The Jacksonville Bar Association brought the bench and bar together Thursday for an evening reception at the Downtown Hyatt.
JBA President Alan Pickert said the JBA hosts the events to give judges and lawyers a chance to convene outside of the courtroom. Thursday’s reception brought about 100 bench and bar members to the riverfront patio of Plaza III The Steakhouse.
When he assumed the JBA presidency in June 2005, Pickert sought to foster a closer relationship among Duval County’s judges and lawyers. Looking back on a year that featured packed rooms for the JBA’s monthly meetings, Pickert judged the effort a success.
Cooperation between the bench and bar has been a prominent theme in Jacksonville and across the country, as the representatives of the judicial branch have looked to assert themselves in the face of political and legislative challenges.