Greetings, Appellate Practice Section Members!
I hope you are enjoying the spring season with its longer days, pleasant weather, blooming everything, and summer vacation planning! Speaking of summer planning, if you haven’t booked your hotel room for the Florida Bar’s Annual Convention at The Boca Raton (our first meeting in Boca since 2019!), do it soon because rooms are filling up fast. The Section is planning some great new and returning events for the meeting to celebrate our Thirtieth Anniversary.
On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., we will host our inaugural in-person Leadership Training covering topics including APS history, Robert’s Rules of Order, paths to APS leadership, and Bylaws/IOPs. This training is mandatory for all officers and committee chairs and vice chairs, and all members interested in future APS leadership are welcome and encouraged to attend. On Thursday, June 22, 2023, we will hold our new and returning member orientation, in-person committee meetings, and Executive Council Meeting in the morning, followed by a special Thirtieth Anniversary Reception at 5:30 p.m. and our famous APS Dessert Reception at 9:00 p.m.to close out the evening! More details to follow.
We need your help to prepare for the Annual Meeting. First, the Section is accepting nominations for our two most prestigious honors: the James C. Adkins Award, presented to a member of The Florida Bar who has made significant contributions to the field of appellate practice in Florida, and the John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award, presented to a member of The Florida Bar who has made significant contributions to pro bono efforts in appellate matters. To read more about these awards and the factors considered in evaluating nominees, click here. Please send all nominations to Paige Dooley-Levy, Section Program Administrator, at plevy@floridabar.org and include a brief summary of why the nominee satisfies the factors for this year’s award. All nominations must be received by May 15, 2023 for consideration. Second, we need your APS memories to make our Thirtieth Anniversary Reception special. Please send any photos, mementos, or special APS memories you have to Elaine Walter at ewalter@boydlawgroup.com.
I also want to highlight the exciting return of the High School Moot Court Competition! Our Section has supported this worthwhile endeavor in the past, and with the dedication of Brandon Breslow, Mary Walter, and Judge Stephanie Ray, it is back and better than ever. The participating high school teams submitted appellate briefs (reviewed by volunteer APS members—thank you!) and will be participating in the first round of oral arguments before the First District Court of Appeal on May 2, 2023. A big thank you to Chief Judge Rowe, Judge Ray, and Judge Osterhaus for judging this round. And the final round will take place the next day in front of the Florida Supreme Court. What a wonderful opportunity for high schoolers around the state to learn firsthand about the appellate process!
I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting!
Cheers,
Carrie Ann Wozniak, Chair
Appellate Practice Section