By Adina Pollan, Judicial Relations Committee chair
The Judicial Relations Committee of the Jacksonville Bar Association will present the inaugural Bench & Bar Conference on May 17 at the Duval County Courthouse.
The goal of the conference is to present substantive CLE presentations in a half-day format, with three tracks: criminal, family and civil.
Attendees will have the option to select singular tracks that conform with their practice or opt for a mix of presentations across topics as suits each attendee’s needs.
The conference will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the jury assembly room at the courthouse. Participants will check-in, pick up their welcome bags and have lunch sponsored by Iberia Bank.
The topic during lunch will be “Cybersecurity Update: How to Prevent Security Breaches and Best Practices,” presented by Kyle Loven; 2.0 hours of CLE technology credit, pending approval by The Florida Bar.
After lunch, attendees will separate into their chosen tracks or sessions, each divided into one-hour increments, and each offering 1.0 hour of CLE credit, pending approval by The Florida Bar.
For the Criminal Track, the one-hour presentations will focus on immigration issues; Amendment 6; and competency. Panelists and moderators include Circuit Judge Tatiana Salvador, Duval County Judge Gary Flower, John Gihon, Jeremy Lasnetski, Chip Corsmeier, Dr. Gail Patin, Teresa Miles, Adair Newman, Jay Howell and Dr. Steve Bloomfield.
The Family Track will provide sessions on substance abuse and timesharing; social media; and child support, paternity and retroactive issues. Panelists and moderators include Circuit Judges Karen Cole, Daniel Wilensky and John Guy; Magistrate Robin Lanigan; Dr. Michael Zalewa, Stacey Drawdy, Heather Quick, Sean Mulholland, Paula Brice and Anna Durstein.
The Civil Track features sessions on bankruptcy law for state litigators; arbitration; and an attorney’s fees summit. Panelists and moderators for these sessions are U.S. Bankruptcy Judges Jerry Funk and Karen Jennemann, Circuit Judges Waddell Wallace and James Daniel, Michael Freed, Niels Murphy, Anthony Zebouni, Adina Pollan, Tom Edwards, Mike Tanner, Lee Haramis, Bruce Maxwell and Howard Coker.
When the sessions are finished, there will be a networking social with appetizers and beverages sponsored by Coker Law on the third-floor mezzanine at the courthouse. Attendees can mix and mingle with the panelists and moderators, as well as members of the judiciary.
Sponsors for the conference include Coker Law and Iberia Bank. Gold sponsors are Taylor English Duma, Pollan Legal, Duncan Trial and Family Law, Vineyard Legal Services and Riley Reporting. The Silver sponsor is First Citizens Bank.
There are a few spots remaining for sponsors.
The conference is intended to be informative, educational and, hopefully, entertaining. If you would like more information about the Bench & Bar Conference or are interested in sponsoring, contact me or Vice Chair Kasey Wagner.
Adina Pollan is a solo practitioner with Pollan Legal. She practices bankruptcy and commercial litigation.