• There is one lawyer vacancy for each of the 26 Judicial Nominating Commissions in the state. The Florida Bar must nominate three lawyers for each vacancy to the governor for his appointment. Each appointee will serve a four-year term, beginning July 1. Applicants must be engaged in the practice of law and reside in the territorial jurisdiction served by the commission to which they are applying. Applicants must comply with state financial disclosure laws. Commissioners are not eligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for two years following completion of their four-year terms. Completed applications must be received by mail to the Florida Bar offices at 651 E. Jefferson St., Tallahassee, Fla. 32399, or fax, 850-561-5826, no later than 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Screening committees of the Board of Governors will review all JNC applications. The committee will then make recommendations to the Board of Governors.
• Clay County Clerk of the Court James Jett has added a couple of enhancements that will help all attorneys in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Attorneys can now submit recordings 24 hours a day through the office’s Web site. Also, all civil and criminal case viewings can be done over the Internet using a unique user ID and password.
• Constangy, Brooks & Smith has added three new attorneys to its now 10-lawyer office. Joann Bricker and Heather Owen joined the firm as partners and Carrie Cherveny is a new associate.
• The annual National Association of Industrial and Office Properties awards are set for Thursday at the Omni. This year’s winner of the Jesse B. Smith Community Service Award is former City Council member Lad Daniels, who is also president of the First Coast Manufacturers Association.
• Attorney Lane Burnett has indicated to City Council President Daniel Davis that he’d like to serve on the Jacksonville Waterways Commission. Burnett is a sole practitioner with an office on East Union Street.
“A far greater factor (than abolishing poverty) is the deterrent effect of swift and certain consequences: swift arrest, prompt trial, certain penalty and—at some point—finality of judgment.”
– Warren E. Burger, former Chief Justice, U.S.Supreme Court.