It is my absolute pleasure to lead the Jacksonville Bar Association as its president for the next year.
As members of the JBA, we form connections with each other that should make our jobs, and our lives, easier. I firmly believe that as problem-solvers we owe it to each other to help solve each other’s problems.
In a world of increasingly divisive behavior on nearly every important issue in the world, lawyers should set the example of peacefully coming together despite our different views and perspectives.
This year the JBA will focus on assisting its members in forming connections to the judiciary, to community leaders, to our sponsors, to the Jacksonville University College of Law, to other local voluntary Bar associations and to each other.
During my second year as an attorney in 2008, I began service to the JBA through involvement with the Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors. Through my approximately 16 years of service, I have been lucky to connect with and form genuine relationships with some of my best friends in town.
The connections forged through the years have been invaluable to me as someone not from Jacksonville. That is true for my career, but also for my family’s life in general.
In the most challenging times in my personal life, lawyer friends have repeatedly stepped up to help solve my family’s problems, which is largely true because of the connections we have made through participation in the JBA.
The JBA board is hard at work to provide opportunities for its members to connect and form meaningful relationships.
We look forward to helping you connect with our local professional sports team during the luncheon July 18, featuring Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.
Please look out for interesting speakers throughout the year and if you have any suggestions, feel free to reach out to me.
The Young Lawyers’ Section, led by President Kayla Herrin, will continue to provide multiple avenues for involvement in the JBA. If you want to form connections and are a new attorney, you must volunteer with this organization.
The YLS does great things in the community and is truly the workhorse of the JBA.
The JBA board and I want to hear from you about how we can make your membership more valuable.
We are fully transparent and are not opposed to constructive criticism. Please reach out to me at any time to discuss any issues or ideas.
It is truly an honor to serve as president of the JBA.
Our membership is extremely impressive as demonstrated at the recent Annual Convention of The Florida Bar.
Ashlea Edwards was sworn in as president of the Young Lawyers Division and is now the head of the organization of more than 25,000 members.
Chief U.S. District Judge of the Middle District of Florida Timothy Corrigan received The Florida Bar’s William M. Hoeveler Judicial Professionalism Award in recognition of his strength of character, service and dedication in inspiring others to the mission of professionalism.
Assistant State Attorney Octavius Holliday received the Claude Pepper Outstanding Government Lawyer Award and his colleague Marcus Isom received The Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division Outstanding Government Lawyer award.
These awards reflect their dedication to the profession and community at large.
The JBA’s Executive Director Craig Shoup was the recipient of The Florida Bar’s Marshall R. Cassedy Sr. award in recognition of his excellent service in the community and to the Jacksonville Bar Association.
Craig’s award was particularly meaningful because he was nominated by his peers around the state.
The JBA is proud of its members’ recognition at a statewide level.
Finally, we are rooting for Michael Fox Orr in his campaign to be the next president-elect of The Florida Bar.
Michael is a past president of JBA and has served us well on the statewide board of governors.
Christian George is office managing partner at Akerman.