JNCs offer unique opportunity in legal system
12/07/2009 by Joe Wilhelm Jr. Staff Writer How often does someone get to choose their boss? While a judge isn’t actually a lawyer’s boss, they do have a sizable impact on a lawyer’s career. Conversely, lawyers can contribute to the selection of judges through Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNC). Florida utilizes 26 Judicial Nominating Commissions to help select judges for appointment to Circuit, Appellate and Supreme Courts. Those commissions are staffed with volunteers from the legal community who convene to select a pool of candidates to send to the governor, who then makes his appointment, in most cases. Former Florida Bar President Howard Coker is a member of the Florida Supreme Court JNC. Fred Franklin of Rogers Towers, Marcia Tjoflat of Pappas Metcalf and Steve Yablonski are members of the First Appellate District JNC. The Fourth Judicial Circuit JNC includes William Adams of Gunster, Robert O’Quinn of Cole Scott & Kissane, Ava Parker, Richard Alexander of Schutt Schmidt & Noey, Vivian Menge Gallo of Nemours, Charles Alford of the Alford Law Group, William Prichard of Moseley Prichard, Gregory Strickland and Deno Hicks. The participants have learned from their experiences with the JNCs.“What I was most impressed with has been how many fine lawyers are in our profession that are willing to serve,” said Tjoflat. “It gives me hope for the judicial system.” The work of reading through the applications and interviewing candidates is also exciting for some. “It’s particularly important because we are picking the people who are going to have direct impact on people’s lives,” said Alexander. “Decisions like, where a child will live, taking someone’s house away and determining bonds.” Other commissioners view themselves as gatekeepers charged with helping to maintain the quality of the bench. “The JNC are of critical importance. It is the threshold judicial candidates have to cross,” said Adams. “Duval County is known throughout the state as having a strong bench and that starts with the selection process. I am interested in preserving that and making sure our bench stays as strong as it can.” The Florida Bar is now accepting nominations for two lawyer vacancies on each of its 26 JNCs. The Florida Bar must nominate six lawyers for each Judicial Nominating Commission to the Governor for his appointment. Each appointee will serve a four-year term, commencing July 1. Applications must be received by mail or fax, (850) 561-5826 no later than 5:30 p.m., Feb. 26 in the Executive Director’s office of The Florida Bar. The application can be downloaded from www.floridabar.org and must be mailed to the Executive Director, The Florida Bar, 651 E. Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 by the Feb. 26 deadline. jwilhelm@baileypub.com 356-2466
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