by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Florida Bar President and Jacksonville trial attorney Hank Coxe says a roast is measured by the quality of the roasters. June 7, there’s an impressive slate set to roast Coxe on behalf of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid — State Attorney Harry Shorstein, former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Major B. Harding, Bedell partner David Barksdale, retired educator and longtime friend Chuck Badger and attorney Lamar Winegeart.
“There are some good ones this year,” said Coxe, who was the subject of a benefit roast several years ago for Spina Bifida.
Jacksonville Lawyer Magazine is hosting the roast and publisher Billy Catlin said he’s been putting the event together for a few months. His first stop was Chief Judge Don Moran. Catlin said he ran the idea of roasting Coxe by Moran, who liked what he heard.
“He said, ‘Billy, that’s a great idea. But, you have to do it as a benefit.’ I told him I wanted to do it for Legal Aid and he said, you’ll get a big crowd if you do,” explained Catlin. “The roast will be fun and we won’t pull any punches.”
The roast is at the Hyatt at 7:30 and costs $150 per individual and tables for 10 are available for $1,500. Catlin said every dime after expenses goes to JALA.
Christa Figgins is the development director for JALA, which offers legal aid services to the poor. Faced annually with a limited budget, Figgins said the news of much-need, but unsolicited help is great.
Figgins said the financial help comes at a good time. JALA’s fiscal year budget is winding down and the recent announcement from the mayor’s office that all service grants may be cut from the 2007-08 budget could mean a loss of about $300,000 for JALA. Figgins said JALA would do whatever it could to make up any shortfall, but cutting services or personnel isn’t on the list.
“That’s the last thing Mike (Figgins, JALA executive director) would do,” she said.
Catlin said he’d like to sell 500 tickets to the roast and figures he’s at the 65-70 percent mark right now.
“We are looking forward to raising a ton of money for JALA,” he said.
In addition to Jacksonville Lawyer Magazine, Catlin said CSX, DR Horton, the Poker Room at the St. Johns County greyhound track and Lithographic Services have all signed on as major sponsors. The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of many who have bought an entire table.
Coxe said if the roast wasn’t for a good cause, he wouldn’t do it.
“I would not do this just for the sake of doing it, but this is for the right thing,” he said. “I am very supportive.” 