E D I T O R ’ S M E S S A G E J i m W i m s a t t – H a r r i s , H u n t & D e r r , P . A .
BenchBarconferenceProvides excellentlearningopportunities
thethemethisyearwas “ BenchBaruniversity : worksmarter , notharder ,” andthepresentationscertainlyliveduptothebilling , fullofpracticalknowledgeandadvicestraightfromsomeofthe area ’ stoppractitionersandjudges .
On October 11 , 2023 , the Hillsborough County Bar Association held its annual Bench Bar Conference , Membership Luncheon and Judicial Reception at the Tampa Marriott Water Street . The theme this year was “ Bench Bar University : Work Smarter , Not Harder ,” and the presentations certainly lived up to the billing , full of practical knowledge and advice straight from some of the area ’ s top practitioners and judges .
The day kicked off with an early morning coffee with the judges and rolled straight into a United States Supreme Court Update from Stetson University College of Law ’ s own Louis J . Virelli , III . Professor Virelli ’ s presentation was insightful as always , offering a review of some of the most consequential cases from the Court ’ s October 2022 Term .
This year , the Conference had the usual Civil and Criminal Law tracks , but also added a Family Law track for the first time in several years . Judge Thomas Palermo , one of the Bench Bar Committee Co-Chairs , stated that
over 100 family law practitioners had registered for the event , and that , overall , the Conference was one of the most highly attended ever . I want to thank Judge Palermo and his Co-Chair , Judge Samantha Ward , for all their hard work organizing and putting on such a successful Conference . I also want to thank Judge Wendy DePaul for rallying members of the Family Law bar to have such a strong showing . Hopefully the Family Law track will continue in the future .
The morning breakout sessions included panels discussing the recently enacted “ tort reform ” legislation , hearsay , mediation , and artificial intelligence . The most commented upon morning breakout session was entitled “ A View from the Jury Box .” Moderated by Chief Judge Christopher Sabella and Judge Jeffery Rich , this session gave attendees the rare opportunity to hear directly from former jurors about their experiences , providing insight
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