by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
In an effort to promote professionalism and civility in the courtroom, the Young Lawyers Section of The Jacksonville Bar Association hosted its annual “Afternoon in the Courthouse” program to educate new lawyers on the Duval County Courthouse and the etiquette and procedures of the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Attorneys who recently began the practice of law in the Fourth Judicial Circuit were given the unique opportunity to meet local judges, judicial assistants, court reporters and members of the JBA, and ask them questions about the practice of law in the local legal community.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” said Circuit Court Judge Hugh Carithers. “We welcome your questions about courtroom procedure and we try to make ourselves as accessible as possible to get you the answers you need.”
Carithers didn’t step out of character as he presided over a skit designed to illustrate how not to act in the courtroom. The “attorneys” who appeared before Carithers were Circuit Court Judge Charles Arnold and County Judge Angela Cox.
All of the judges agreed that one of the habits that can cause harm to an attorney’s reputation is tardiness.
“I think I’ve spent about half of my life sitting in hallways waiting to go into court,” said Arnold, “but I have never been late to court.”
Tardiness irks Arnold so much that he has instituted a fine for late lawyers of one dollar per minute late, which is donated to the JBA.
The program included a discussion with Circuit Judge Frederick Tygart on “Practicing with Integrity and Professionalism,” presentations on the history of the Duval County Courthouse by Ed Booth Jr. and the new Duval County Courthouse by Circuit Court Judges Lance Day and Mallory Cooper. After a tour of the courthouse, the group of about 50 new lawyers was able to relax at a reception at the top of the Berkman Plaza building on Bay Street.
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