The Florida Courts Technology Commission convened in Jacksonville March 5-6 at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel.
The state Supreme Court created the commission in 2010. Chaired by 9th Circuit Judge Lisa Munyon, it oversees, manages and directs the development and use of technology within the judicial branch.
Mike Smith, court technology officer for the 4th Judicial Circuit, is one of the 25 commission members.
The two days of committee and subcommittee meetings covered a range of implemented court technology to what’s planned for Florida’s courts.
The enotify app went live in Jacksonville in February, and 49 of the 67 counties in the state adopted it.
Accessible at enotify.flcourts.org, it’s a way for people to stay informed about their required court appearances.
After registering, the user can select email or text reminders two weeks, one week or the day before a scheduled criminal court event, such as a hearing or trial.
The system has registered more than 1,300 users who received 1,400 emails and about 2,000 text messages.
Expanding the system to include civil matters began this month.
The commission approved a proposed model court cybersecurity policy designed to protect employees and information.
It covers subjects such as password security and use of email and mobile devices.
The plan in its current form is a model that may be adopted by the chief judge in each circuit as the policy awaits review and possible adoption by the state Supreme Court.
The commission’s next meeting is scheduled June 16-17 in conjunction with The Florida Bar annual meeting in Orlando.
JBA president named a "rising star"
The Florida Bar Construction Law Committee presented its 13th annual Rising Star Award to Jacksonville Bar Association President Elizabeth Ferguson.
She is a shareholder in the Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggins Jacksonville office.
The committee recognized her for dedication to her practice area.
Ferguson is board certified in construction law and serves on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.
Litigation partner Frank Morreale returned to Holland & Knight after practicing for six years at Nelson Mullins.
Morreale represents financial institutions, insurance carriers and multinational corporations in commercial disputes, arbitration and coverage matters in Florida and New York.
He is admitted in Florida and New York state and federal courts.
Morreale received a BBA in finance from Stetson University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Ciera Gainey and Emily Walsh joined Kubicki Draper in the law firm’s Jacksonville office as associate attorneys.
Gainey practices general civil litigation with emphasis on premise liability and motor vehicle negligence.
She received a J.D. in 2018 from Florida Coastal School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Board and the Mock Trial Team.
Walsh focuses her practice on first party property and personal injury protection.
A Jacksonville native, Walsh graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 2018.
Foley & Lardner elected Joanna White to partnership in Jacksonville.
A member of the firm’s real estate practice, White focuses on acquisition, disposition, leasing and finance of multifamily, office, retail shopping centers and vacant land, including timber.
White graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2007. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute.
The Florida Bar has several opportunities available for service.
• American Bar Association House of Delegates: Two lawyers to serve two-year terms beginning in August at the conclusion of the ABA annual meeting. Applicants must be ABA members.
• Florida Legal Services Inc. board of directors: One lawyer to serve a three-year term beginning July 1. The board provides judicial, legislative and administrative advocacy on policies impacting the legal rights of the poor. It also provides civil legal assistance to indigent people who would not otherwise have the means to obtain a lawyer.
• Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc. board of directors: Three lawyers and two nonlawyers to serve three-year terms beginning July 1. The board assists the legal community in securing counseling and treatment for emotional and chemical dependency problems experienced by lawyers.
• Florida Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association board of governors: One lawyer to serve a two-year term beginning July 1. The board develops a means of obtaining loss and expense experience in medical malpractice issues.
Visit https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2020/02/The-Florida-Bar-Application-for-Appointment-Form-R-09192019.pdf or call (850) 561-5757 to obtain the questionnaire for the opportunities.
Completed applications must be received by the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 East Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, 32399, by 5 p.m. April 17.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the required application. The board of governors will review all applications and may request telephone or personal interviews.
Patrick Krechowski joined Balch & Bingham in Jacksonville as a partner in the firm’s real estate, land use and zoning and public policy and government relations practices.
His practice focuses on zoning and land use law, real estate due diligence, environmental permitting and remediation, water use permitting and planning, beach nourishment projects, coastal construction and due diligence before local governments and federal and state agencies.
Krechowski has represented state agency boards and local governments, including serving as the city attorney for Neptune Beach.
He is a member of Visit Jacksonville’s board of directors, Urban Land Institute North Florida, JAX Chamber Trustees, Northeast Florida Builders Association, Florida Brownfields Association and the Duval County Food Desert Public Policy Coalition.
