Dear Appellate Practice Section Members,
As I write this, school is back in session and summer is slipping away into the glory of Florida fall. I, and your Officers, had hoped that we would have convened together at the DCA Education Conference for the first in-person Executive Council meeting since February 2020. (Can that be true? Has it been that long?) This message would highlight the fantastic reception we held honoring our 2020 and 2021 James C. Adkins Award and John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award winners. (Please check out these wonderful articles about our 2021 winners – Chief Justice Charles T. Canady of the Florida Supreme Court, the recipient of the Section’s highest honor, the James C. Adkins Award, and Joseph Eagleton, the recipient of the John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award). And we would enthuse over the joy of seeing each other outside of the tiny zoom windows.
Third time’s the charm, right?
Sadly, that is not the case. After careful consideration, many meetings, and discussion over options, the DCA Education Conference was postponed. I understand this is a disappointment for many (me included). But I assure you, it was the appropriate call for the circumstances. I thank the conference planning committee, especially Judge Ciklin, Judge Makar, and Judge Ray, for keeping the Section closely apprised of all developments, and working with us to navigate an ever-changing pandemic landscape.
Where does that leave us going into the 2021 Bar year? The Section Officers and Committee leaders quickly adapted and developed an alternative plan to bring us all together, for a virtual fall meeting on October 7, 2021. This platform allows for our Committees to meet in advance of the Executive Council meeting. We are also working on a virtual networking event. This working meeting will help advance the Section’s goals and Committee work. Thank you to the Officers, Section Administrator Cheri Wright, and our Committee Chairs for your flexibility and effort to put the fall meeting together. Please look over the meeting schedule, just below, and I look forward to “seeing” you there!
APS 2021 Fall Meeting Schedule
Register to attend. Click on meeting names below to register for each meeting.
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
05:45 PM – 06:45 PM – APS Virtual Networking Event
Thursday, October 7, 2021
09:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Outreach Committee
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Publications Committee
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Communications Committee
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Pro Bono Committee
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Legislative Committee
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM – Diversity & Inclusion Committee
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM – CLE Committee
02:00 PM – 04:00 PM – APS Executive Council
Executive Council Meeting agenda will be distributed at a later date.
The Section also has some other fantastic events to lock into your calendar.
| 2021 | |
| September 21 | Attorneys’ Fees on Appeal CLE by Mihaela Cabulea and Anthony “Tony” Russo, virtually via InReach |
| October 1 | Navigating Your First Appeal CLE presented by the Appellate Practice and Government Lawyer Sections, virtually via Zoom |
| October 6 | APS Virtual Networking Event virtually via Zoom |
| October 7 | Executive Council Meeting and Committee Meetings virtually via Zoom |
| October 19 | Preservation of Errors Involving the Jury CLE by Daniel A. Rock, virtually via InReach |
| November 16 | OA Prep and Moot Courts CLE by Richard J. Suarez, Shannon McLin, and Jeffrey “Jeff” DeSousa, virtually via InReach |
| 2022 | |
| January 14 | Advanced Appellate Practice and Board Certification Review 2022* CLE, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Tampa and virtually via InReach |
| January 18 | Appellate Law 2021 Year in Review CLE by Matthew Conigliaro, virtually via InReach |
| January 26-29 | Florida Bar Winter Meeting Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando |
| February 15 | The Opinion is Out…Now What? CLE by Christine “Chrissy” Davis and William D. Slicker, virtually via InReach |
| March 15 | How to Write Shorter Briefs CLE by Marcia “Marcy” Lippincott and Mark Tinker, virtually via InReach |
| April 8 | Practicing Before the Florida First District Court of Appeal 2022* CLE, Florida First DCA, Tallahassee |
| April 19 | Summary Judgment Standards CLE by Hon. Beth Bloom and Hon. Lisa Walsh, virtually via InReach |
| May 17 | Class Action Appeals CLE by Jonathan Streisfeld, virtually via InReach |
| June 22-25 | Florida Bar Annual Convention Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, Orlando |
*registration information coming soon
We look forward to seeing you, whether virtually or in-person, at these events! Echoing Immediate Past Chair Chris Donovan’s first message as Section Chair, let me end this Chair’s Message by thanking you for trusting me with your Section. It’s an honor to serve and work with all of you to further the Section’s goals and projects. #teamtwospace
 | Cheers, Kimberly Jones, Chair Appellate Practice Section |