The Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar is proud to bestow its highest honor, the James C. Adkins Award, upon Stuart Markman of Tampa.

Stuart embodies everything an appellate lawyer should be: a skilled advocate, a consummate professional, a caring mentor, an accomplished Bar leader, and a dedicated fixture within Florida’s appellate community. Stuart’s storied career as an appellate practitioner spans more than 40 years. He has appeared in over 300 Florida appeals, including over 40 in the Florida Supreme Court. He has also handled many appeals in the Eleventh Circuit and a case before the United States Supreme Court. Many of Stuart’s cases have shaped the law as we know it. In short, Stuart is high on the list of the most well-regarded, longstanding appellate lawyers in Florida.

Stuart also maintains the highest professional reputation and has for many years been an active participant in state and local Bar organizations. Among other contributions, he served on the Appellate Court Rules Committee from 1987 to 2000 and on this Section’s Executive Council from 1995 to 2000. He has been a longtime member of the Inns of Court and served as the president of the J. Clifford Cheatwood Inn in Tampa. He currently serves as a Trustee for the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society and on the City of Tampa Ethics Commission. And he has co-taught appellate practice at Stetson University College of Law, donating any adjunct fee back to the law school.

On top of these career accomplishments that are easily committed to paper, Stuart is a selfless mentor, friend, and colleague to others. His ties in the Florida legal community run deep, and he has been a constant source of support and encouragement to those around him—his partners, his staff, his co-counsel, and his opposing counsel. The Appellate Practice Section is honored to add him to the distinguished list of Adkins Award winners.