from staff
Florida Bar President Frank Angones was the guest speaker at Thursday’s Jacksonville Bar Association meeting and his message was pretty clear: lawyers have chosen a career that demands integrity and in order to meet that obligation it’s imperative attorneys do the right thing.
Angones is a Cuban immigrant and stressed how proud he is not just to be an attorney, but an American attorney. He also believes the 82,000-plus Florida Bar is among the best in the nation.
“We didn’t build the best Bar in the United States of America without men and women willing to take off a year of their lives to help build the best legal system (in the country),” said Angones, who called the several former Jacksonville attorneys who have served as Florida Bar presidents “luminaries” and people whom others seek for advice.
“When people need help, they call them,” he said.
He also called being Florida Bar president a privilege and something he never imagined happening.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this day would happen,” he said. “This did not happen by chance, but by hard work.”
In other news:
• Jacksonville Bar Association President Caroline Emery was recognized by Chief Judge Don Moran and attorney Hugh Cotney for her work during a recent professionalism seminar. Emery received a plaque for her efforts.
• Also, the following attorneys were also sworn in as new members of the Jacksonville Bar Association:
Deena Bateh, Trisha Dawood Bowles, Vanessa DeRosa, Diane Devereaux, Charles Douglas Jr, Rosa DuBose, Cleveland Ferguson III, Frank Fratello, Kathryn Gibson, Michael Giel, David Goldman, Cathy Kamm, Amanda Reid Payne.
Michael Rhodes, Eric Roberson, Bram Scharf, Eugene Shuboy III, Lanesha Sims, John Steven Sisco, Joshua Soileau, Patrick Snyder, Annika Wallace, Riley Williams, Ashley Winstead, Matthew Wolfe, Jermane Wright.