by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Surprises and history-making announcements were part of the evening at the annual awards banquet for the Florida American Board of Trial Advocates Saturday at the Ginn Hammock Beach Resort.
It was no secret that two members of the Jacksonville legal community had earned top honors at FLABOTA’s annual awards banquet. It was revealed at the May 23 meeting of the Jacksonville Chapter of FLABOTA that defense attorney Bob Cole had been named “Trial Lawyer of the Year” and U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger was chosen as “Jurist of the Year.”
“To be nominated as ‘Trial Lawyer of the Year’ by this organization is very special,” said Cole. “It is a premiere organization in the country, not just in the state. To be voted on by my colleagues in Florida and the members of this organization just makes it that much more special.”
Cole, of Cole Stone Stoudemire & Morgan, admitted that he isn’t a “joiner” during his acceptance speech, but he made an exception when it came to FLABOTA.
“I only join organizations I believe in,” said Cole, who celebrated his 30th year practicing law in 2008. “This organization stands up for trial lawyers and judges, and the public and its right to trial. I’m proud to be a part of it and proud to be a recipient of this award.”
The American Board of Trial Advocates, of which FLABOTA is a member, began in 1958 and its main goal is to preserve the civil jury trial. FLABOTA is one of four regional chapters of the organization and it was founded in 1993. It is comprised of 11 chapters throughout the state. Potential members are invited to join based, partly, on their experience with jury trials.
Cole was involved with two of the historic firsts for the organization at the awards banquet. As part of the “Trial Lawyer of the Year” award, FLABOTA donated $5,000 in Cole’s name to the law school trial advocacy program of his choice. He chose Florida State University, where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees.
He was also sworn in as the organization’s new treasurer along with President Patricia D. Crauwels, of Sarasota. She is FLABOTA’s first female president.
The “Jurist of the Year” also experienced his share of firsts. Schlesinger participated in his first yoga class during the three-day conference. His flexibility has allowed him to be both a judge and a teacher during his time on the bench. Schlesinger first took the bench in 1975 as a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He has taught at The John Marshall Law School, in Atlanta and the University of North Florida.
“It’s an honor to be selected for this award especially by such a prestigious group of trial lawyers,” said Schlesinger.
One member of that group was surprised to be awarded with the Fran Peacock Coker Award Community Service Award. Joe Milton of Milton Leach Whitman D’Andrea & Milton was the first recipient of the award, which was presented by Howard Coker. The award was created to recognize individuals who shared the same passion for community service that Fran Coker possessed.
“This is unbelievable. I have gratitude for my peers who felt that strongly about me to nominate me for this award,” said Milton. “(Fran Coker) did so much and did it so unselfishly. I don’t know if anyone deserves an award in her name.”
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