By Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Lunch wasn’t the only thing Jacksonville Bar Association members had to digest at their monthly meeting at the Hyatt on Thursday.
Speakers addressed issues of child advocacy and the need for more pro bono help for children in Florida, as well as the status of the St. Johns River.
Attorney Wayne Hogan, a partner with Terrell Hogan, is a member of the legal advisory team formed to help protect the St. Johns River through contesting permit requests to draw millions of gallons of water from the river that would provide water for projected growth in Orlando and Central Florida. The team represents the St. Johns Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization formed to work on behalf of the community to preserve the St. John’s River and its tributaries.
Hogan alerted the crowd to an upcoming meeting of the St. Johns River Water Management District. The Special Governing Board meeting to consider entry of final order in St. Johns River Keeper, Inc., City of Jacksonville and St. Johns County v. SJRWMD and Seminole County will be held April 13 at District Headquarters in Palatka at 4049 Reid St. (Hwy. 100 West).
“Either you or someone you know ought to go down there and help persuade the St. Johns River Water Management District(SJRWD) not to go forward with this (Seminole County) permit,” said Hogan. “As a result of the work that the Riverkeeper did, (SJRWMD) was persuaded to do a $2.4 million study on the health of the river, but they are going to hear the permit anyway, ahead of time. Any sensible person would think that what they ought to do is complete the study about the affects of the withdrawal before they get into this decision.”
Special Needs of Children Committee Chair Jodi Seitlin hoped to help members of the JBA to make the decision to participate in the “Pro Bono for Jax Kids” program recently launched in Jacksonville.
“Our agenda is ambitious, to convince you that pro bono service on behalf of children can be accomplished and even enjoyed without sacrificing the bottom line of your practice,” said Seitlin. “ Something we all have in common is the ability and desire to seek justice and bring about change. Especially on behalf of those who cannot do this for themselves.”
The “Pro Bono for Jax Kids” program that Seitlin helped develop matches the skills of pro bono attorneys with the needs of child clients. Attorneys answer a survey detailing what kind of cases they are able to take and are then contacted when their services are needed. It is always up to the attorney to decide if they want to take the case.
“Once you accept just one case we will not call on you again,” said Seitlin. “Unless you particularly request to remain active in this program.”
Around 30 attorneys attended the afternoon CLE “Pro Bono You Can Handle-Use your skills to help a Jacksonville child in need.”
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