The Florida Bar is looking for a nonlawyer to serve on its governing board.
One of the applicants will be selected to replace Sharon Middleton of Ponte Vedra Beach, whose second two-year term expires in June.
The other public member currently serving on the board is Joseph “Jody” Hudgins of Naples.
Since the state Supreme Court approved in 1987 the organization’s request to have nonlawyer representation on the board, two public representatives have served on the Bar’s 52-member governing board. Only 12 other state Bar associations have public members on their governing boards.
The board oversees the lawyer discipline program, continuing legal education programs, legislative activities and the overall administration of The Florida Bar.
A screening committee will review the applications for the public member position, conduct final interviews and make recommendations to the Bar’s board at its March meeting. The board will recommend three nominees to the Supreme Court and the court will appoint one of the three to the board.
Board members are volunteers and average 200-300 hours per year working on Bar business depending on committee assignments. Attorney members of the board pay their own expenses related to their attendance at six board meetings and other events held each year at locations around the state.
The nonlawyer board members are reimbursed for reasonable travel and related expenses for attending official Bar functions.
The new board member will serve a two-year term beginning June 19. Public members are not allowed by rule to serve more than two consecutive terms.
People interested in serving as a public member may visit https://www-media.floridabar.org/uploads/2018/10/Application-for-Public-Member-on-the-Board-of-Governors-Form-R-09262018.pdf, or may call The Florida Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5759 to obtain the application. Completed applications must be received no later than Jan. 24.