by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
In January, Mary Bland Love’s term as president of the Jacksonville chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates comes to an end. Her exit, although somewhat bittersweet, is something for which she is prepared.
“When I became president,” Love said, “I had my expectations. As I step down, I am pleased to say that each has been met. This organization has a continuing mission that I know will be well served through strong leadership and the constant search for new blood.”
Love, a University of Virginia graduate who relocated to Jacksonville to be near her family, says that her future role on the board remains uncertain. However, she has entertained the idea of representing the group on a state-wide or national level.
Last Saturday night, ABOTA held their annual meeting at the Lodge in Ponte Vedra. At the meeting, Jacksonville chapter officers for the upcoming year were installed. Brown, Terrell, Hogan partner Evan Yegelwel was elected president and will take over for Love in January. Other officers are President-elect Josh Whitman; Treasurer Jep Barbour; and Secretary Tom Edwards.
The local chapter, the third in the state, was founded in 1988 by a 16 trial attorneys; among them was Love’s husband and legal partner, Robert Gobelman. Its original mission was simple.
“We work to promote the civil jury trial system,” Love said. “Whether people realize it or not, this system is the only way that citizens can settle their disputes. It’s not like it used to be in the 1800s when problems were settled by 40 paces at high noon.”
She also stressed that ABOTA makes certain that the civil system is used for a greater good through, among other things, zealous advocacy by qualified counsels.
Yegelwel concurs.
“To my knowledge,” he said, “we’re the only group currently defending the institution of trial by jury in the state. There’s no other entity like us and it’s important that the lawyers in the area know we exist.”
The board’s composition is made up of equal parts prosecutors and defense attorneys, a fact that impressed Yegelwel, who earned his law degree from the University of Florida with honors, before he joined ABOTA nearly 10 years ago.
“We’re the only group with such an even blended membership,” Yegelwel said, “and I feel we owe much of our continued success to that.”
Among the initiatives adopted by ABOTA — which Love described as operating like an “information distribution resource” — are programs in the Duval County school system ranging from the fifth grade through high school.
“Our work with the schools is something I definitely want to continue while I serve as president,” Yegelwel said.
Both Yegelwel and Love were also pleased that ABOTA has helped many of the attorneys in the area meet on a more casual level during their quarterly luncheons through out the year.
“The Jacksonville legal community has always impressed me,” Love said. “There is a level of courtesy here that you won’t find in other cities. Meeting outside of the courtroom every once in a while helps a lot with that.”
As Jacksonville continues to grow, both attorneys see the future for ABOTA as a bright one.
“I’d like our group to become more proactive as we grow,” Yegelwel said. “I can see us doing even more work with the community.”
Love has her own ideas.
“I see the board continuing its evolution,” she said. “I’d to see more women on the board, for example. Currently, I am the only woman who is actively involved.”
“It’s important that we do not remain complacent in our accomplishments. It has always been my understanding that while it can take only a day to create a bad reputation, a good one can take many years. We need to work to maintain our image.”
“We’ve set a very high bar,” said Yegelwel. “My colleagues on this board are all very accomplished attorneys.”