The D.W. Perkins Bar Association celebrated the first day of Women’s History Month on Thursday with a panel discussion featuring three women judges who shared how they arrived on the bench.
“Mentors sauggested that I apply,” said 4th Judicial Circuit Judge Angela Cox, who was evaluated by the Judicial Nominating Commission and then appointed Duval County judge by the governor in 2005. She was appointed to the circuit bench in 2014.
“The encouragement gave me the courage to do it sooner rather than later,” she added.
Circuit Judge Karen Cole was appointed to the bench in 1994 to replace Judge Dorothy Pate, who was retiring.
Cole advised attorneys who might consider applying for a judgeship to work to maintain an excellent reputation.
“It’s hard to establish and easy to lose,” she said.
Duval County Judge Dawn Hudson ran a campaign in 2006 against three opponents for a new seat created by the Legislature. She said running for office was challenging, but also fun.
“I enjoyed meeting the people in the community,” Hudson said.
She said potential candidates should be persistent, whether seeking appointment or election.
“If it’s what you want to do, don’t give up. There are a lot of ways to get here,” said Hudson.
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association will hear a presentation on Thursday from The Florida Bar President Michael Higer about the state organization’s Gender Bias Task Force. The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. at The River Club.
Also on the agenda is the announcement of the association’s “Woman Lawyer of the Year” award.
Visit jwla.org to register.
Higer also will be in Jacksonville on Friday for the annual “Presentation of the Pins” ceremony, when attorneys who have performed at least 20 hours of pro bono service in the past year will be recognized. It’s at noon in the jury assembly room at the Duval County Courthouse.
The state Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined 13 attorneys, disbarring four, revoking the license of one, suspending five, publicly reprimanding three and placing two on probation.
Ian James Christensen, 4446 Hendricks Ave., Suite 139, Jacksonville, is disbarred effective immediately, following a Jan. 18 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2013) Christensen gave clients improper legal advice concerning their use and cultivation of medical marijuana. While working with a nonlawyer who ran a medical marijuana website, Christensen brought in clients through the nonlegal website and referred them to a medical professional for a medical opinion justifying the use of the drug. (Case No. SC16-1081)
Kenneth A. Jenkins, 3367 Classic Oak Court, Orange Park, is publicly reprimanded following a Jan. 11 court order. (Admitted to practice: 2008) After being retained by a client, Jenkins failed to adequately communicate. He did not return calls, was absent from his office or provided vague statements such as, “I’m looking into things.” It took four years for Jenkins to file a suit in court on the client’s behalf. (Case No. SC17-1962)
Jeffery Wilkins has joined Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman as counsel in the firm’s Jacksonville office. He will focus on landlord and tenant matters and property management best practices.