• It’s odd that a budding television star in Florida can be done in by orange juice. This was the case when former assistant state attorney Hank Coxe was approached to do a commercial for Winn-Dixie orange juice after being part of the first televised trial in Jacksonville in 1979. “I was a young public servant, so I thought this would be a good way to make some extra money,” said Coxe. “I just couldn’t do it. After 20 or so takes they told me to go back to what I was doing before the called me.”
• Don’t forget, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince will be in town Thursday as the guest of honor at the D.W. Perkins Bar’s judicial reception. It’s at the University Club from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Perkins Bar will honor judges from the entire Fourth Judicial Circuit. For more, call Rhonda Peoples-Waters at 377-2109 or Leslie Jean-Bart at 307-9758.
• Governor Charlie Crist was scheduled to have meetings last week with a couple of people that have been known for visionary ideas. Billionaire and alternative fuels advocate T. Boone Pickens was schedule from 8-8:30 a.m. Thursday. Dr. Peter Diamandis was next on the schedule at 8:30 a.m. Diamandis is the chairman and CEO of the X Prize Foundation, which awarded $10 million in 2004 to Scaled Composites for building a vehicle that could transport three people 100 kilometers above the earth twice within two weeks. It was the first commercial space flight.
• Four lawyers in the Jacksonville office of Fowler White Boggs Banker — Michael Dewberry, Karl Hanson Jr., Eric Holshouser and Robert Riegel Jr. — have been named in the 2009 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.”
• The law firm of Pappas Metcalf Jenks & Miller has announced that John Campbell and Zachary Miller have become associated with the firm.
• Attorney Peter Contreras has joined the MarksGray law firm as an associate. Contreras was sworn in to The Florida Bar Sept. 23 by Circuit Court Judge Bernard Nachman.
• According to the October issue of the Florida Bar News, the national lawyer rating service Avvo.com is back in the legal news, as the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Advertising recently adhered to standing rules that do not allow lawyers to ask clients and former clients to evaluate their services on the Web site. By seeking a testimonial, the committee said, the practice is governed by advertising rules.
• One more from the latest Florida Bar News: The Supreme Court Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning is coming to Jacksonville to hear the thoughts on trends and conditions that impact the judicial branch’s mission for the next 20 years. The panel will be at Pablo Creek Regional Library Oct. 8 from 4–7 p.m. and is one of eight stops across Florida.
• Lunch time update: The Five Guys in Riverside recently opened for business. The Washington, D.C.-based burgers and fries joint located at 1620 Margaret St. is in the parcel once occupied by Qdoba Mexican Grill.
• Political opinions welcome: If you missed the “Partisan the Sea” politically opinionated poster show at Churchwell Lofts Friday, you have another chance. The show will be back at the 301 E. Bay St. building for Wednesday’s ArtWalk. For more information on the show, go to www.partisanthesea.com.
• They’re not just at the Landing any more: Farah’s Downtown at the corner of Bay and Liberty streets has added chicken wings to the lunch menu. According to Kamel Farah, “They’re flying out the door.”
• There has been a change of schedule for the fireworks display at the Oct. 11 Navy Day Celebration Downtown on the river. The pyrotechnics have been moved back an hour to 10:30 p.m. Headline entertainer Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer for Styx, requested the change so the rocket’s red glare can be the finale to his show.