Jacksonville Bar Association Executive Director Craig Shoup received the Marshall R. Cassedy Sr. Award, presented June 21 by The Florida Bar 2023-24 President Scott Westheimer at the Bar’s annual convention in Orlando.
The award, established in 2012, honors a voluntary Bar executive or Florida Bar staff members who has provided exceptional service to a voluntary Bar or the state organization. It commemorates Marshall R. Cassedy Sr., executive director of The Florida Bar from 1961 to 1980.
The JBA Board of Governors Executive Committee nominated Shoup for the award.
“This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of the Jacksonville Bar Association and our shared commitment to upholding the highest standards of the legal profession,” Shoup said.
Under Shoup’s leadership in the past five years, the JBA has grown to nearly 2,000 members. Shoup and three staff members facilitate more than 120 events annually, including six member luncheons and an average of 50 Continuing Legal Education hours of programming.
In 2022, Shoup was the first nonlawyer to receive a presidential appointment to The Florida Bar Board of Governors as a liaison representing voluntary Bar associations around the state.
Also at the convention:
• Ashlea Edwards, an associate attorney in Akerman’s labor and employment practice in Jacksonville, was sworn in as 2024-25 president of the The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division.
• Sarah Morris Gilewicz, director of operations for the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, received the annual Young Lawyers Division President’s Award, presented by 2023-24 YLD President Anisha Patel.
• Assistant State Attorney Octavius Holliday received the Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award.
• Assistant State Attorney Marcus Isom received The Florida Bar's Young Lawyers Division Outstanding Government Lawyer award.