PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
Julia Wyda 2021-22 PBCBA President
Just a few months ago , many of us believed we were beginning to come out of the COVID pandemic . The Delta variant rushed in to challenge that belief , leaving us stunned by the number of cases and deaths in this new surge . We continue to collectively grieve this never-ending experience and what it has taken from us , our families , our friends , and our community . It is no surprise that we have seen a recent uptick in referrals to our Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Panel from judges and magistrates regarding attorneys struggling with professionalism issues .
Attorneys are finding themselves mentally and physically exhausted due to pandemic related stresses . Despite the difficulties , traumas , or stresses we have endured in the last nineteen months , professionalism must remain a priority .
The PBCBA has a long history of actively promoting professionalism in our circuit . In June 1990 , the Board of Directors of the PBCBA approved the Standards of Professional Courtesy (“ 1990 Standards ”) to educate attorneys unfamiliar with the customary practices in Palm Beach County . The 1990 Standards were endorsed by the judges of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit , and in 1997 , the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit created a Professionalism Council to meet with and counsel attorneys whose conduct appeared to violate the 1990 Standards .
In 1998 , the Florida Supreme Court directed the chief judge of each circuit to create and maintain a Circuit Committee on
Professionalism . The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit designated the Professionalism Committee of the PBCBA as the Circuit Professionalism Committee .
In 2007 , the Board of Directors of the PBCBA approved the revised Standards of Professional Courtesy (“ 2007 Standards ”), which were also voted on and approved by the judges of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit .
In 2013 , the Supreme Court of Florida directed the chief judge of each circuit to create a Local Professionalism Panel to receive and resolve professionalism complaints . The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit amended its Administrative Order to reconstitute the Professionalism Council as the Professionalism Panel .
In 2014 , the Board of Directors of the PBCBA approved the revised Standards of Professional Courtesy and Civility (“ 2014 Standards ”), which were endorsed by the judges of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit . Many of us recall that time as one when professionalism was at the forefront , with Adam Rabin ’ s “ Got Civility ?” blue buttons often worn by attorneys in our legal community . The “ Got Civility ” campaign had an impact on many of our young attorneys who wanted to practice in a more professional way and now had examples to watch and learn from , with the blue buttons guiding the way .
Adam Rabin and members of our Bar encouraged other South Florida voluntary bar associations to adopt the 2014 Standards and by 2016 all of the South Florida circuits had adopted the 2014 Standards via administrative order . In 2016 , retired former Chief Judge Jeffrey Colbath signed our Administrative Order No . 2.105-11 / 16 , which referenced the 2014 Standards and set out the guidelines and procedures our local Professionalism Panel continues to follow .
This year , our Professionalism Committee is chaired by Kalinthia Dillard and Jonathan Galler . They both serve on the Professionalism Panel as part of their role as Co-chairs of the Professionalism Committee . They are working hard to ensure the professionalism referrals we are receiving are addressed fully , while also planning events , holding meetings , and organizing a virtual professionalism CLE for our members . We appreciate their commitment to supporting and encouraging professionalism in our circuit .
Kalinthia has practiced law in Florida since 1998 . Currently , she serves as General Counsel / Deputy Inspector General to the Palm Beach County Office of Inspector General . She is a Certified Inspector General , Inspector General Auditor , and Inspector General Investigator . She served three terms as President of the YWCA of Palm Beach County . She was the youngest president of the F . Malcolm Cunningham , Sr . Bar Association and is a Past President of the West Palm Beach Chapter of The Links , Incorporated and the Virgil Hawkins- Florida Chapter National Bar Association . She served as Chair of The Florida Bar ’ s Law Related Education Committee , Education Law Committee , and a Grievance Committee . Additionally , she was Chair of the PBCBA ’ s Law Related Education Committee and Co-Chair of the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion . The PBCBA is so grateful to have her time and talent , and I am personally grateful for her mentorship and friendship over more than a decade of volunteering together .
Jonathan is a partner with Gutter Chaves Josepher Rubin Forman Fleisher Miller P . A . in Boca Raton . He practices trusts and estates litigation . He is a former Chair of the Florida Probate Rules Committee and is a current member of the Code and Rules of Evidence Committee and the PBCBA Circuit Court Civil Practice Committee . Jonathan is the author of numerous publications , including Westlaw ’ s “ Florida law of Trusts ,” and he was named a 2021 Super Lawyer and Legal Elite member . We thank Jonathan for volunteering to serve the PBCBA on this important Committee and are excited to see what he does this year and in the years to come .
Kalinthia and Jonathan are acutely aware of the difficult circumstances our attorneys find themselves in after nearly two years of the ongoing COVID pandemic , but they know that professionalism is a path to the human connection we are all missing in this pandemic . Please look out for e-mails and social media posts about the Professionalism Committee ’ s upcoming events and CLEs . We look forward to working together to continue the history of efforts made to help Palm Beach County endure as a place to practice law with great professionalism , civility , and respect .
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 3