by Kent Jennings Brockwell
Staff Writer
Several attorneys from Jacksonville are planning to attend the Florida Bar’s annual meeting in Orlando next month but a few will be packing acceptance speeches along with their business casual attire.
Organizers said about 1,200 attorneys from around the state and more than 50 from Jacksonville are expected for the June 22-25 annual meeting at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
Jacksonville may have more representation in Orlando this year compared to past years due to several local lawyers joining the leadership ranks of the Florida Bar.
Taking the biggest honor is local defense attorney Hank Coxe who is being sworn in as president-elect for The Florida Bar. Jake Schickel, a partner at Coker, Myers, Schickel, Sorenson and Green, is also being sworn in for his term on the board of governors. Schickel will be joining the board with Jacksonville attorney Grier Wells, who is beginning the second year of his second term.
The swearing in ceremony for Coxe, Schickel and Wells will be held during the general assembly meeting at 10 a.m. on Friday June 24. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will be the keynote speaker for that event.
Diane Gill, executive director of the Jacksonville Bar Association, is also taking a leadership position at the annual meeting. Gill is taking over the presidency of the Florida Council of Bar Executives.
Another high point of this year’s meeting will be the Judicial Luncheon on Thursday June 23 at 12:30 p.m. Florida Chief Justice Barbara Pariente will be the keynote speaker and will give a State of the Judiciary address. Pulitzer Prize winning humor columnist Dave Barry will also be speaking at that luncheon.
Robert Grey Jr., president of the American Bar Association, will be speaking at the Equal Opportunities Law Section, Florida Association for Women Lawyers and Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association luncheon on Friday June 24.
There are four other big luncheons planned for Friday June 24. They include the Public Interest Law Section luncheon, the 50-Year members awards luncheon, the International Law Section’s ILAC luncheon and the Chester Bedell Memorial luncheon. All are scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
This year’s annual meeting will also offer plenty of chances for attorneys to catch up on their continuing legal education requirement. There are more than 20 CLE seminars and workshops scheduled throughout the week. This year’s CLE topics range from first amendment issues to anger management.
The annual meeting isn’t all workshops and luncheons, however. Stand-up comedian Sinbad and Beatles tribute band “1964”...The Tribute will perform Friday night to give the attendees a chance to have some fun.