from staff
Holiday warning
With Thanksgiving this week, the holiday parties are just around the corner. Eleventh Circuit Chief Judge Joseph Farina recently issued a memo to bar association presidents all over the state warning judges about their conduct during the holidays. Farina wrote:
“Promoting public trust and confidence in the judiciary and legal process is important during the holiday season and throughout the year. Toward that end, it is the policy of the 11th Judicial Circuit, in accordance with the Code of Judicial Conduct, that:
“A. Neither judges, magistrate judges, nor their staff are permitted or encouraged to accept gifts or favors from lawyers or their firms if they have come or are likely to come before the judge or general master.
“B. Neither judges nor magistrate judges should attend holiday parties hosted by a law firm if a member of that law firm is counsel of record in a case assigned to that judge or general master.”
Attorneys sought for Justice Teaching
Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Lewis is seeking lawyers for his Justice Teaching initiative. The program will pair lawyers and judges with every elementary, middle and high school in the state to teach students about the courts, governmental structure and the Constitution. The goal of the initiative is to correct misconceptions, explain the structure and function of the courts, reinforce the rule of law and strengthen public trust and confidence in the justice system.
“If we do not have the trust and confidence of our people in our court system, it is no wonder that folks will attack a branch of government they do not trust anymore,” said Lewis. “If you don’t know anything about it, how can you trust it?”
Attorneys and judges won’t have to devote any more than two hours a month to the program and they can select a particular grade level or school.
To learn more or sign up, visit the Bar’s Web site or call Valencia Davis, the Supreme Court’s Law Related Education and Outreach coordinator at (850) 414-6106.
Booth seeks reinstatement
Jacksonville attorney Raymond Booth III is one of three Florida attorneys currently seeking reinstatement by The Florida Bar. Geoffrey Talbot and Robert Jay Bogdanoff are also seeking reinstatement. According to the Bar, anyone “having knowledge bearing upon Booth’s fitness or qualifications to resume the practice of law should contact John F. Barr III, staff investigator for The Florida Bar, at (850) 561-5639.
Where are you?
Membership in The Florida Bar recently passed the 80,000 mark and, according to the Bar’s Research, Planning and Evaluation Department, most of the 80,000 attorneys have well over 11 years of experience in the legal profession. The breakdown is as follows:
• Under two years — 4 percent
• Two to five years — 16 percent
• Six to 10 years — 20 percent
• Eleven to 20 years — 34 percent
• Over 20 years — 26 percent