by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Professionalism doesn’t carry any calories.
That was another benefit to the latest installment of The Jacksonville Bar Association Judicial Relation Committee’s “Sidebar Lunch” program.
It was created to provide an opportunity for attorneys to meet judges and discuss courtroom procedures to promote professionalism and civility in the circuit.
“I was very pleased with the turnout on a dreary, rainy day,” said Ed Birk, moderator and member of the Judicial Relations Committee.
“We had a good turnout from the judges as well and, hopefully, people found out some information that will help them with their practice,” he said.
The committee hosted judges from the Civil Division of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, including Judges Haldane Taylor, Hugh Carithers, Waddell Wallace, Jack Schemer and Fred Tygart.
Judges Charles Arnold and Lawrence Haddock, who were recently reassigned from the Criminal Division to Civil, also attended.
Topics were discussed to improve courtroom procedure, including an increase in the use of testimony from depositions and video depositions.
“You need to sit down and decide on your trial testimony when it comes to depositions and video depositions,” said Tygart.
“Both sides need to sit down and get your objections on depositions and video depositions before the trial starts. If there is an objection to a video deposition, there needs to be a person to edit that out, and that, normally, can’t be done quickly,” he said.
Another way technology has been affecting the courtroom is when jurors look up information on court cases through the Internet using their cell phones.
“That has become one of my bigger pet peeves,” said Carithers. “Each time we have a break, or go to lunch, we have to remind the jurors not to try to look up information about the case before them.”
Attorney Thomas Harper of Harper Gerlach appreciated the access to a large section of the bench.
“It’s good to see them and hear them and their concerns,” said Harper. “It was pretty candid and a good dialogue. Good to see so many judges, because you don’t normally have cases in front of all of them.”
Judicial Committee co-chairs Marianne Lloyd Aho and Stacy Watson May organized the luncheon with the help of judicial assistant Linda Stone. Committee members Birk, William Roelke and Corrine Hodak moderated the event.
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