“He was tall, about fifty, with darkly handsome, almost sinister features: a neatly trimmed mustache, hair turning silver at the temples, and eyes so black they were like the tinted windows of a sleek limousine- he could see out, but you couldn’t see in.” That is how author John Berendt described James Williams in the opening line of his best selling book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” which was based on the now famous case State v. James Williams. The defense attorney in the case was none other than Frank “Sonny” Seiler.
It is with great excitement that The Jacksonville Bar Association announces Seiler’s speaking engagement in Jacksonville. Seiler will be speaking during lunch as part of The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Second Annual Ray Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar. Seiler will speak from noon until 1 p.m on his role as defense counsel in the trial of State v. Williams, which was tried four times, 1981-1989, ending in acquittal.
Seiler is a well respected defense attorney from Savannah. He has been listed in “Best Lawyers in America” every year since its conception in 1983. He graduated from The University of Georgia in 1957 with a Doctorate of Law and has remained very active with the school and its sports programs. In fact, Seiler is the proud owner of Uga, the school’s mascot. He is a life member of the Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame. Seiler has received a number of awards, including the Willian W. Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award (1988), Distinguished American Award (2000) and the American Red Cross Service Award.
Mr. Seiler is not only an accomplished defense attorney, he has also appeared on the silver screen in a variety of roles. In 1997, Seiler played the role of the senior law partner in the movie “Gingerbread Man” by John Grisham along with being directed by Clint Eastwood in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” In Midnight in the Garden, Seiler was cast as the presiding Judge. Seiler stated “They wanted to see how a Southern accent sounded on different roles, one of those roles was as a judge.”
“Lawyers started being nice to me when this leaked out,” he said as he laughed. “It was the opportunity of a lifetime.” Acting wasn’t anything new to Seiler. “We’re accused of acting all the time,” he said. “We really don’t, but we take credit for it if it is for good acting.”
While Seiler will be the luncheon speaker for the seminar, other speakers include Roger Dodd, author and lecturer, and Professor James Pierce, University of Florida. Mr. George Shadoan will speak on the topic of Delivering the Compelling Closing Argument and Mr. Jim Klindt, Assistant U.S. Attorney, will speak on the topic of Prosecuting the High Profile Case.
The seminar’s cost is $250 for JBA members and $275 for non-members. The Jacksonville Bar Association has applied with The Florida Bar for 9 hours of CLE Credits for attendees. If you would like to attend lunch only, the cost will be $55. The seminar is scheduled for April 24, 2003 at The Adam’s Mark Hotel from 8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Lunch will begin promptly at noon and conclude at 1:15 p.m. If you would like to attend or need more information, please call The Bar office at 399-4486.