Jacksonville Bar Association President Courtney Grimm
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the story of upstanding lawyer Atticus Finch.
There may not be a “real life lawyer who has done more for the self-image or public perception of the legal profession” than Atticus Finch, and perhaps no other book has influenced more lawyers.
The story is a favorite of many as it tells of a lawyer at his ethical best in a courtroom. It elicits feelings of hope and portrays the principle that one person can make a difference in life, and that everyone has a duty to try.
For those of you who have read the book, you will recall that the scene which most strikingly captures those feelings is when, after the conclusion of the trial, the jury, which deliberated for an unprecedented several hours, returned a verdict of guilty against an innocent man solely because of his race.
The courtroom empties except for the balcony, which holds the defendant’s family, friends and supporters as well as Atticus’ two children. As Atticus leaves, the entire section rises in an extraordinary gesture of respect for an attorney who, at that time and place, did the best he could, with what he had, in the face of insurmountable odds.
As lawyers, we should strive for those ideals. Don’t we have a duty to do so? And aren’t those ideals worth preserving? There cannot be a better definition of professionalism than as portrayed by Atticus. Do you possess these ideals?
These are times when ideals such as duty, ethics and professionalism may be blurred by the pressures of our lives and practice. We need to pause and reflect on our journey through the profession and what is needed to preserve our profession and obtain respect.
The public perception of our profession begins with us and our relationships with our clients, fellow lawyers and the judiciary. A lawyer’s duty is always to the client. However, in striving to fulfill that duty, a lawyer must be conscious of the goal of effective administration of justice which includes candor, diligence, respect and professional integrity to the judiciary and fellow lawyers as well as to your client.
As you know, years ago our Chief Judge ordered that all attorneys appearing in the Fourth Judicial Circuit were to be familiar with and were to conduct themselves in accordance with the “Guidelines for Professional Conduct of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar and The Jacksonville Bar Association” as well as the “Handbook on Discovery Practice” published by the Joint Committee of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar and Conferences of Circuit and County Court Judges.
These guidelines and practices, which encourage decency and courtesy in our professional lives, must be brought to life through our actions as attorneys. Throughout our practice, civility should be utilized in communications with clients, opposing counsel and argument before the court.
If you haven’t looked over the guidelines recently, take a moment to give them a re-read. (See www.flatls.org and go to Professionalism.) And while you are at it, why not give “To Kill a Mockingbird” a read or re-read? You will not only feel rewarded, but have a refreshed drive for duty, ethics and professionalism.
We pride ourselves as members of The Jacksonville Bar Association in exhibiting professionalism. Let’s continue. Reflect on whether your reasons for entering our profession are reflected in the standards by which you engage in the practice of law. Are you following the guidelines and practices? Can you honestly say that you are doing the best you can? Are you upholding the standards of our profession and preserving our profession as Atticus Finch?