Summation Quarterly, Fall 2023

SEASON OF CHANGE:

KELLY’S TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP

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Contents

Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association

260 South Tarragona Street, Suite 160 Pensacola, FL 32502

Phone: 850.434.8135

email: esrba@esrba.com

Lawyer Referral Service: 850.434.6009

Executive Director Jeff Nall jeff@esrba.com

Published

Member Services Coordinator

Stephen Hayward stephen@esrba.com

Lawyer Referral Service Veronica Porter lrs@esrba.com

Articles appearing in The Summation are not to be construed as official expressions of the views of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association. Official positions are expressed only by formal resolutions adopted by a majority of the membership and will be so designated when published. Editorials are expressions of the opinion of the Editor.

Due date for all advertisements, articles and announcements is the first of the month for the issue you wish to advertise in.

Address all editorial correspondence to the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association office. For all inquiries concerning advertising rates contact Ballinger Publishing.

The Summation Committee is dedicated to providing a publication to the legal community which contains articles that are accurate, informative, entertaining, educational, relevant and timely.

Summation Committee

If you have any comments or suggestions about The Summation, please feel free to express them to any of the committee members. If you would like to join the committee, please call the Bar office at 434.8135.

Jeff Nall

Stephen Hayward

Jenice Jones

Charlie Penrod Codey Leigh Allison Newton

Shekka Drayton

Christine Kelly Alana Cox

Owner Malcolm Ballinger

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger

Executive Editor Kelly Oden

Editor Morgan Cole

Art Director Ian Lett

Visit our Website at BallingerPublishing.com

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Editorial Offices: 21 East Garden Street, Suite 205 | Pensacola, Florida 32502 850-433-1166 | Fax: 850-435-9174

Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2023 Ballinger Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

From the President

Christine Kelly

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

It is truly an honor to serve you as this year’s president of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association. I look forward to continuing the good work of those before me, and I’d like especially to recognize our immediate past president, Aaron McCurdy. I would also like to acknowledge former president Heather Lindsay, who served as president my first year as an ESRBA officer. She continues to be a stellar example.

This year, my primary focus is every member matters. If you are member, you are important to us, and we are here to serve you. If you are not yet a member, but you are a member of the Florida Bar in good standing or otherwise authorized to practice law in any court in Escambia or Santa Rosa County, we invite you to join us. We strive to ensure each member feels included and important. If there is something we could do better, please reach out to me personally and let me know.

The Florida Bar recently issued its list of those who passed the July 2023 Bar Exam. Congratulations! We hope you will join our Young Lawyer’s Division (YLD). Membership in YLD includes membership in the ESRBA. For more information about YLD, please reach out to this year’s YLD president, Brooke DiSalvo.

Last year, Aaron McCurdy formed our mentorship program. It was a success, and Aaron has graciously agreed to lead it again this year. Please consider joining us as either a mentor or a mentee. For more information email Aaron McCurdy at amccurdy@pensacolalaw.com

I also remind you that your mental health matters. Practicing law is stressful, and at times it can become overwhelming. Taking care of your mental health is as essential taking care of your physical health. There is no shame in talking to someone, and you can do so completely confidentially by calling the Florida Lawyers Helpline (833-FL1-WELL/833-351-9355). There is no charge for calling and you may be referred for up to five free counseling sessions per year.

Finally, it has been said that the best way to forget about your problems is to help others solve theirs. Some ways you can do this include taking a pro bono case from Legal Services of North Florida (850-432-8222) or Emerald Coast Legal Aid (850432-2336) or attending a poverty simulation hosted by Santa Rosa Bridges (www. santarosabridgesoutofpoverty.com) or UWF. Several will be offered throughout this year with the goal of allowing participants to step into the shoes of those living in poverty and better understanding its dynamics. This eye-opening experience can help you become not only a better lawyer, but also a better community member, neighbor, and friend.

I look forward to serving you this year, and I hope to see you at meetings or at one of our upcoming socials.

Executive Council

Officers

President

Christine A. Kelly

Vice President

Joseph A. Passeretti

Secretary

Rebecca Gilliland

Treasurer

Stephen Luongo

Immediate Past President

Aaron T. McCurdy

Executive Council

Kristina Cook

Patrick Jennings

Joe Kirkland

Alexis Mays

Michelle Nguyen

Shelby Savage

Jessica Scholl

Andrew Spencer

Rachel Thomas

Angela Trawick

Aaron Watson

Young Lawyer Representative

Brooke DiSalvo

Announcements

2023-2024 ESRBA Membership Drive:

Deadline October 27th

We want you to be a part of our bar association! We realize it is by choice that attorneys join voluntary bar associations such as ours. We are committed to providing exceptional member service, relevant CLE content, an array of networking and community service opportunities and engaging monthly bar meeting programs. In short, our goal is to provide value. We hope that you will join us as a member this year!

Some of the benefits of membership are listed below, including some exciting upcoming events!

• Monthly Luncheons with Guest Speakers

• Annual Holiday Party (December 14th at Heritage Hall)

• Lawyer Referral Service

• Exclusive Partner Discounts and Benefits on goods and services

• News Direct from the Courts

• Annual Membership Directory (Great Resource for Referrals)

• Live and recorded CLE programming curated by your fellow colleagues

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• October 24th –Legal Services of North Florida’s annual Pro Bono Celebration

• November 1st –

Don’t forget that members save 40% on our ever expanding library of CLEs

Scan this QR code to check out our current selection of great CLE programming!

Stay current on everything going on with the Escambia – Santa Rosa County Bar Association

Be sure to check out the ESRBA website for all upcoming events.

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation

Board of Directors

Officers President

D. Steve Traylor, Jr

Vice President

Jodi Dubose

Secretary & Treasurer

Cameron Gore

Directors

Jeremy Branning

Shekka Drayton

Stephen Echsner

Christine Kelly

(ESRBA President)

Heather Lindsay

Patrick Martin

Aaron T. McCurdy

Adrianna Spain

Warren Todd

Kasey Watson

John “Buz” Windham

Mikaela Ziko

Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association

Young Lawyers Division

Board of Directors Officers President

Brook DiSalvo

Vice President

Alexandra Messmore

Treasurer

William Hahn

Secretary

Ander Shimek

Directors

Cassandra Buer

J. Mitchell de Kozan

Haley Hadden

Kreg Jones

Madison Leonard

Sara Martin

Gabe Mueller

Michelle Nguyen

(Immediate Past President)

Brandon Shelley

Craig Wood

Mikaela Ziko

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association

On the Move

Alexis L. Mays, of Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon, received her Board Certification in Construction Law, adding yet another attorney with this prestigious honor to the Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon team. Board certification requires several steps including substantial involvement in the specialty of construction law, 45 hours of approved construction law certification continuing legal education, peer review and a written examination. Alexis is a Director at Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon who practices commercial and construction litigation in Florida and Alabama. She concentrates in the areas of construction defect litigation and professional liability, assisting general contractors, subcontractors, professional engineers, real estate agents and brokers, appraisers, attorneys, and other individuals against claims brought against them. She also handles premises liability matters, real estate and commercial transactions, and pre-suit negotiations and investigations.

The law firm of Wade Palmer Shoemaker is happy to announce law clerk, Lexie Fuller has passed the Florida Bar. Originally from Georgia, Lexie is a recent graduate of Cumberland School of Law, where she was the recipient of the Bishop Society Scholarship and the Alabama Circuit Judges’ Association Scholarship. She has experience clerking at several firms with a broad range of practice areas -- including business law, estate planning, and plaintiff’s personal injury -- as well as working for the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and as a judicial extern for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Taylor, Warren, Weidner and Hancock welcomes Blake A. Radford as an associate attorney joining our fight for policyholders and injured victims.  Blake received his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2023 and was recently admitted to the Florida State Bar. Building on his years of experience as a paralegal at TWWH, Blake will bring the same honor, courage, and commitment to his legal practice as he did to his service in the USMC.  Please join us in welcoming Blake.

Special Olympics Florida has appointed Virginia Buchanan to its Board of Directors. Virginia is a shareholder at the Pensacolabased law firm of Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty, Proctor, Buchanan, O’Brian, Barr & Mougey, P.A. She was also recently invited as a fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, joining her fellow firm attorneys Mike Papantonio and Troy Rafferty.

Having recently passed the Florida Bar, Rachel Adams has joined Clark Partington. Born in Milton, she received her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law. While in law school, Rachel clerked for Judge Jim Hughley, III of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama. Her practice areas include general litigation and employment law.

John Mitchell de Kozan has joined McDonald Fleming, LLP. He was previously with the law offices of DeMaria, De Kozan and White, PLLC. He can be reached at 850-477-0660 or by email at mdekozan@pensacolalaw.com.

The law office of Josef Mitkevicius has moved, the new location is 322 E. Romana St., Pensacola, FL 32502. The office can be reached at 850-361-2142 or via email at joe@pensacola.lawyer.

The Law Offices of Galloway Johnson have moved to their new location on the First Floor at 21 East Garden Street, Pensacola, FL. Their offices can be reached by calling 850-436-7000.

News from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Pam Childers Clerk’s

Technology Update

On August 25, 2023 the Clerk’s office hosted a technology focused continuing legal education class, entitled Escambia Clerk and Comptroller Technology CLE. Topics covered were:

• Access to and confidentiality of electronic court records, including a cursory overview of the Florida Supreme Court’s Access Security Matrix and how it controls access to confidential information in court records;

• PDF/A, the new standard format for storing electronic court records;

• E-Certify, the preferred method of certification of electronic court records; and

• Property Fraud Alert, a new service to alert subscribers when documents concerning real property are recorded in Official Records. For those who did not attend in-person the CLE is available at ESRBA.com in the on-demand library. As a follow-up, this article covers some of the most frequently asked questions about the topics covered at the CLE.

It is first important to understand that court rules, not statutes, govern the confidentiality of court records. Statutes only govern access to and confidentiality of court records when incorporated by a court rule. Generally, there are two rules of court governing how to ensure the confidentiality of records in a court file. First, rule 2.420, Fla. R. Gen. P. & Jud. Admin., provides the procedures for filers to identify records, or portions of records, as confidential helping to ensure confidential information is redacted by the Clerk. Second, rule 2.423, Fla. R. Gen. P. & Jud. Admin., provides the procedures for filers or interested persons to properly identify confidential crime victim information in criminal and juvenile court records. Each rule has a corresponding form notice found at the end of each respective rule. The form notices in 2.423 and 2.420 can also be found on Clerk’s website by typing “confidential information” into the search bar at www.escambiaclerk.com.

If I don’t file the required notices pursuant to rules 2.420 or 2.423 will the Clerk’s Office still redact the confidential information?

It depends. Generally, if you do not file a rule 2.420 notice in a civil case, as defined in 2.420, then no redaction will occur before the court record is produced to a requestor. In other cases, like criminal

cases, if you do not file a rule 2.420 notice then the Clerk will still review the filing for those specifically enumerated “list of 23” categories in rule 2.420(d)(1)(B). But, beware, this safety net does not absolve filers from the requirement to file a rule 2.420 notice if their filing contains confidential information as described in the “list of 23.” That same dichotomy does not exist in rule 2.423. Filers must properly identify confidential crime victim information by filing a rule 2.423 notice before the Clerk may redact victim information found within a court record.

Are there any agencies or entities that do not accept electronically certified records?

Yes. However, the Social Security Administration is the only known agency that does not accept e-certified records. If you purchase an electronic certified record from the Clerk and the receiving party will not accept the certified record please call the Clerk’s Public Records Center a call at 850-595-4146. Most of the time the issue can be resolved quickly with a phone call.

Can the Clerk’s Office certify copies of death certificates?

No. Section 382.025(4) of the Florida Statutes provides that only the Department of Health or those persons appointed by the Department of Health are authorized to certify a copy of a death certificate. To obtain a certified copy of a death certificate contact the Department of Health. The Department of Health’s Fairfield Service

Center is located at 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32501. Their phone number is 850-595-6500.

I want to monitor my real property to prevent against property fraud and I’ve signed up for the Clerk’s Fraud Alert Service, but how do I know what names to monitor?

When real property is transferred the person transferring the property is the grantor and the person receiving the property is the grantee. The Clerk enters the names of grantors and grantees in an index when instruments are recorded transferring real property. The Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert Service monitors this “grantor grantee index.” When you sign up for the Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert Service the names you enter are compared against new entries in the “grantor grantee index.” Monitored names must be an exact match of the indexed name in order to receive a recording notification alert. If you are monitoring a name with a Sr., Jr., or perhaps property owned by a trust it may be difficult to know how to input the real property titleholder’s name into the Clerk’s Fraud Alert Service. To help with this problem the Clerk’s office has a Fraud Alert System FAQ that can be found at www.escambiaclerk.com/fraudalert. If further assistance is needed please reach out to the Clerk’s Official Records Department at 850-595-3930.

Authored by Codey Leigh, General Counsel for the Escambia County Clerk of Court and Comptroller.

How do I ensure confidential information is properly identified and redacted in the court file?

News from the Bench

Chief Judge Miller

As our State continues to grow and change, we in the judicial branch are necessarily called to adapt alongside the State’s residents. As you may already be aware, a rather substantial alteration to our branch is currently under consideration; a change which could potentially have significant impacts on the practice of law both locally and statewide.

In June, Speaker Paul Renner of the Florida House of Representatives requested that the Florida Supreme Court consider whether the consolidation of the State’s judicial circuits would be warranted. As a result, Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz created the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee by Administrative Order 23-35, noting that the question deserved “thoughtful consideration and careful study.” Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.241 contemplates the creation of such a committee and requires that the Supreme Court, in making its assessment, “shall balance the potential impact and disruption caused by changes in judicial circuits . . . against the need to address circumstances that limit the quality and efficiency of, and public confidence in, the judicial process.” The Rule also states, “[P]rior to recommending a change in judicial circuits . . ., the supreme court shall consider less disruptive adjustments, including, but not limited to, the addition of judges, the creation of branch locations, geographic or subject-matter divisions within judicial circuits . . ., deployment

of new technologies, and increased ratios of support staff per judge.”

The 14-person Committee must make its report to the Chief Justice by December 1. Escambia Circuit Judge Linda Nobles serves on the Committee, which includes other circuit and county judges, the Polk County Clerk of Court, the Eleventh Circuit Public Defender, the Fourth Circuit State Attorney, an appellate court judge, and private attorneys. The Committee is chaired by Judge Jonathan Gerber of the Fourth District Court of Appeal. The Committee’s authority is limited to making findings and recommendations as to whether there is a need to reduce the number of judicial circuits, while assuming district court of appeal boundaries will remain unchanged. After receiving the report, the Florida Supreme Court will make its certification as to whether consolidation is appropriate. However, Article 5, section 1 of the Florida Constitution vests the ultimate decision regarding the number of judicial circuits with the Legislature, stating, “The legislature, shall, by general law, divide the state into appellate court districts and judicial circuits following county lines.”

Work has already begun in earnest, as several factors must be analyzed in detail. Rule 2.241 requires specific consideration of the courts’ effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility, and professionalism, as well as their

ability to maintain public trust and confidence, along with any additional criteria which may be relevant. The Committee has distributed surveys addressing these factors to judges, court staff, and members of the Bar. The public has also been offered the opportunity to complete a survey addressing the applicable factors. On Friday, August 25, the Committee held a public meeting in Orlando, with both live and remote opportunities for participants to offer opinions on the proposed consolidation. A second such meeting will be held on Friday, October 13. You are, of course, welcome to make your opinions known by registering to speak at the public meeting. Meeting information, along with a vast array of historical and statistical background material, is available at : www.flcourts.gov/

Administration-Funding/ Court-Councils-Commissionsand-Committees/Judicial-CircuitAssessment-Committee.

This issue indeed deserves careful study and thoughtful consideration. I have complete confidence that the Committee will diligently weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed change, and I fully support their efforts, along with those of our Supreme Court and our Legislature, to ensure that we provide the most efficient and accountable judicial system possible to the citizens of Florida.

SEASON OF CHANGE: KELLY’S TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP

By: Shekka Drayton, Dutton Law Group

When it comes to adapting to change, President Kelly could teach a master class. Kelly was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Kelly grew up with her parents, Frank and Ginny Kelly, and her brother, David Kelly. Her father served in the U. S. Air Force. As a military family, they moved often. By the time she reached high school, Kelly had lived in New York, Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, and the Philippines. Kelly attended five different schools before joining the freshman class of Woodham High School. Kelly is a proud graduate of Woodham’s Class of 1988, and she received her Associate in Arts from Pensacola Junior College.

Kelly would go on to graduate with distinction, cum laude, for both her Bachelor and Juris Doctor degrees from Seattle University and Seattle University School of Law, respectively. Kelly also completed an L.L.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law. Kelly is now a seasoned attorney with over a decade of experience under her belt. As a practicing attorney, Kelly openly shares the realities of being an attorney with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

When I was a new attorney, I met with a woman who was complaining about her son. At some point, she told me her son couldn’t help it and he would essentially never amount to anything because he had ADHD. I remember looking at her and saying something to the effect of, “ADHD is not an excuse. I have ADHD and I’m your attorney.” At that moment, I decided that I would do my part to destigmatize ADHD. I want to be an example of ADHD being nothing more than another form of neurodivergence. I want people to see that

bringing awareness and understanding to conversations concerning mental health.

Kelly’s presidential initiatives align with her passion for advocacy. Kelly’s “Every Member Matters” initiative stands for the proposition that all members of ESRBA have equal importance to the organization. “Only together can we be an organization. If anyone is feeling unimportant or unheard, I would like to extend an invitation to reach out to me. If someone who is not a member but is eligible wants to become one, I want that person to know they are welcome.”

Kelly’s second initiative, “Mental Health Matters,” tracks closely

Withautumn, one can expect certain changes like cooler weather and foliage. For the Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association, fall signals a new season of presidential initiatives. ESRBA President Christine Kelly’s term will prioritize members and mental health.

with The Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness mission of “working to destigmatize mental illness, recommend best practices and remedies, and help bring more balance into members’ daily professional lives.” The Florida Bar’s Mental Health and Wellness Center cites alarming statistics. “Lawyers rank fourth in proportion of suicides by profession. Alcohol abuse may affect up to thirty six percent of attorneys, with solo practitioners and males being at greater risk. While stress and anxiety each affect nineteen and twenty three percent of attorneys, respectively, with higher rates among women and solo practitioners.” (Why We Need to Talk About Lawyer’s Mental Health Infographic, The Florida Bar Mental Health & Wellness Center, https://www.floridabar.org/member/ healthandwellnesscenter/) Kelly recognizes that as a profession of problem solvers, many attorneys are silent about their own struggles. “We work in a stressful profession, and it can be difficult to separate ourselves from our cases. If you are neurodivergent, as I am, it can add another level. We have to learn how to deal with what is going on around us, both at work and in our personal lives. We have to learn to separate ourselves.” For those members seeking balance, Kelly wants to highlight the tools that are available and remove any shame from using those resources. Kelly passionately shared, “The Florida Lawyers Helpline is a free and completely confidential service that connects members with professional counselors. Lawyers may be referred for up to five free counseling sessions per year to help them develop strategies to overcome life’s challenges, balance priorities, and better handle both personal and professional pressures. The number is 833-351-9355.”

For her third initiative, President Kelly seeks to partner with community non-profit Santa Rosa Bridges Out of Poverty. This volunteer ran non-profit’s singular mission is to eliminate poverty- a simple goal for a complex issue. The hands on experiential model, Community Action Poverty Simulation, allows participants to step into the real life situations of individuals facing poverty.

As the current president of the ESRBA, naturally, my focus is on making sure our members know that they matter. As a human

being, I feel compelled to espouse a view that every person matters. This includes those living in poverty, of which the greater Pensacola area has a significant number. People living in poverty may be your friends, your neighbors, your clients, adverse parties, or people you pass on the street. Sometimes it’s clear, and sometimes it’s not. You may have a colleague who once lived in poverty, and you never knew it. The truth is that you can’t always tell when someone is struggling, and it can be difficult to understand.

-President Christine Kelly

Taken together, President Kelly’s initiatives are all rooted in compassion and advocacy with the overarching goal to achieve balance as individuals, an organization, and a community.

With the changing of the hats, ESRBA gained another president with a long history of experience. Like Immediate Past President Aaron McCurdy, President Kelly served in several positions before her current role. President Kelly previously served as Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of Programs and CLEs Committee as well as Co-chair of the LRS Committee. Kelly, like McCurdy, also has several mentors in her corner. Merf Ehman, a lawyer in Seattle, taught Kelly landlord tenant law. Kelly went on to list Margaret Stopp, Scott Manion, Wendy Loquasto, and Judge Pat Kinsey as individuals who have positively impacted her legal career. In addition to her role as ESRBA President, Kelly is an attorney for Lynchard & Seely, PLLC. Kelly transitioned into private practice after serving many years as a Senior Attorney for Legal Services of North Florida. Undoubtedly, Kelly’s legacy of advocating for clients will serve her well as she advocates for ESRBA members.

When asked about her leadership style, President Kelly described herself as a transformational leader. With her ambitious goals, one can expect exciting things ahead. In this season of change, ESRBA extends a warm welcome to its new president, Christine Kelly.

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association Installs 2023-2024 Leadership and Presents Awards

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association (ESRBA) recently held its annual installation banquet. First Circuit Chief Judge John Miller conducted the installation of the 20232024 ESRBA Executive Council and Young Lawyers Division (YLD) officers and members. The association also recognized several of its members for their service to the profession and community.

Newly installed ESRBA Executive Council officers and council members are Christine Kelly, president; Joe Passeretti, vice president; Rebecca Gilliland, secretary; Stephen Luongo, treasurer; Aaron McCurdy, immediate past president, and members Kristina Cook, Patrick Jennings, Joe Kirkland, Alexis Mays, Michelle Nguyen, Shelby Savage, Jessica Scholl, Andrew Spencer, Rachel Thomas, Angela Trawick, Aaron Watson and YLD representative Brooke DiSalvo.

The 2023 Judge Ross M. Goodman Civility and Professionalism Award was presented to Robert N. Heath, Jr. Established in 2021, the award is bestowed to an ESRBA member whose dedication to civility, professionalism and ethics exemplifies the character as well as commitment to the profession and the administration of justice of Judge

Ross Goodman, the inaugural recipient. The 2023 Michael A. Doubek Community Service Award was presented to Antonio Bruni. The award is presented to a member or group of members of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association in recognition of volunteer service to the community.

Newly installed YLD officers and board members are Brooke DiSalvo, president; Alex Messmore, vice president; Will Hahn, treasurer; Ander Shimek, secretary; Michelle Nguyen, immediate past president, and directors Cassandra Buer, J. Mitchell de Kozan, Carllee Godwin, Haley Hadden, Kreg Jones, Madison Leonard, Sara Martin, Gabe Mueller, Brandon Shelley, Craig Wood and Mikaela Ziko.

Alexandra “Cookie” EchsnerRasmussen was recognized as the recipient of the 2023 Young Lawyers Division William S. Meador Award. The award is given each year to a young attorney who distinguishes themselves by their commitment to our community through charitable and civil service. The award was established in 2005 to honor the legacy left by William Meador of practicing law with integrity, sincerity and courtesy

while recognizing his commitment of giving back to the community. The 2023-2024 Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation officers and directors were elected by the membership at the banquet. Newly elected officers are D. Steve Traylor, Jr., president; Jodi Dubose, vice president; and Cameron Gore, secretary/treasurer. New and returning directors are Jeremy Branning, Shekka Drayton, Stephen Echsner, Heather Lindsay, Patrick Martin, Aaron McCurdy, Adrianna Spain, Warren Todd, Kasey Watson, John “Buz” Windham, Mikaela Ziko and ESRBA President Christine Kelly.

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association is a nonprofit voluntary organization for attorneys and judges in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida. The Association has approximately 600 members. Its mission is to provide outstanding service to its members, assist them in serving the profession and the community, make the association indispensable to the bench and bar and preserve and promote the two-county area as a unique place to practice law in a culture of camaraderie, collegiality, competence and mutual trust. For more information about the association, visit www.esrba.com.

Young Lawyer’s Division

by Brooke DiSalvo, YlD President

While these words are attributed to President Reagan, they encapsulate my mission as YLD President: to educate, encourage, connect, and serve young lawyers in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. As newer practitioners, young attorneys are developing the foundation which their careers will be built upon. It is essential that our YLD members are given the tools to succeed.

As we enter this year with a new Board of Directors, we set our sights on providing opportunities for young lawyers to refine their practice, grow their professional network, and obtain the skills necessary to be outstanding advocates. Our YLD Board of Directors has worked tirelessly in the past several months to ensure that the new generation of young lawyers in our community will become leaders in the profession.

This year you can expect dynamic responsiveness to the needs of our local young lawyers. This includes networking events, courthouse tours, coffee with local judges, and volunteer opportunities with community partners. In the age of Zoom, we have recognized a need to familiarize young lawyers with our local

courthouses. Assistant State Attorney Mikaela Ziko has spearheaded our ‘Coffee and Courthouse Tour’ series, which began in July with an inspiring discussion with Judge Gary Bergosh followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building. The series will continue in November with U.S. Magistrate Judge Zachary Bolitho speaking to our YLD delegation and a tour of our local United States District Courthouse. Our YLD chapter has also provided many networking opportunities for local young lawyers. In August, Carver Darden sponsored a YLD happy hour at Seville Quarter. Past President Travis Morock and YLD Treasurer Will Hahn coordinated the event, which provided invaluable networking opportunities for our YLD members and several law clerks awaiting their bar results. In September, Clark Partington sponsored a YLD Blue Wahoos Social. YLD Board Member

and Clark Partington attorney Sara Martin brought this event to fruition, and welcomed many of our local YLD members into a suite to cheer on our local Blue Wahoos and network with one another.

In the coming months, our YLD members will have the opportunity to volunteer at Zarzaur Law’s annual Zalloween, attend a mindfulness and meditation event at Odd Colony Brewing, mingle with members of Pensacola Young Professionals, and network with attorneys from Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon during November’s YLD happy hour event.

If you are interested in learning more about YLD or becoming more involved, contact us on our Facebook page or reach out to any one of the outstanding attorneys on our Board of Directors. You are also always welcome to contact me personally. I look forward to serving all of you.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Bottom Line

Continuing Legal Education for Paralegals NWFPA Annual Seminar – October 28, 2023

By: Jenice C. Jones, CP

One of the tenets of the Northwest Florida Paralegal Association’s (NWFPA) mission statement is to encourage the ethical and professional growth of paralegals in the Northwest Florida area by providing continuing education to members of the paralegal profession. NWFPA accomplishes this mission by providing a minimum of 10.0 hours of continuing education credits throughout the calendar year, including monthly luncheons held on the 4th Tuesday of each month and annual seminar. In the past, the monthly luncheons were held in person giving members and guests a chance to network and meet other

throughout Northwest Florida. One thing NWFPA prides itself on is offering a wide variety of topics at its monthly CLE presentations. Some of the diverse topics presented this year range from jury selection, stress awareness and resilience, and even civil claims presented before the Tribal Court.

In addition to the monthly luncheons, NWFPA also holds an annual seminar offering a full day of CLE credits including ethics. In the past, NWFPA would schedule its annual seminar on a Friday, usually in September, using a general location such as the Escambia County Courthouse Jury Assembly room. However, this year we

also attorneys. Some of the exciting topics already lined up include mental health and wellness, social media, and our own NWFPA President, Carissa Mitchell, will be speaking on ethics.

Registration fees for the annual seminar are as follows:

NWFPA Member $100.00

ESRBA Member $110.00 Guests $120.00 Students $50.00

Registration and hotel booking information can be found on the NWFPA website under Seminar 2023, or use the following link:

Argo Corner

UWF’s New Mock Courtroom

By: Charlie Penrod,

Associate Professor of Legal Studies University of West Florida

In July, construction completed on a brand new, state-of-theart mock trial courtroom right here at UWF. The new courtroom will be used as a way to allow students to simulate courtroom experiences without ever leaving campus. Students will have the exciting opportunity to practice oral arguments or mock trials outside of our standard classrooms. Instead of having to use classroom or travel off campus, UWF Legal Studies students now have the luxury of learning in a real-life space. An oral argument has a different sense of authenticity when performed in a courtroom setting as opposed to a sterile classroom space.

The courtroom has the same look and feel as any typical courtroom in the state. Importantly, it is equipped with technology that allows users to operate paperless. There are multiple computer screens, cameras, document readers, and other software that allow evidentiary exhibits to displayed throughout the courtroom. Across from the full-sized jury box is a large sized display that doubles as a touch screen, allowing attorneys to highlight

particular portions of exhibits with a touch of a finger. The technology is easy to use and accessible for the participants and the audience.

Certainly, the space will be used for mock trial practices and competitions. This year, UWF plans to hold two separate mock trial competitions. One will be a college mock trial tournament held in November with area universities competing. The second will occur sometime in early 2024, with UWF again hosting its high school mock trial competition.

Additionally, UWF has plans to potentially host actual court proceedings! We are currently in discussions with the First DCA to possibly host oral arguments in the new courtroom sometime in 2024. Giving students the ability to watch the law in action will be an incredible opportunity that simply has not been possible here before. There may be other possibilities for other courts to hold smaller hearings as well.

We certainly encourage firms, courts, attorneys, or civic organizations to contact us if our new courtroom can

be of any use. While the courtroom’s primary use will be for the students in the Legal Studies program, we would love to host others here as well. Firms could use it for their own mock juries, or possibly for their own marketing/promotional needs. Civic organizations can use it for hosting events centered around some sort of law-based theme. It could even be available for smaller size conferences or meetings when appropriate.

There are undoubtedly other ways in which we can offer the courtroom to area partners, and we are encouraging those in the community to contact us for more details. Please feel free to contact Associate Professor Charlie Penrod at cpenrod@uwf.edu or by phone at 850-474-2777 if you are interested in possibly using the courtroom for an event or other use. We do ask for at least 30 days advance notice to make sure the space will be available at the desired time. We are excited about all the possible ways the courtroom can be used!

“Voices of Democracy: Ensuring Justice for All” l egal Services of North Florida’s Pro Bono Recognition event featuring

Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) is proud to announce its annual pro bono celebration event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, 2023 . This year’s celebration promises an inspiring evening dedicated to recognizing the outstanding contributions of attorneys within the First Judicial Circuit. The event will take place at the Pensacola Museum of Commerce and is open to all who share a passion for justice and community.

Keynote Speaker: April Frazier Camara, President, and CEO of NLADA

One of the many highlights of the evening will be a keynote address by April Frazier Camara, President and CEO of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA). Ms. Camara, a distinguished legal professional, brings decades of experience to her role. A graduate of Howard School of Law, she has dedicated her career to public service, including serving as a public defender in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and at the Public Defender Service (PDS) for the District of Columbia.

Ms. Camara’s leadership within NLADA has been instrumental in advancing the cause of justice. Over the past five years, she has

N la Da

Networking and reception will begin on Tuesday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m . The program and challenge coin recipient ceremony will run from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $30 and include dinner. Sponsorships and tickets available at: https://ProBono.LSNF.org.

As the 2020 Chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section, Ms. Camara led the adoption of crucial ABA policies on race equity, juvenile justice, reparations, and the abolition of private prisons, among other pressing issues. Her advocacy has had a profound impact on shaping the future of the criminal legal landscape.

WHO: legal Services of North Florida

WHAT: Pro Bono Celebration 2023

WHEN: Tuesday, October 24, 2023

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT

WHERE: Pensacola Museum of Commerce, 201 E Zaragoza St, Pensacola, Fl 32502

About LSNF

Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) is one of seven legal services organizations in Florida funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). LSC is a private, not-for-

a pril Frazier Camara, President, and CEO of