by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
Two members of the legal community were recognized for their exceptional work during the annual dinner hosted by the Jacksonville chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates.
Judge Karen Cole was honored as Jurist of the Year for her efforts to promote literacy. Howard Coker was named Lawyer of the Year for his efforts as a local trial lawyer and for recognition as the immediate past president of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.
Local circuit and federal judges were among the 90 people who attended ABOTA’s annual dinner, held Dec. 6 at Epping Forest. The keynote speaker was Ed Nevin, the national ABOTA president.
Nevin described the national organization’s trip to Northern Ireland in June. While there, the members recognized lawyers and jurists who had been killed during “the Troubles” between Catholics and Protestants.
Every year, the national group goes to a different part of the world to study those legal systems and has, in the past “recognized members of the legal profession who have paid the ultimate price for defending liberty,” said Josh Whitman, the chapter’s president for 2004.
Earlier in the year, two local professionals won awards from FLABOTA, the statewide organization. Judge Donald Moran Jr. chief judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, received Jurist of the Year. Wayne Hogan was named Lawyer of the Year.
It was the first time that both winners had been nominated from the same chapter.
Other local officers announced at the annual dinner were Jep Barbour, vice president; Thomas Edwards Jr., treasurer; S. Grier Wells, secretary; and R.J. (Rudy) Inman Jr., who will replace Joe Milton as the chapter’s National Board representative.
The local chapter schedules four luncheons a year, each with a special theme. The first one for 2004, being held Jan. 27 at the River Club, will be a legislative luncheon.
“We’ve invited all the local legislators and their aides to discuss issues of local court funding, referred to as Article V funding,” Whitman said.
Something new has been added for this year, which has not been done by any other chapter in the country, he said.
The weekend of March 12, the chapter will hold a seminar at sea on the Carnival Miracle on one of its first cruises out of Jacksonville.
“The theme of this seminar is going to be maritime and admiralty law,” said Whitman. “It’s a unique way for our members to get (Continuing Legal Education) credit and enjoy some time together away from the everyday practice — and take advantage of one of the new assets of the community in local cruising.”
The weekend cruise will go to the Bahamas.
“It’ll be so great to be able to drive 20 minutes and get on the ship, instead of two hours to Cape Canaveral or six hours to Miami,” said Whitman.
Included among the attendees will be Ed Nevin, the outgoing national ABOTA president; new national president Dick O’Keeffe from New York; John Phelps, national vice president; Jeffrey Raynes, CAL-ABOTA president; David Cherry, TEX-ABOTA president; and Lewis Cromer, representing the new Southeast regional chapter.