Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Bar Association and the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association combined efforts for a spring educational seminar and produced the first Ehrlich Nimmons Trial Advocacy Seminar Thursday.
Named after former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Raymond Ehrlich and U.S. District Judge Ralph “Buddy” Nimmons, the seminar provided a day of educational opportunities focusing on trial advocacy. One of the breakout sessions gave attendees the chance to talk to attorney Bryan Gowdy and Florida Solicitor General Scott Makar, who recently argued Graham v. Florida in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Attendees also were able to find out how judges believe attorneys should conduct themselves in court.
The majority of the panel appreciated the notebooks of information presented by attorneys presenting arguments before them, but they agreed, in most cases, they would not be able to read information presented the night before a trial.
“We need at least two days to review the notebooks of material that we receive,” said Circuit Court Judge Haldane Taylor.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan commented that the time frame doesn’t change with electronic filing.
“(Attorneys) think my brain is hooked up to the computer and I know as soon is something is filed and what it says,” said Corrigan. “It doesn’t happen that way.”
Circuit Court Judge Jim Daniel warned about notifying new judges about past procedures.
“If you are in front of a relatively new judge and you end up on the losing side, don’t tell the judge, ‘But judge, that’s not how we have done it in the past,’” said Daniel. “That will not help you carry the day.”
Taylor had a simple statement on using technology in the courtroom.
“If you know how to use it, use it,” said Taylor. “But if you don’t, you are just going to make yourself and your client look bad.”
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