by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
A local group of trial lawyers recently celebrated 20 years of supporting the preservation of the civil jury trial, and “Justice by the People.”
The Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates was created 20 years ago this year and they celebrated its anniversary and the people it felt contributed to its mission. Circuit Court Judge Bernard Nachman was named the organization’s “Judge of the Year” and Josh Whitman of Milton, Leach, Whitman, D’Andrea & Milton was honored with the “Lawyer of the Year” award.
“Josh (Whitman) helped lead the effort against budget cutbacks to the Florida court system during the 2008 legislative session,” said Joe Milton, who is a partner with Whitman. “He has been an outstanding trial advocate and it is my pleasure to present him with this award.”
Both Milton (1997) and Whitman (2004) were presidents of the Jacksonville Chapter of ABOTA when it was named “ABOTA National Chapter of the Year.” It became the first chapter in ABOTA’s history to win the award twice in 2004. The organization celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was founded to help preserve a citizen’s right to trial by jury and educate the public on the importance ot the Seventh Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Its membership consists of an equal number of plaintiff and defense trial lawyers.
Nachman was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1961 and began his career serving the public as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He later moved into private practice before being elected as a Circuit Court Judge in 1990.
“One thing Judge Nachman is known for is intimidation,” said ABOTA member Wayne Hogan, jokingly, while introducing Nachman at the awards ceremony. “This explains why no one else chose to run against him for the Circuit Court seat.”
Hogan recognized Nachman as an authority on election law.
”Every election law case seems to end up in his court,” said Hogan.
Nachman is also known for his scholarship and the sharing of that knowledge. He has served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Florida, on the faculty of the college of Advanced Judicial Studies and is a member of the Education Committee of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges.
The third award of the night was given posthumously to founding member Brent Turbow who passed in 2000. His wife Carol accepted the Chapter’s President Award which honored Turbow’s devotion and dedication to the organization and its cause.
“He was like a light that everyone was drawn to,” said member Fred Tromberg. “You just couldn’t not like him.”
Attorneys Reginald Luster (a former Jacksonville Bar Association president), Stephen O’Hara, Eric Leach, Edward McCarthy, Mike Tanner, and Bill Cooper were sworn in as new members.
The Jacksonville Chapter also swore in its new board members which will include, President Mike O’Neal, President-Elect Hugh Cotney and Historian Charlie Pillans attended the event. Jake Schickel will serve as treasurer and Diane Weaver as secretary.
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