E X E C U T I V E
D I R E C T O R ’ S
M E S S A G E
J o h n F. K y n e s - H i l l s b o r o u g h C o u n t y B a r A s s o c i a t i o n
continued from page 10
And he said the judges in the Thirteenth Circuit
currently handle 237,000 case files each year.
In addition, Ficarrotta highlighted the ever-increasing
racial, ethnic and gender diversity of the judiciary.
And he discussed the recent introduction of various
specialty courts, including those focused on veterans,
drugs, mental health and human trafficking.
“The trend toward these specialty courts is very
exciting,” Ficarrotta said.
Ficarrotta said he will be working closely with the
Florida Legislature this year on increasing funding for the
judiciary and adding new judgeships.
He noted there have been no new judgeships in the
circuit since 2005.
While Ficarrotta said he doesn’t know what the court
system will look like 50 years from now, he said he was
confident the “rule of law will still be strong.”
In her remarks, Chief Judge Khouzam talked about
the work of the 16 judges in Florida’s Second District
Court of Appeal, and she highlighted some issues the
court is focused on.
One key issue, she said, is preparing for changes in
Florida’s jurisdictional limits, and another is dealing with
the long-term space considerations of the Second DCA.
Khouzam said the Second DCA’s current lease with
Stetson Law School in Tampa will be ending in 2023.
“The Second DCA is the only DCA that does not have
its own courtroom,” Khouzam said, adding that studies
have concluded the DCA should be located in the Tampa
Bay area.
“It’s a front-burner issue,” Khouzam said.
* * *
Also at the luncheon, the
winners of the Thirteenth Judicial
Circuit’s 2019 Professionalism
Awards were announced.
This year’s private sector
professionalism award went to
John Schifino with the Gunster law
firm, and the government sector
award went to Jennie Tarr from
Hillsborough
County’s
legal
department (see photos on right).
Judges Caroline Tesche Arkin,
Thomas Palermo, Samantha Ward
and Emily Peacock were the Bench
Bar Conference co-chairs.
NOV - DEC 2019
|
HCBA LAWYER
In the morning, there were breakout sessions on
effective advocacy and legal strategies regarding offers of
judgment, on Florida’s newly adopted Daubert expert
witness criteria, and on recent U.S. Supreme Court
decisions and the upcoming term.
There were a record number of attendees at the
various CLE breakout and plenary sessions held
throughout the day.
“The collaboration for the conference this year
between the HCBA, the judges, as well as all the legal
professionals was extraordinary,” said Judge Arkin. “The
conference really helps to bring us together each year
and to learn from each other.”
In the afternoon, there were a series of breakout
sessions, featuring “A View To and From the Bench” with
more than 20 judges from the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
and various federal courts.
The sessions enabled attorneys to have an open
dialogue with judges in order to improve communication
and professionalism.
Later, there was a well-attended session featuring
“A View From the Box” with panel of past jurors who
shared their personal experiences as jurors and offered
insight about the civil and criminal jury experience.
And at the end of the day, more than 400 HCBA
members enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship
provided at the annual Judicial Reception.
Current HCBA President Grace Yang says the Bench
Bar Conference continues be one of Tampa’s premier
legal events each year because of the support of the
local judiciary.
Yang also said the HCBA is especially grateful
for financial support offered by the many generous
sponsors that help make the
conference a success.
“The Bench Bar Conference is
one of the HCBA’s signature
events,” Yang said, “and we
believe the success of the
conference is a testament to the
tremendous support, cooperation
and camaraderie between our
members and the judiciary.”
Additional photos and sponsor
recognitions from the Bench Bar
Conference, Membership Luncheon
and Judicial Reception will be
included in the next issue of the
Lawyer magazine.
See you around the Chet.
11