oneFoRTheBooks— aBaRyeaRToRememBeR!
Criminal Law Section
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Judicial Circuit; the State Attorney’ s Office, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit; and the Tampa Police Department, which provided fingerprinting services. Additional support came from Bay Area Legal Services, volunteer notaries, and many Stetson law students who we met at the HCBA Law Student Networking Social.
In November, Co-Chair Lily McCarty presented a CLE on the“ Wes-Kleinert Fair Interview Act” with special guest Dr. Amanda Keating, Forensic Psychologist. This Act, found at § 943.0439, Fla. Stat. was established to provide protections for individuals with developmental disabilities. The act also provides a special designation of“ D” on a driver’ s license or identification card issued by FL DHSMV.
In March, Co-Chair Amy Casanova-Ward presented the CLE“ When Non-Profits Collaborate with Law Enforcement— Everyone Wins!” in cooperation with the Government Lawyers Section and the Community Services
Committee. The program was about the 501( c)( 3) non-profit organization Smiles FUR Miles with Koda the Fluff, a 10-year-old Pomeranian therapy dog and her owner Jena McKinstry. Koda and her organization do phenomenal outreach work with children, the elderly, end of life and law enforcement public service announcements. In anticipation of the CLE, Koda’ s team visited the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit courthouse and filmed“ Koda Get’ s Jury Duty,” starring Victor D. Crist, Clerk of Court, and Chief Judge Christopher Sabella. To check out the video visit: www. kodathefluff. com. Her videos are very educational and truly heartwarming!
We at the Criminal Law Section ended the year on a high note! On May 7, 2026, the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’ s Pro Bono Awards Committee presented to the HCBA Criminal Law Section the 2026 Outstanding Pro Bono Service by an Organization Award for all our hard work and dedication to the Expungement Clinic. We at the
Criminal Law Section wish to send a“ BIG” Thank You to everyone who volunteered, sponsored, advertised and showed up. Without all of you giving of your time and your talent, this event would not have been possible!
In closing, I would like to thank everyone at the HCBA and the Criminal Law Section for allowing me to be your co-chair for the past two years. I am so truly humbled and grateful for the trust you put in me. It was my privilege and honor to be your leader. And now I pass the torch to Lily McCarty and Judge Samantha Ward, retired, who will be your co-chairs next Bar year. I know they will continue to do great things!
I will catch you around the HCBA. Many blessings to all of you! n
Author: Amy Casanova- Ward – FL Dept. of Financial Services
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