The Jacksonville legal community took time this week to celebrate not only Veterans Day, but also the 243rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Thousands lined Downtown streets Monday for the city’s annual parade, sponsored and led by The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, comprising military veterans who are members of the Bar.
There was a special session of Veterans Drug Treatment Court on Wednesday.
Duval County Judge Mose Floyd, who presides over the court, is a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.
He called the session a “safety stand down” and advised the veterans to be safe during the holiday season.
“Take care of yourselves. Use your discretion and judgment,” Floyd said.
He then recounted some of the history of the Marine Corps, including a pivotal World War I battle near Paris when a brigade of Marines overcame the odds to defeat a larger and better-equipped German force that was dug in and raked the Marines with machine-gun fire.
When a French officer told the Marines to turn around and leave the field, the Marine commander said, “Retreat, hell, we just got here,” Floyd said.
After the war, the French government named the field “The Woods of the Marine Brigade” in recognition of the sacrifice made to defeat the enemy.
The Corps marked its 243rd birthday Saturday, the day before Veterans Day.
The ceremony concluded when Floyd used his marine officer’s sword to cut a birthday cake decorated with the Marine Corps emblem.
Matters involving three Jacksonville attorneys were on the City Council agenda Tuesday.
The ordinance authorizing renaming the Murray Hill Branch Library at 918 Edgewood Ave. S. the “Bill Brinton Murray Hill Branch Library” in honor of the late Rogers Towers attorney and public library advocate was approved.
Former city Chief Assistant General Counsel and Inspector General Steve Rohan was appointed to the Civil Service Board replacing Deena Bateh Wallace for an unexpired term that will end June 30, 2020.
Lewis, Longman & Walker shareholder and former Downtown Investment Authority board member Brenna Durden was appointed to the Downtown Development Review Board as a full-time employee at a business located within the Downtown area for a partial term to expire June 30.
Update: This event has been canceled and will be rescheduled to spring/summer of 2019.
There will be a 25th anniversary ceremony for U.S. Bankruptcy Judges Jerry Funk and Paul Glenn (not a retirement party) at 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse.
The Jacksonville Bankruptcy Bar Association is the principal sponsor and will present the judges with individual books relating short personal stories of how they have had a positive impact upon the practitioners who appear before them.
To attend the ceremony, RSVP to Kayla Gothier at [email protected].
U.S. District Judge Brian Davis in the Middle District of Florida Jacksonville Division has an opening for a law clerk beginning in August.
The initial term is one year with possible renewal for four years.
Details about qualification requirements, job description, compensation and benefits may be found at uscourts.gov and clicking on Careers.
Applications received by March 31 will be considered.
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State University’s College of Business released its 2019 Seminole 100 list and three local law firms are on it.
Recognized as some of this year’s fastest-growing U.S. businesses owned by Florida State alumni are Owenby Law; Stone, Glass & Connolly; and Taylor, Day, Grimm & Boyd.
Seminole 100 honorees will be recognized March 2 at the University Center Club in Tallahassee.
The Seminole 100 Celebration ceremony will include a reception and awards dinner featuring the release of the final rankings and countdown of the Seminole 100.
Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland issued a reminder this week about 2018 ad valorem tax bills.
If you pay your property tax bill by Tuesday, you will receive a 4 percent discount.
If you pay by Dec. 31, you will receive a 3 percent discount.
If you want to wait until next year, pay your tax bill by Jan. 31 to receive a 2 percent discount or if you pay by Feb. 28, you will receive a 1 percent discount.
More information is available by calling (904) 630-1916.
Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin added Hillary Albertson and Sean Reeves as associate attorneys in the firm’s Jacksonville office.
Albertson joined the firm’s Professional Liability Department, focusing on construction defect litigation and general professional liability defense.
She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law.
Reeves will work in the firm’s Casualty Department. He has experience litigating general liability matters and has represented insureds, self-insureds and corporations in cases involving motor vehicle negligence, products liability, personal injury, premises liability and warranty defense.
His background includes aviation law after serving as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot.
Reeves received his bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida, an MBA from Saint Leo University and his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
