Adkins Award and John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Awards

Each year, the Appellate Practice Section considers nominations for two awards.

The James C. Adkins Award

The James C. Adkins Award shall be presented to a member of The Florida Bar who has made significant contributions to the field of appellate practice in Florida. The selection of each year’s recipient shall be made by a committee appointed by the chair of the Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar. The committee shall accept nominations from any individual and may also nominate candidates on its own. Among the factors the committee shall consider in evaluating nominations are (1) the extent and nature of experience in the field of appellate practice, either as a practitioner, a member of the judiciary, or both; (2) service to the Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar; (3) other service to The Florida Bar in matters relating to appellate practice; (4) other professional activities relating to the field of appellate practice; (5) publications relating to the field of appellate practice; and (6) any other factors that the committee deems appropriate. The committee shall give such weight to each of these factors as it deems appropriate.

The John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award

In recognition of his dedication to Pro Bono serve, the Section is pleased to announce the renaming of the annual Pro Bono award to honor John R. Hamilton. John Hamilton was a Board Certified Appellate Specialist with Foley & Lardner and pro bono advocate. He dedicated over 2,500 hours to the OCBA Legal Aid Society, along with handling appeals for the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society and Harbor House. His many recognitions include the New Attorney Award of Excellence from the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, the Award of Excellence for the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, the Edward C. Smith Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award from the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, the Judge J.C. “Jake” Stone Distinguished Service Award from the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA, The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and the Appellate Practice Section’s Pro Bono Award in 2008.

The Section presents its John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award to a member of the Section who has devoted significant efforts to pro bono appellate matters, whether civil or criminal.


This Year’s Award Winners


2023


Stuart Markman
Adkins Award



Kristie Hatcher-Bolin
Pro Bono Award

Read more about these Award Winners here.

Previous Award Winners

2022
Judge Stephanie W. Ray
Adkins Award

John S. Mills
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2021

Chief Justice Charles T. Canady Chief Justice Charles T. Canady
Justice
Charles T. Canady
Adkins Award

Joseph T. Eagleton
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2020
Anthony C. Musto
Adkins Award

Stephen R. Senn
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2019Tom WarnerThomas E. Warner
Adkins Award
Joseph LangJoseph H. Lang, Jr.
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2018Justice Peggy Quince
Justice Peggy Quince
Adkins Award
Anthony MustoAnthony Musto
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2017Susan W. Fox
Susan W. Fox
Adkins Award
Pam MastersPamela R. Masters
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2016James Burkhold
James Birkhold
Adkins Award
Paul Regensdorf
Paul Regensdorf
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2015Philip Padovano
Philip J. Padovano
Adkins Award
Jamie Moses
Jamie Billotte Moses
Pro Bono Award
Read more about these Award Winners here.
2014John R. Hamilton
John R. Hamilton
Adkins Award
William Northwick
William Van Northwick, Jr.
Pro Bono Award
2013Honorable David R. MonacoHonorable David A. Monaco
Adkins Award
Michael UffermanMichael Ufferman
Pro Bono Award
2012Steven Brannock
Steven Brannock
Adkins Award
Sarah Lahlou Amine
Sarah Lahlou-Amine
Pro Bono Award
2011
Harvey J. Sepler
Adkins Award
Wendy Loquasto
Wendy Loquasto
Pro Bono Award
2010Judge Martha WarnerHonorable Martha Warner
Adkins Award
Nicholas Shannin
Pro Bono Award
2009Judge Peter Webster
Judge Peter D. Webster
Adkins Award
Bryan Gowdy
Bryan S. Gowdy
Pro Bono Award
2008Raoul CanteroJustice Raoul Cantero
Adkins Award
Dorothy EasleyDorothy Easely
Pro Bono Award
2007Tom HallThomas D. Hall
Adkins Award
John R. Hamilton
John R. Hamilton
Pro Bono Award
2006Tom ElligettRaymond “Tom” Elligett, Jr.
Adkins Award
Alan Mishael
Allen I. Mishael
Pro Bono Award
 
2005Sylvia Walbolt
Sylvia Walbolt
Adkins Award

John Mills
Pro Bono Award
 
2004Arthur J. England
Arthur J. England
Adkins Award
Stephen Hanion
Pro Bono Award

Susan Kelsey
Pro Bono Award
2003Dan Pearson
Dan Pearson
Adkins Award
Siobhan SheaSiobhan Shea
Pro Bono Award
2002  
Chris Altenbernd
Adkins Award   
2001Rosemary BarkettRosemary Barkett
Adkins Award 
2000
Justice Stephen Grimes
1999
Bruce Rogow
1998Bill Haddad
1997
Jim Birkhold
1996Judge John Sheb
1995
At the Dessert Reception, the First Annual James C. Adkins Award is made posthumously to Justice Adkins, who passed away in 1994.