Online voting for The Jacksonville Bar Association president-elect and Board of Governors will begin Friday and run through April 30 at jaxbar.org. On-site voting will take place May 1 at the Annual Meeting and Law Day Luncheon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Omni Hotel.
There are six candidates below for Board of Governors. Voters must select five or their ballots are rendered ineligible. (More voting information below candidate profile.)
FRAZ AHMED
JBA activities
• Board of Governors, 2012-present
• Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors, 2008-12
• Law Day Committee chair, 2010 and 2012
• Law Day Committee member, 2008-present
• Law Day High School Mock Trial Competition chair, 2008-10
• YLS Afternoon at the Courthouse Seminar chair and co-chair, 2008-09
• Law Day Naturalization Ceremony speaker, 2009
• YLS Noon in June chair, 2012
• YLS Sports League: Chair 2011
• YLS Holiday in January Project to benefit foster children: Chair and co-chair, 2009-11
• Holiday Project to benefit senior citizens involved with Meals On Wheels
• YLS Run for Cover 5K to benefit the Florida Skin Cancer Foundation
• YLS Annual Golf Tournament
Florida Bar/other bar activities
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court associate, 2009, and barrister, 2012-present
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid volunteer, 2008-present
• Dreams Come True Horizon board member, 2009-present
• Florida Coastal School of Law Mock Trial Team coach, 2006-12
Goals for the JBA
I would like to continue to see a steady growth in The JBA membership and encourage greater involvement. Becoming involved with The JBA has been one of the most rewarding experiences.
To encourage greater involvement, I would like to exceed the goals our membership sets for us including developing ways to better serve our membership, continuing to promote the highest degree of professionalism, and fostering a stronger bond between The JBA and our community in order to promote a positive perception of the legal community.
MICHELLE BEDOYA BARNETT
JBA activities
• Young Lawyers Section president
• Young Lawyers Section vice president
• Young Lawyers Section secretary
• Young Lawyers Section treasurer
• Young Lawyers Section board member, 2005-present
• Noon In June founder
• Diversity Symposium panelist
Florida Bar/other bar activities
• Hispanic Bar of Northeast Florida member
• American Bar Association member
• 4th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission member
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Housing Authority board member
• The Performer’s Academy president
• Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2012 graduate
• Girls Scouts former board member
Goals for the JBA
Continue to increase membership and involvement by providing resources and value to our members.
T.A. "TAD" DELEGAL III
JBA activities
• Jacksonville Bar Board of Governors since 2008. Currently serving as board liaison to the Member Services Section
• Organized 2012 Jacksonville Bar Mental Health Symposium
• Organized 2012 Diversity Program
• Organized 2008 Judicial Candidates forum
• Special Needs of Children Committee chair, 2007-08
• Currently assisting in organizing 2014 “Hanging Your Shingle” event, and in enhancing bar’s efforts to enhance member benefits and services for solo and small firm practitioners
Florida Bar/other bar activities
• Florida Bar Labor & Employment Section executive council, 2009-present
• Florida Bar Labor and Employment Certification Committee member, 2006-12; chair, 2010-11
• Florida Bar Grievance Committee 4(D) member, 2004–10; chair, 2009-10
• 4th Circuit Fee Arbitration Committee, 1997-2000
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Retirement Reform Task Force, 2013-14
• Rotary Club of San Marco, Charter Member, 2008-present
• Jericho School for Children with Autism board of directors, 1997-2010, and chair 2007-10
• Speech & Hearing Center of Northeast Florida board of directors, 1999-2000
• Grove House board of directors, 2007-10
• University of Florida Political Science Department advisory board, 2007-present
• All Saints Episcopal Church vestry member, 2008-12, and senior warden, 2011-12
• First Coast News Jacksonville’s “Twelve Who Care” award for pro bono service to special needs children, 2004
Goals for the JBA
We need to be more relevant to our membership. The social aspects of the organization are important, and we need to continue quality lunches and after-hours events, but we need to search for ways to improve the practices of our members.
I have been very involved in our plans to enhance services to solo/small firm practitioners, and we are moving forward with ways to obtain greater discounts for these practitioners from various providers.
We are also holding a new “hanging your shingle” seminar in May for attorneys starting their own practices, at which we will provide help overcoming many obstacles that new practitioners face.
I have been working with others to enhance our Bar Bulletin, so that we can provide better communication to our members.
I want to continue working to enhance our organization’s visibility in the community and relevance to the practices of our members.
ELIZABETH B. HOWARD
JBA activities
• Board of Governors 2012-present
• Law Week Committee member, 2007
• Holiday Project chair, 2006
• Guardian ad Litem Permanency Project, 2005
• Young Lawyers Section president, 2011-12
• Young Lawyers Section president-elect, 2010-11
• Young Lawyers Section secretary, 2009–10
• Young Lawyers Section treasurer, 2008-09
• Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors, 2006–10
• Young Lawyers Section Holiday in January Project Committee, 2007 (This program provides a bicycle to every child brought into the foster care system over the winter holidays.)
• Young Lawyers Section Charity Golf Tournament Chair, 2009 (The tournament raised more than $25,000 for the Child Guidance Center.)
Florida Bar/other bar activities
• American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry
• ABA Women and Minority Fellowship 2009-12
• ABA Division 7, Annual Concepts and Ideas Book Working Group chair, 2010-11
• ABA Division 7, Membership Working Group member, 2009-11
• ABA Division 7, Social Media/Technology Working Group member, 2010-11
• ABA Young Lawyers Committee, Division 7 liaison, 2010 -present
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court associate member, 2007-08 and barrister, 2013-14
• Florida Coastal School of Law adjunct professor, construction law, 2012 and 2014
Civic activities
• ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida PR Committee, 2010-11
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Community Walk Committee, 2014
• Associated Builders and Contractors Young Professionals member, 2009-present
• Associated Builders and Contractors Women’s Council member, 2006-present
• Guardian ad Litem Permanency Project, 2005
Goals for the JBA
As a newcomer to Florida, I was lucky to become active in The Jacksonville Bar Association, which helped me to become familiar with the community and offered me an opportunity to become involved.
It is my hope that involvement in The Jacksonville Bar Association can be increased to allow all members these same opportunities. In order to do so, I believe that the JBA will need to continue to strive to provide events that cater to a larger number of members and to increase technological availability.
It is important to me, and to our membership, that the JBA provides a benefit in exchange for the dues and I will continue to work to ensure this occurs.
BRUCE A. MAXWELL
JBA activities
• Judicial Relations Committee current chair
• Judicial Relations Committee vice chair, 2012-13
• Judicial Relations Committee member since 2010
• Professionalism Committee member since 2010
• Holiday Project Committee member since 2009
Florida Bar/other bar activities
• Florida Justice Association member
• Jacksonville Justice Association member
• American Association for Justice member
• Georgia Trial Lawyers Association member
• Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Civic activities
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid contributor and participant
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Meet a Lawyer participant
• Jacksonville Humane Society
• Special Olympics
• HEAL Foundation sponsor and participant
Goals for the JBA
• Promote JBA generally
• Encourage JBA participation by State Attorney’s Office
• Promote judicial relations
MICHAEL FOX ORR
JBA activities
• Board of Governors current member
• Practicing with Professionalism Committee member
• JBA Young Lawyers Section president
• YLS vice president
• YLS secretary
• YLS treasurer
• YLS Special Olympics Committee chair
• YLS Afternoon at the Courthouse chair
• YLS Noon in June chair
• YLS Annual Meeting vice chair
• YLS Run for Cover vice chair
• YLS Tee it Up Charity Golf Tournament vice chair
Florida Bar/other bar activities
• Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division president-elect
• Florida Bar Board of Governors YLD 4th Judicial Circuit representative, eight years
• Florida Bar YLD executive committee member
• Florida Bar YLD technology committee chair
• Florida Bar YLD Moot Court Competition Committee chair
• Florida Bar YLD Law Schools Committee chair
• Florida Bar YLD Sponsorship Committee chair
• Florida Bar YLD Bylaws Committee vice chair
• Florida Bar YLD Budget Committee vice chair
• Florida Bar YLD Communications Committee vice chair
• Florida Bar YLD Long Range Planning Committee member
• American Bar Association YLD delegate
• Raising the Bar, Florida’s Legal Community Service Day
• Florida Bar YLD Basic Appellate Practice CLE moderator
• Florida Bar YLD Practicing with Professionalism moderator
• Ethics & Professionalism in Law Office Management CLE speaker
• Business Contracts A–Z CLE speaker
• Florida Bar YLD Practicing with Professionalism panelist
• Florida Delegation of American Bar Association YLD delegate
Civic activities
• Clara White Mission board of directors member
• Special Olympics of Duval County volunteer
• Family Nurturing Center of Florida Inc. board of directors president
• Cummer Museum Up & Cummers of Jacksonville board of directors member
• Blueprint for Leadership, HandsOn Jacksonville member
Goals for the JBA
I am seeking re-election to the board. For the past eight years I have been heavily involved in the local and statewide bar associations. I am also involved in the American Bar Association.
I intend to draw from all of these resources to keep The Jacksonville Bar Association up-to-date on the latest developments in legal education, jobs, technology, pro bono service and many other facets of the profession generally that affect our practice.
I think one opportunity that needs to be addressed further within our association is the access of the Bar to the resources we possess at the Duval County Courthouse. These resources should be fully available to our membership and, in some capacity, available to those attorneys visiting from outside Jacksonville.
We are very lucky to have a strong, collegial and dedicated Bar association in our town. I only look to continue that tradition and work with board members and Bar staff to take advantage of ever-developing opportunities within the profession.
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Additional details on voting:
• Membership dues must be current to participate in the voting process.
• Non-JBA members who wish to vote must submit their membership application no later than noon, Thursday.
• Must vote for five Board of Governor candidates or ballot will be rendered invalid.
• Honorary and student members are excluded from the voting process.