The Jacksonville Bar Association began its 2019-20 membership year Tuesday with lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Riverfront that included an award and a presentation by the assistant state attorney who helped prosecute one of Jacksonville’s most high-profile cases.
G. Ray Driver Jr., a founding partner at Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, received the association’s Professionalism Award, presented by Duval County Judge Gary Flower, past chair of the JBA Professionalism & Mentoring Committee.
Driver was JBA president in 2012-13, is incoming chair-elect of the JAX Chamber and is a member of the Jacksonville University board of trustees and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority board of directors.
Established in 2010, the annual award recognizes an association member who maintains a high level of professional demeanor; possesses integrity, honesty and civility; exhibits fairness; and shows consideration and cooperation.
Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi recounted the prosecution of Gloria Williams for the 1998 kidnapping from University Hospital of newborn Kamiyah Mobley hours after her mother, Shanara Mobley, gave birth.
Mizrahi said when he heard the initial news report of the crime, he was a young assistant state attorney who was assigned to drug and burglary cases. He had no idea that more than 20 years later, he would help convict Williams of kidnapping Mobley, forging documents to create a new identity for the infant and raising the child in South Carolina as her daughter.
“It was a cold, calculated, premeditated crime that went on for 18 years,” Mizrahi said.
DNA evidence collected from the baby at birth proved that Shanara Mobley was her mother, Mizrahi said, and Williams was sentenced in June 2018 to 18 years in state prison.
“Shanara Mobley cannot have the relationship she could have had with Kamiyah because they lost 18 years. But I think it’s important that Kamiyah knows that she has someone in her life that will always be there,” Mizrahi said.
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and the Jacksonville Beaches Bar Association are having an “After 5 Collaboration” 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Monahan Jewelers in Atlantic Beach.
Appetizers and beverages will be provided, along with a 20% discount on purchases.
Ten percent of sales during the event will be donated to the JWLA Kathy Para Student Internship at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
Charles Hardage joined the Jacksonville office of Bishop & Mills as of counsel.
A dispute resolution attorney with a background in federal litigation, cross-border disputes and international commercial arbitration, he will work with Chinese law firms as Bishop & Mills explores expansion of its global services.
Hardage graduated from Georgetown Law Center and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.
