by James Moseley Jr., Jacksonville Bar President
Our city has a total population in excess of 1.1 million people and is growing significantly each year. Like our city, The Jacksonville Bar Association is growing as well.
In a very short time, The Jacksonville Bar Association will top over 2,000 members. This is significant because almost 85 percent of area lawyers are members of The Jacksonville Bar Association. With our growing population our membership will only grow much larger. This is why it is important for us to remember our legacy and heritage so we can maintain our high standards of practice even as we grow to a much larger legal community.
As members of The Jacksonville Bar Association, we are fortunate to have a fine legacy of professionalism and community service. This reputation is not by accident, but earned through the hard work of many generations. It is important for us to preserve this legacy so that The Jacksonville Bar Association will continue with its fine reputation for generations to come. This worthy goal must be renewed annually if we are to enjoy in future years the practice of law that we currently enjoy.
Our Bar Association is one of the oldest in the country. In February 1897, The Jacksonville Bar Association was founded by 38 local lawyers and judges. The inaugural meeting of the Bar was held at the Windsor Hotel which was located on the west end of Hemming Plaza, the site of our new federal courthouse. The objectives of the Association were set forth in the original constitution as:
To maintain the honor and dignity of the profession; to regulate the practice and promote improvements in the law and methods of its administration; to cultivate professional ethics and social intercourse among its members; and to discuss legal topics of general interest.
Those objectives are just as true today as they were over 100 years ago. Indeed, as our city and Bar continues to grow it will be more important to remember those ideals which led to our founding and to implement those ideals in our many programs. Whether it is participation in lawyer referral service, CLE programs, Bar sections, Bar committees, or just attending the monthly meetings, we all must do our part to maintain the fine reputation that we have enjoyed over these many years.
I hope that you will join us in celebrating Founder’s Day at the monthly luncheon at the Omni on Thursday, Feb. 12. Our featured speakers will be Jim Ade, Jacksonville Bar president from 1968-69 and Rutledge Liles, Jacksonville Bar president from 1976-77. We will also recognize the Vintage Lawyers, which has become a special section of our Bar. I look forward to seeing you there.
Monte Carlo Night
The Florida Times Union wrote on Feb. 27, 1897:
The first banquet of The Jacksonville Bar Association was given at the Windsor Hotel last night, and was one of the most brilliant events of the season. A large number of the most prominent lawyers of the city attended, and the occasion was one that will long be pleasantly remembered.
We will continue this fine tradition with our third annual Monte Carlo Night at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 7-11 p.m. I hope you will make plans to attend our attempt to “cultivate social intercourse among the members” on this special occasion. Each year this event continues to grow and is well attended. In addition to the many gaming tables, a silent auction will be held benefiting the Jacksonville Bar Foundation, and music and food will be provided. In addition, the Cummer Museum of Art galleries will be open for viewing during the evening. The cost is $75 per person and includes food, cocktails, desserts, and coffee. Reservations are required, and we hope you will make your reservation today by contacting The Jacksonville Bar office at 399-4486.
On behalf of the Bar Association, we thank Susan Haag and her committee for organizing this event which promises to be one of the highlights of the year.
Law Day
Word leaked out last week about our Law Day speaker. I am pleased to confirm that Judge Kenneth Starr will be our featured speaker at our Law Day luncheon. The luncheon is tentatively set for Monday, May 10 at the Adams Mark Hotel. We appreciate the work of 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Gerald Tjoflat, in arranging for Judge Starr to be our speaker.
Other events for Law Day are coming along well. Thanks to Jennifer Watson and her committee. Much thanks goes to their hard work.
Continuing Legal Education Programs
On April 22 at the Radisson, the Family Law Section will be sponsoring its annual seminar. The following day, on April 23, the annual Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar will be held. Watch future Bar Bulletins for additional information and registration forms.