from staff
A good crowd gathered at The River Club Friday evening for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s 9th Annual Equal Justice Awards. The annual event honors area attorneys and firms for their work over the past year either through pro bono services or financial contributions to JALA.
Many of the area’s top attorneys attended the event including immediate-past Florida Bar President Hank Coxe, State Attorney Harry Shorstein, Public Defender Bill White and State Rep. candidate Mike Weinstein. Alex Sink, the State Chief Financial Officer, was the keynote speaker.
This year’s Equal Justice Award went to Holland & Knight attorney Robert Beckham for his pro bono work while the President’s Award went to William Catlin, IV.
Attorneys recognized for their pro bono work included: Dominick Bozzetti, Charles Douglas Jr., E.T. Fernandez III, Jessie Harrell, H. Joseph O’Shields, Robert Pritchard, Gerald Weedon and the law firm of Pappas, Metcalf, Jenks & Miller.
The following firms were recognized for 100 percent participation: Liles, Gavin, Costantino & George; Moseley, Prichard, Parrish, Knight & Jones; Terrell Hogan; Harrell & Harrell; and Ford & Harrison.
Six JALA staff members were also recognized: Robyn Albertie, April Charney, Anetra Lloyd, Theresa Snyder, Sharon Caserta and Kathryn Jackson.