Marbut Report: Kalil is JWLA Woman Lawyer of the Year

News

Duval County Judge Michelle Kalil was recognized Thursday by the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association as the 2018 Woman Lawyer of the Year.

Legal Briefs

JBA member lunch is March 21

The Jacksonville Bar Association member lunch is at noon March 21 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Megha Parekh, Jacksonville Jaguars vice president and chief legal officer, is the guest speaker.

Visit jaxbar.org to register.

April 21 benefit aids children

The annual “There’s No Place Like Home” party is 5:30 p.m. April 13 at the Duval County Courthouse. Proceeds benefit Guardian ad Litem’s recruitment and training of courtroom advocates for abandoned, abused and neglected children. The evening has a “Wizard of Oz” theme with snacks and champagne provided. Red shoes or neckties are the requested attire. Tickets are available at GALfirstcoast.org for $100 per person. The event is sponsored by Coker, Schickel, Sorenson, Posgay & Iracki trial attorneys.

Firms sponsor party at brewery

Integrity Law and the Karstaedt & Stanko law firms are sponsors of the Junior League of Jacksonville’s “Party of the Decades” on April 13 at the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided, as well as costume contest prizes. Tickets are $35 to $55 for the progressive party with three access levels. Visit JLJacksonville.org for details.

Law clerk vacancy

U.S. District Judge in the Fort Myers Division Sheri Polster Chappell has a vacancy for a law clerk beginning in August for a two-year commitment.

Visit flmd.uscourts.gov and follow the “About the Court” tab, then “Career Opportunities” for application details.

After graduating in 1998 from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, she was an assistant public defender and then worked in private practice before being elected in 2012 to the county bench.

Association President Jennifer Shoaf Richardson said the selection committee chose Kalil because of her commitment to the legal community and for being a role model for JWLA members.

“She is a fervent member of JWLA with perfect attendance in the past year,” Richardson said.

Get an early start on St. Patrick’s Day

If you’d like to get a head start on the annual Irish holiday, the JWLA, Catholic Lawyers Guild and sponsor Dream Finders Homes are having a St. Patty’s Day networking happy hour for members and their guests at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cowford Chophouse, Downtown at Bay and Ocean streets.

Attendees will be registered to win two tickets to the Dream Finders Homes hospitality chalet at the 17th green during The Players Championship.

State Attorney’s office selected for research project

The 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office is one of four prosecutor’s offices selected for a two-year policy project, “Advancing Prosecutorial Access and Fairness through Data and Innovation.”

The research will be conducted by Florida International University and Loyola University Chicago and also will involve district and state attorneys in Chicago, Milwaukee and Tampa.

The project is part of the “Safety and Justice Challenge,” the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation initiative to reduce jail misuse and overuse as components of reliance on incarceration, particularly affecting members of minority communities.

The study will begin this month with the intent to improve data and analytical capacity, develop performance indicators, amend racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system and improve communication between prosecutors and the public.