by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Retired Judge William Durden walked into the back room of the Piccadilly Cafeteria near Regency Square Mall Thursday afternoon and, at nearly 90 years old, was greeted by Homer Humphries with “Hello, young man.”
A sign on the wall – “River City Republicans” — caught Durden’s eye.
“I’m in the wrong place,” said Durden. “I’m a Franklin Roosevelt Democrat. To hell with that.”
Welcome to the last “Vintage Lawyers” luncheon of the year. Four times a year, about 25 of Jacksonville’s legal legends gather at Piccadilly for lunch. There’s some talk of the law, but much more about families, travel, projects about the house and various clubs they belong to around town. If the conversation heads towards the law, you can bet 95 year-old Maurice Goldstein is telling one of the thousands of stories he’s amassed over the years.
In fact, of the 23 attorneys who showed up last week, their resumes total 1,215 years of trials, depositions, pleadings, filings and every other facet of law. Many have squared off in court over the years and shared a spot at the bar after the final gavel of the day.
“Bob Beckham and I have tried maybe 20 or 30 cases against each other,” said Humphries, the de facto organizer of the group that only requires members to be lawyers and over 60.
“I’m the unofficial scorekeeper,” said Humphries, who was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1962 and plans to retire from his firm of Humphries & Oberdier at the end of the week.
May will mark the fifth anniversary of the Vintage Lawyers. Humphries may arrange the luncheons, but that’s about it. At the beginning of each year, he picks a few dates and e-mails out the options. He stays away from Jacksonville Bar Association meetings and waits for his friends and longtime peers to get back to him. There are no agendas; members can show up generally around noon and leave when they want. Dress is optional, but most enjoy the opportunity to put on a coat and tie.
The stories in the room cover the legal history of Jacksonville.
“Judge Durden was the first General Counsel for the City,” explained
Barry Zisser. “He represented the City when Ray Green challenged the constitutionality.”
The constitutionality of what?
“The whole consolidated government of Jacksonville,” shot back Durden.
One-liners are big, too.
“Charlie Towers told me to stay away from these things,” said Walter Arnold, laughing.
“When he (Durden) was admitted to the Bar, they used Roman numerals,” said Martin Sack, who offered Humphries a retirement suggestion. “You should become a bailiff.”
Humphries said someone else will have to organize the luncheons after next year. He’s passing that torch, but he still enjoys seeing the lawyers he has worked with over the years.
“We talk about everything but the law. It’s not that interesting anymore,” he said. “The people in this room have probably tried every kind of case there is, every type and from every side.”
Retired Circuit Court Judge Bill Maness turned 90 last weekend – and he’s still at it.
“I stay busy enough,” he said. “I went to Green Cove Springs today to record a deed that had to be done. Now, I’m here.”
Like old friends, the camaraderie is unmistakable. And, like most old friends, blunt honesty is the norm.
Maurice Goldstein: “I’m 95. I’ll turn 96 in July.”
Towers: “Murray, you are in excellent shape for your age.”
Goldstein: “My doctor says I’m amazing.”
Towers: “Bill (William Goldstein), you gonna be in as good a shape as Murray when you turn 95?”
Bill: “No.”
Louis O. Frost Jr. joined the group Thursday and cracked a few jokes, too.
Zisser: “Lou, I took your son’s deposition the other day.”
Frost: “That must have been a treat.”
Walter Arnold wandered over to say hello to Towers and couldn’t help commenting on his buffet-line behavior.
“Charlie, that’s a helluva lot of food you are eating,” said Arnold.
It takes years – maybe even decades – of friendship to get away with lines like that.