The E. Robert Williams Inn of Court held its inaugural term 2014-15 banquet Sept. 30 at Epping Forest Yacht Club.
Judge Stephanie Ray of the 1st District Court of Appeal presented the keynote address titled “The Cut to Hecuba — A Judge’s Perspective.” She was introduced by fellow 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Scott Makar.
At the close of the meeting, the American Inns of Court presented the Platinum Distinction Achieving Excellence Award to Williams Inn of Court President Judge Ray Holley for its achievements and accomplishments for the prior year.
During opening remarks, Holley thanked Inn members for their dedication and leadership to the profession. He welcomed new members and five law students from the Florida Coastal School of Law. The attorney members inducted were Stuart Griggs, Glen McClary, Caitlin Beyl, Katie Deal and Amie Deguzman. The law students were Christopher Bateh, Elizabeth Cardenas, Ira Coats, Melissa Cohen and Jesse Long.
Holley also announced the Inn would host the Northeast Florida Joint Inn of Court meeting Feb. 24 at the University of North Florida. The title for this program will be “Practicing Professionalism: Here and Across the Pond.”
Speakers include London-based Barrister Peter Susman, Queen’s Counsel, and Megha Parekh, vice president and general counsel for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In selecting this title and theme, Holley noted the relevance of the topic due to recent sports and business connections between London and Jacksonville. Holley emphasized all attorneys, regardless of their specialization, would benefit from learning about professionalism on an international level.
Makar introduced Ray as one of the most prepared and hard-working judges at the DCA. He also praised her dedication to the Inns of Court movement.
Ray explained that the theme for her presentation derives from the practice of shortening performances of “Hamlet” by cutting the long speeches in the first act and going straight to the reference to Hecuba in Act II, when the action in “Hamlet” takes off.
Drawing on this analogy, Ray encouraged appellate advocates in workers’ compensation cases to avoid flowery rhetoric, biased gloss and pugilism in the presentation of their cases. Instead, she advised that attorneys should serve as candid advisers to the court by squarely identifying and tackling the difficult legal questions at hand.
“By cutting to Hecuba in this way,” Ray said, “advocates will help the court reach the right result and be assured that their position is fully considered by the court.”
After her speech, Ray was recognized for her dedication to professionalism and awarded a special plaque declaring her to be an Honorary Member of the E. Robert Williams Inn.
At the end of the meeting, Pam Wittmann, director of chapter relations for the southeast region of the American Inns of Court, presented to the Inn the Platinum Achieving Excellence Award for Term 2013-14. This distinction marked the second year the Inn received this highest designation. Wittmann said only 17 percent of the Inns of Court in the United States are Platinum Inns.
The E. Robert Williams Inn of Court includes attorneys, judges, mediators and law students who are significantly involved in the Inn’s mission, which is to promote professionalism, provide tutelage and mentoring amongst members while playing an active part in North Florida’s legal community.