by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Lewis brought a mixed message to the Jacksonville Bar Association Friday.
While he’s pleased with how many of the current issues facing The Florida Bar’s 80,000-plus members and the state’s judiciary are progressing, he’s genuinely worried about the overall state of the profession. He’s particularly concerned about how his generation of attorneys is leaving the practice of law for the young and new generation of attorneys just starting to make their mark in the legal community.
“I am seeing the troubles of the next generation of lawyers coming in,” said Lewis, who was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court Dec. 7, 1998 by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles. “I wonder if the court has become a court of discipline and not a real court. Young lawyers are coming out of law school with grand ideals of being environmental or intellectual property lawyers and they can’t find jobs. I am worried the profession is sucking the spark out of the best and brightest.
“Our challenge is to leave this profession better than how we found it.”
Lewis is doing his part. Since taking over for former Chief Justice Barbara Pariente last summer, Lewis has made his presence known not just in Tallahassee, but all over the state. His Justice Teaching program is designed to match a judge or a lawyer with every public school at every level across the state. It’s working.
“I assure you we have enough lawyers and judges in Florida to cover every school in Florida,” said Lewis, adding he thinks the program will go a long way towards promoting the profession and perhaps drawing students into the law that may have had designs on another career.
Lewis also said good strides are being made in several areas including judicial evaluations, merit retention — an issue he said “can’t be ignored and must be addressed” — the electronic dissemination of information, mental health and foster care.
“You can expect the announcement of a significant statewide initiative on mental health in the next couple of weeks,” said Lewis, adding an announcement on foster care is coming soon, too.
Chief Judge Don Moran introduced Lewis.
“I have never seen anyone with such enthusiasm for the profession and giving back to the community,” said Moran. “His enthusiasm is contagious.”
Other news and notes from the meeting:
• Jacksonville Bar Association President Kelly Mathis announced that JBA Executive Director Diane Gill has tendered her resignation. Gill, who is only the third executive director in the past 32 years, is moving to Athens, Ga. “She felt that was too far to commute,” said Mathis, adding he was given a little advice shortly after being sworn is as president. “I was told, don’t worry, Diane will always tell you what to do.” The JBA’s Board of Governors will conduct a search for Gill’s replacement.
• Lewis said he didn’t know Florida Bar President Hank Coxe until both took over last summer, but has quickly gotten to know him and his capabilities. “He’s a special man. All over the state, Hank Coxe is taking care of business for lawyers. He steps up when we have a capital case that others won’t touch,” said Lewis, whose assessment earned Coxe a standing ovation. “Hank, did I get that right?”
• The following lawyers were sworn in as members of the Jacksonville Bar Association, bringing to total membership to 1,960: Kate Bedell, Robert Blaesser Jr., Bryan Callaway, Lauren Cheatham, Clyde Collins Jr., Angela Cox, Brian Crevasse, David Cronin, Kirsten Doolittle, Dana Dorrell, Geraldine Durrett, Steve Fahlgren, Richard Fiato, Lyman Fletcher, Scott Fortune, Jeffrey Gadd, Veronica Garibay-Nabizadeh, Rita Giblin, Harvey Granger, Blair Hedges, John Hershberger, Tiffany Holbrook, Hope Iseley, William Joos, Tina Kassis, James Richard Le Mieux, Ambree Myers, Scott Raymond Lin, Kevin Loftus, Myra Loughran, Brittany Mauerberger, Maureen Murray, Jeffrey Neace, Erica O’Brien, Shannon Rager, Travis Reinhold, Benjamin Richard, Doris Rompf, Adam Rowe, David Russell, George Saoud Jr., Theresa Simak, Gloria Smith , Leslei Street, Louie Strum III, Ken Tomchin, Linsay Warren, Denise Whisenant, Gregg Williams, Todd Willis and Vanessa Zamora.