by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The return of the First District Court of Appeal to Jacksonville also signaled the return of a joint meeting of Tallahassee and local American Inns of Court.
The First District Court of Appeal heard oral arguments at Florida Coastal School of Law Tuesday and Wednesday, and since the founding of the E. Robert Williams American Inn of Court in 2007, the local Inn of Court has taken that opportunity to hold an annual joint meeting with the First District Appellate American Inn of Court.
“We have a great relationship with our colleagues in Tallahassee and the joint meeting has been a great event,” said Allison Hauser, president of the E. Robert Williams American Inn of Court.
First District Court of Appeal Judge William Van Nortwick agreed.
“(E. Robert Williams Inn of Court) always puts on a great event,” said Van Nortwick, who practiced in Jacksonville from 1970 until he was appointed to the First DCA in 1994. “And Jacksonville is my home, so it’s always great to get back here.”
Circuit Judge Jim Daniel was master of ceremonies for the event and he prepared the crowd for the presentation on professionalism, which involved the fictitious City of Schickelville, taken from the name of the founding president of the E. Robert Williams American Inn of Court, Jake Schickel.
Being one of the few Inns of Court to focus on workers’ compensation practice, the case involved the repair of a tank that was used to store methanol. Two workers were instructed to remove the roof of the tank with a blow torch.
According to the “facts” of the case, the two employees were told the tank was empty, but when they started to cut into the tank the torch sparked an explosion with the remaining methanol in the tank.
Gregory Redmon, of the First DCA Inn of Court, represented the appellants, played by local attorney Stuart Williams who was outfitted with neck and arm braces. Tara Sa’id, E. Robert Williams member, represented the appellees.
The mock oral argument provided a showcase on how not to act in court and Daniel detailed some of the wrongdoings in his presentation of “Pitfalls of Appellate Argument.”
Some of the tips included: Don’t make jury arguments to an appellate panel, be cautious about visual aids, welcome questions, don’t speak over the judge, don’t go past the allotted time and don’t ask for more if you have.
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