by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The latest lunch gathering of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) featured progress reports on both the new Duval County Courthouse and how the courts are operating during tough economic times.
A group whose main purpose is the preservation of the civil jury trial, “Justice by the People,” invited members of the local judiciary to a lunch at the Main Library for a discussion regarding the place they are looking forward to practicing one day and the system that allows them to practice law.
Circuit Court Judge Mallory Cooper informed the group that the second floor of the new Courthouse was nearing completion and progress should quicken as the project grows taller.
“The first and second floors are bigger than floors three through seven,” said Cooper, who serves with Circuit Court Judge Lance Day on the City’s Courthouse Architectural Review Committee. “The project should go up quicker after the second floor is completed in about 30 days.”
The goal for completion is between March and August of 2012, but enough of the Courthouse should be completed by June 2011 for Mayor John Peyton to walk through the front door before he leaves office, which has been a goal of Peyton’s throughout his second term.
“He deserves that,” said Cooper. “He finally got the ball rolling and we are grateful for that.”
After the update on the Courthouse, ABOTA member John DeVault moderated a discussion regarding the current operation of the court system.
“A lot of lawyers from around the state ask me when I travel if the Fourth Circuit has a commercial or business law division,” said DeVault. “Is that something that might be considered?”
Circuit Court Chief Judge Donald Moran addressed the question.
“Everybody wants their own court and in the areas that you have those courts you’ll find that there is great case delay,” said Moran. “We don’t have, in my opinion, that kind of case delay in our civil division. So I’ve never seen the necessity to take a judge and say that you’re just going to do this. I’m not against it. Right now, I would rather see judges doing everything than just one court.”
Another question referred to one that DeVault found himself addressing from his younger lawyers.
“They often ask what can you do during ex-parte?” said DeVault.
Circuit Court Judge Waddell Wallace fielded the question.
“A good rule of thumb would be nothing that is contested that will be a contracted argument,” said Wallace. “That will just take away from the purpose of ex-parte.”
The next ABOTA event will be the free Pajcic Professionalism Seminar Oct. 29 at the Hyatt.
356-2466