by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Howard Coker’s resume is impressive.
He’s admitted to practice in all the Florida jurisdictions, the 11th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. He’s board certified by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He’s president and director of his law firm and he’s a former President of The Florida Bar (1998-99) and member of the Bar’s board of governors (1994-99). On his biography, Coker’s list of Bar-related activities goes on for 10 pages and he’s been published in dozens of legal journals.
Coker has always been active civically, but over the past year, that activity has increased dramatically. Today, Coker can also add Financial News & Daily Record’s “Lawyer of the Year” to his resume. Coker got a standing ovation at Wednesday’s Jacksonville Bar Association Law Day luncheon after Bailey Publishing President Jim Bailey announced the award.
“This is a distinguished list of past recipients who have made a difference in the community, not just the law,” said Bailey. “The Lawyer of the Year leads by example and past recipients have had an influence on the community.”
Bailey said Coker has brought a lot to the community with little fanfare. Coker’s most recent civic involvement includes serving as the current Chair of the Zoo’s board of directors and his involvement in early literacy includes winning this year’s “Kiss the Pig” contest to benefit Learn to Read and being active in Mayor John Peyton’s Rally Jacksonville! initiative.
“I have loved every minute of being a lawyer,” said Coker. “There is no other group of professionals that does more for the community than lawyers. I think I have done, or tried to do, my small part.”
This year’s guest speaker was Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp who talked about the role lawyers play in the business world as well as the community.
This year’s theme, was “Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy.”
Addressing the Law Day theme, Kottkamp stressed the importance of educating the state’s young people in the importance of understanding the basics of Civics and the laws of the Constitution in relation to the security of the country. He said there is a push in Tallahassee to add a Civics sections to the FCAT exam.
Kottkamp urged local Bar members to understand the value of having a mentor and being a mentor.
“It is incredibly rewarding to be a mentor to a young child,” he said.
Other notes from the meeting:
• Jacksonville Bar Association Executive Director Diane Gill was the recipient of this year’s Liberty Bell Award and got a standing ovation. Gill joined the Bar Association in 1992 and resigned a couple of months ago. Wednesday’s meeting was her last as executive director. The award is given annually to a non-lawyer who has contributed to the profession. Past winners include Sheriff John Rutherford, former Sheriff Nat Glover, former Ch. 4 anchor Deborah Gianoulis, I.M. Sulzbacher and Fletcher High teacher and mock court team coach Ed Lang.
• Jacksonville Bar Association President Kelly Mathis said there are still a few spots available in Thursday’s JBA golf tournament at Deerwood Country Club. In addition to the election of the JBA board of governors, former PGA Tour player and current ESPN golf analyst Bill Kratzert will be on hand and will give a short talk at 6:45 p.m.
• The following attorneys were sworn in as new members of the Jacksonville Bar Association:
Christopher Adamec, Steve Armotrading, Cynthia DeBula Baines, Lisa Ann Barclay, Sarah Bohr, Brian Coughlin, Esther Erkan, Gil Feltel, Michael Fackler, Steven Gard, Tanya Foreman, Michelle Glass, Sean Granat, Catherine Buhaly Ibold and Carolyn Roschelle Jones.
Also, Emily Kerns, Caroline Kingston, John Leombruno, Nicholas Martino, Marsha McCoy, Jeanne Miller, Frank Morreale, Christopher Morrissey, Samantha Powers, Angela Sarabia, Michael Scheve, Cindy Swinson, David Trotti, Joe Harrison Wade Jr. and Ryan Kenneth Williams.