptocurrency for legal services.
“Keeping abreast of technological advances is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge in any market, and to be competent as a lawyer, but it is also an ethical requirement to be a lawyer in Florida,” Wilkerson said in a press release.
Wilkerson will now accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin; he practices family and criminal defense law.
On his Facebook page, Wilkerson was asked if he worried such currency was a precursor to “one world currency.” The candidate is not “concerned because [cryptocurrency is] not controlled by the Government.”
Wilkerson is best known for his race in 2016 against Mark Hulsey.
Hulsey narrowly won a recount in the race for circuit judge in Group 25 of the 4th Circuit. The thrill of victory was short-lived: one day before impeachment proceedings were to begin against Hulsey for racist and sexist remarks and abuses of power in the workplace, Hulsey resigned.
Wilkerson’s management of finances in his race for judge has also been interesting to watch.
He reports over $153,000 in receipts and $149,000 in expenditures, but that number is misleading, as much of that traffic involves personal loans to his campaign that were then refunded.
Between August and October 2017, Wilkerson refunded $149,000 of said loans to himself.
Wilkerson’s opponent, Michael Bateh, has fronted his own campaign $50,000, yet has not paid himself back out of that disbursement.
