by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
More than 35 future attorneys were sworn into the Florida Bar Thursday by Chief Judge Don Moran.
Former law school graduates filled the jury seats and the room, waiting to commit their lives to the ethical duties of an attorney and their possible clients. Moran said he was very surprised by the turnout and admitted he expected fewer than 10 to show up to his inaugural swearing in ceremony.
“We have a lot more people than I expected, which I am pleased,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve done an official swearing in ceremony.”
Moran said he met earlier with Federal Judge Timothy Corrigan, Diane Gill, executive director of the Jacksonville Bar Association, and Mike Freed, president of the Jacksonville chapter of the Florida Bar Association, to discuss a formal way of swearing in the attorneys. Previously, a law school graduate who passed the Florida Bar could bring the paperwork and get sworn in by a notary, according to Moran. The ceremony also allows the Jacksonville Bar and the Florida Bar to represent itself at the swearing in, he said.
“It was phenomenal,” said Kelly Mathis, president-elect of the Jacksonville Bar, who spoke at the ceremony.
Dana Moss, a law grad who was sworn in, said she received a letter the day before the ceremony that stated she passed the test.
“It feels like a milestone, it really does,” said Moss. “It feels like I just started law school. But then again, it was a real long and hard process.”
Moss brought her 5-year-old daughter, Annalise, with her to the ceremony and is due with a second daughter in three weeks. Even with a child and one on the way, Moss completed a three-year law program in two-and-a-half years, worked part-time at a law firm and interned at the Florida Supreme Court.
“I’m not the home body type,” she said.
Moss said she will start looking for a job as an attorney once her child is born.
John Borland, another newly sworn in attorney, said he is already employed in the pro bono legal core through the Equal Justice Works program. Borland was selected among 21 lawyers in the country to be in the department, he said. He will be able to work with and advise clients now that he is an official member of the Florida Bar.
“Today was just very inspiring and positive and a great experience,” he said.
Moran said the next official swearing in ceremony will be in the United States Courthouse with Corrigan in July.