by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
There was a recurring theme at the County Courthouse Thursday afternoon: professionalism.
It was preached by Chief Judge Don Moran. It was expounded by attorney Hugh Cotney. And, it was on nearly every page of an appropriately-colored garnet and gold agenda that detailed the first annual Gary Pajcic Professionalism Seminar.
The seminar had been on the docket for a while as an event sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates. However, Pajcic’s sudden and untimely death earlier this year gave organizers an opportunity to honor Pajcic the best way they knew: by naming a professionalism seminar after him.
“This is really a tribute to Gary,” said attorney Hugh Cotney, who, along with fellow attorney Michael Seelie, chaired the seminar. “Tom Edwards (local ABOTA president) and I discussed it and agreed this is the perfect time to honor Gary. He set the example professionally and in the way he conducted his life.”
During his opening remarks, Cotney recalled being a student at Paxon High in the 1960s when Pajcic was a classmate and teammate on the football team.
“Gary was the star player in the state of Florida,” said Cotney. “But, every time you saw Gary he made you feel better about yourself.”
Pajcic went on to play quarterback at Florida State University before returning to Jacksonville to practice law. About 75 attorneys attended the seminar that was worth 3.5 Continuing Legal Education credits and 3.5 Ethics credits with The Florida Bar.
“I am very pleased with the turnout and the number of judges that agreed to participate,” said Moran, stressing the need to maintain a high level of professionalism within the legal community. “We work in an adversarial profession. The system won’t work without professionalism.”