Drug Court graduation
Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Pariente, Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince and a host of local and state elected officials will be in town Wednesday for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Court graduation. The ceremony, during which six drug court students will graduate, is part of National Drug Court Month. City Council member Daniel Davis, who used to work in the Drug Court division, will present a special proclamation during the ceremony.
Cosmic bowling for a cause
Beach Bowl in Jacksonville Beach is hosting “Cosmic” bowling June starting at 8 p.m. with the proceeds going towards Jacksonville Legal Clinic. It’s $20 per bowler for two games and shoe rental is included. You can bowl individually or as a team of 4-6. Call Jacksonville Legal Clinic at 725-6870 for more.
Forums look toward July judicial elections
The Florida Bar’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee will host a Judicial Campaign Conduct Forum Friday at the County Courthouse. The forums brief potential candidates for 55 new circuit and county judgeships open for election. The qualifying period to run for those seats runs from July 17-21. The Bar committee wants to encourage anyone who may choose to qualify to attend the forums.The purpose of the forums is to provide early on possible candidates with as much Canon 7 information as possible. Canon 7 of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct instructs judges on what they can say in public comments. It dictates impartiality and political independence.
JALA attorney takes Bankruptcy Workshop on the road
Consumer attorney April Charney of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is taking her bankruptcy defense clinic on the road. She’s been training attorneys across the state in preparation for an appearance at the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys’ “Bankruptcy Workshop,” on May 20. Charney will be a featured speaker in New Orleans. Charney’s instruction at a Tampa real estate course was videotaped to make a Continuing Legal Education video. She’s now preparing an identity theft/credit reporting seminar for an upcoming CLE class in Jacksonville.
Public Defender needs space for Unified Family Court
Public Defender Bill White told Mayor John Peyton in a letter last week not to forget about Unified Family Court when planning Duval County’s criminal court complex. Peyton has proposed to split the County’s criminal courts from civil courts to save money on construction of the new County Courthouse. White asked Peyton to consider putting the juvenile detention center in close proximity to the UFC complex. White said his office will require a satellite office in the criminal complex dedicated to UFC cases. As an alternative, White suggested the UFC might be built into the new criminal courthouse. White said his attorneys handle about 5,000 delinquency cases a year for UFC, and he doesn’t want his staff to have to shuttle back and forth across downtown.
JWLA gets musical
The Rick Arcusa Band will play at the Jacksonville Women’s Lawyers Association judicial reception June 1 from 5:30-7:3- p.m. at the Hyatt. Vanya Arcusa, a paralegal for Lisa Coplan - Gardner in Neptune Beach, and Florida Coastal School of Law professor Susan Daicoff-Dunn, are members of the band which also played Saturday at Dancin’ in the Streets. Arcusa sings and plays keyboards and percussion while Daicoff-Dunn sings and plays bass.
Florida Bar survey
Florida Bar members with disabilities are being asked to participate in the first statewide survey designed to identify the nature and impact of disabilities on the practice of law. The survey will also gather information on accommodations and technical assistance that would enhance the participation of attorneys with disabilities in Florida’s legal community. The goal of the survey is to identify ways to provide full and equal opportunities for lawyers with disabilities in Florida. Bar members must have a registered password to conduct transactional services on the Bar’s Web site to access the survey. The survey is available to Florida Bar members with disabilities online at www.floridabar.org and in print format by contacting the Bar’s research, planning and evaluation department at 1-850-561-5649. The deadline to submit surveys is June 16.
Judicial appointment
Former Ponte Vedra attorney David Langham was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush as Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims. Langham will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Stephen Scott Stephens, who resigned to accept an appointment to the 13th Circuit Court. Langham, 41, of Gulf Breeze, currently serves as a Judge of Compensation Claims in Pensacola, a position he has held since 2001. Previously, he was partner in the law firm of Langham and Langham, P.A., in Ponte Vedra. Langham received his undergraduate degree from Ball State University in 1986 and his Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College of Law in 1991.