The Community Outreach Section of The Jacksonville Bar Association, chaired by Shea Moser, comprises seven committees that act to educate and serve our membership but also to provide information and services to the community.
Whether supporting initiatives that promote access to legal services for all citizens in the Jacksonville area to the celebration of the rule of law during Law Week, Community Outreach Section members generously give of their time and skills to promote and demonstrate the highest standard of service to our community.
Otto von Bismarck stated, “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them made.”
Bismarck, however, was not a member of The Jacksonville Bar Association, so his admonition should be taken with a grain of salt.
The Government Relations Committee, chaired by Loree French and co-chaired by Ingrid Osborn, facilitated several events, in conjunction with other entities.
The GRC offers thoughtful and impartial analysis and reporting of legislation that will affect the rights of individuals in the state of Florida.
In November, the GRC, in cooperation with the Latino Interest Committee, sponsored a panel discussion on Cuban relations and investment opportunities.
President Giselle Carson served as the moderator and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga was in attendance.
After a meaningful discussion with esteemed panelists, guarded optimism was expressed about the future of Cuban-American business opportunities.
Of great interest was a discussion of the two types of currency, the Cuban peso and convertible peso, leading to a consensus of the panel that immediate wholesale participation in the Cuban “opportunity” is unlikely based on existing currency and economic realities.
If you are planning a trip to Cuba, you don’t want to leave home without convertible pesos.
President Dwight Eisenhower declared, “Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free men.”
In December, the GRC, in cooperation with the National Utility Contractors Association of North Florida, hosted its second pre-session Town Hall meeting with the Duval Delegation at City Hall.
Sen. Audrey Gibson and Reps. Lake Ray, Charles McBurney, Mia Jones, Reggie Fullwood, Charles Van Zant and Cindy Stevenson discussed various legislative issues, including public corruption, jury verdicts, public records, open carry, minimum wage increase and numerous bills before the Legislature.
In all, there were more than 1,200 bills filed in Tallahassee, but we were unable to address them all in 90 minutes.
Attending the Town Hall provided a convenient and meaningful opportunity for JBA members to meet members of the Duval Delegation and discuss pending legislation or other issues.
Thanks to Paula Shoup for her assistance in organizing the meeting.
On Feb. 1-2, the second annual Walk the Halls in Tallahassee provided a day-and-a-half opportunity for JBA members to meet with elected officials and sit in on committee meetings.
Otto von Bismarck would be proud. No one became ill, but the lawmaking process is interesting if not exciting.
Rep. Jay Fant, who is an attorney, spent a generous amount of time discussing various commercial and governmental issues as did JBA member McBurney, who is chair of the Judiciary Committee.
The journey of a bill through the various committees requires constant monitoring, and participation in the evolution of the law is a daunting but exciting venture.
I encourage JBA members to become more involved in the lawmaking process by attending meetings with our legislative officials (congressional and City Council members also).
If you are interested in the status of any legislation, please go to myfloridahouse.gov and link on to bills for the regular 2016 session.
The Civics Education Committee is chaired by Ray Driver. The committee, in cooperation with Philip Little at Duval County Public Schools, was developed to assist public school teachers in Duval County with civics education.
In October, presentations were made at Mandarin High School in Calvin McFarland’s civics classes.
The presentation plan included the merger of pending legislation with teaching civics.
Each class was divided into six or seven committees that reviewed various bills pending before the Florida Legislature.
The Mandarin High classes included students from the ninth to the 12th grades.
Each committee was provided with a bill and its legislative summary and was required to discuss the pros and cons of the bill and make a recommendation to the class.
The thoughtfulness exhibited and serious responses provided by the students were remarkable.
One class was fortunate to have McBurney as a guest lecturer.
Of interest, the students, by great majority, were opposed to raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, against carrying guns on a college campus and against arming teachers in schools.
As you all know, the Pro Bono Committee is headed by Kathy Para of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
This program provides a tremendous opportunity to give back to the community and offers a rewarding experience for those who participate.
Shea Moser and I thank the current participants and urge all JBA members to take part in this necessary and important program.