from staff
Former Florida Bar President Howard Coker was recently honored by the American Justice Association with its “Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award” at a ceremony in Orlando.
The award was presented Oct. 16 by Tampa attorney Martin Garcia and it recognizes a career of leadership, example setting, devotion and courage. Coker is known throughout the state for his devotion to the profession and his clients and he is equally respected for his continuous contributions to the Jacksonville community, most notably in the field of adult and child literacy.
“I am humbled and grateful,” said Coker. “All I’ve tried to do is make a difference for the people I represent and the profession I love.” A past president of The Florida Bar, Florida Justice Association and the Florida Board of Trial Advocates (FLABOTA), Coker has received other top awards from the Florida Justice Association including the “B.J. Masterson Award For Professionalism” in 2005, and the organization’s top honor, “Perry Nichols Award” for exemplary character and contributions, in 2006. In 2007, Coker was chosen as “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by FLABOTA and named the “Jacksonville Lawyer of the Year” by the Financial News & Daily Record.