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.

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This Year’s Award Winners

2022

Judge Stephanie W. Ray Adkins Award

John S. Mills Pro Bono Award

Read more about these Award Winners here.

Previous Award Winners

2021	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.
2019	Thomas E. Warner Adkins Award	Joseph H. Lang, Jr. Pro Bono Award	Read more about these Award Winners here.
2018	Justice Peggy Quince Adkins Award	Anthony Musto Pro Bono Award	Read more about these Award Winners here.
2017	Susan W. Fox Adkins Award	Pamela R. Masters Pro Bono Award	Read more about these Award Winners here.
2016	James Birkhold Adkins Award	Paul Regensdorf Pro Bono Award	Read more about these Award Winners here.
2015	Philip J. Padovano Adkins Award	Jamie Billotte Moses Pro Bono Award	Read more about these Award Winners here.
2014	John R. Hamilton Adkins Award	William Van Northwick, Jr. Pro Bono Award
2013	Honorable David A. Monaco Adkins Award	Michael Ufferman Pro Bono Award
2012	Steven Brannock Adkins Award	Sarah Lahlou-Amine Pro Bono Award
2011	Harvey J. Sepler Adkins Award	Wendy Loquasto Pro Bono Award
2010	Honorable Martha Warner Adkins Award	Nicholas Shannin Pro Bono Award
2009	Judge Peter D. Webster Adkins Award	Bryan S. Gowdy Pro Bono Award
2008	Justice Raoul Cantero Adkins Award	Dorothy Easely Pro Bono Award
2007	Thomas D. Hall Adkins Award	John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award
2006	Raymond “Tom” Elligett, Jr. Adkins Award	Allen I. Mishael Pro Bono Award
2005	Sylvia Walbolt Adkins Award	John Mills Pro Bono Award
2004	Arthur J. England Adkins Award	Stephen Hanion Pro Bono Award	Susan Kelsey Pro Bono Award
2003	Dan Pearson Adkins Award	Siobhan Shea Pro Bono Award
2002	Chris Altenbernd Adkins Award
2001	Rosemary Barkett Adkins Award
1995	At the Dessert Reception, the First Annual James C. Adkins Award is made posthumously to Justice Adkins, who passed away in 1994.