by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
County Court Judge Pauline Drayton highlighted this year’s D.W. Perkins Bar Association’s Law Day luncheon at the Main Library. Following the Law Day theme of “Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy,” Drayton talked about being involved in the statewide Justice Teaching program. She was recently at Brentwood Elementary and said the response was great.
“Those young people were so excited to have a judge come into their classroom and talk about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” said Drayton, whose background includes a stint in the State Attorney’s Office and with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “Whatever you’ve heard about that school or the teachers, put it behind you.”
Drayton pointed out the word “democracy” never actually appears in the Constitution and called it a “living, breathing document” designed to allow the laws of the nation to evolve as the country matures.
Drayton also urged members of the Perkins Bar, as African-Americans, to concentrate on several things throughout their careers:
• Find a niche and exercise their talent
• Make a commitment to something. “Don’t start 10 things. Start on one thing and stay with it,” she said.
• Do pro bono work “because it’s the right thing to do.”
• Become advocates for children and work with Guardian ad Litem
• “Whatever you do, do it out of love.”
Other news and notes from the meeting:
• Davis said the Perkins Bar is looking at being able to provide three, $1,000 scholarships to Florida Coastal students this year.
• The Perkins Bar will hold elections for the 2007-08 program year during its annual meeting June 8 at Mill Cove Golf Course. Chris Davis of Peek Cobb & Edwards is running for president. Rhonda Waters of the Craig Gibbs firm is running for president-elect. And, Jennifer Coleman of Boyd & Jenerette is running for treasurer. A nominee for secretary is needed.