Coxes awarded ABOTA’s Coker Community Service Award
Coxes awarded ABOTA’s Coker Community Service Award
Hank and Mary Coxe were honored with the Fran Peacock Coker Community Service Award by the Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates for their advocacy for children.
Hank Coxe, a former Florida Bar president, was part of a team of well-known Jacksonville lawyers defending Cristian Fernandez, who at age 12 was the youngest person indicted as an adult for first-degree murder in Jacksonville.
They were able to get juvenile sanctions for his 2013 guilty plea to manslaughter for the death of his 2-year-old half-brother, and Mary Coxe serves as his guardian ad litem and visits him every Saturday at Cypress Creek Juvenile Offender Correctional Center in Lecanto,in Citrus County.
The award was established in 2006 in memory of Fran Coker, the wife of former Bar President Howard Coker, who was a children’s literacy advocate who died in a house fire.
Hank Coxe said being part of the effort to help Fernandez was special, but does not compare to Mary’s dedication to the teenager who will be released in 2018 when he turns 19.
“The tears in that room last night were for Mary and her incredible commitment to do what is right and special — following a standard set by Fran Coker,” Hank Coxe said, after the awards were presented at FLABOTA’s 19th annual conference on July 9, at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens.
The following were also honored by FLABOTA:
Michael A. Mullen, managing partner of Gaebe, Mullen, Antonelli & Dimatteo in Coral Gables, was named Trial Lawyer of the Year. The award recognizes “an excellent advocate who has a distinguished career, a superb reputation of high ethics and fair play, and has participated in an outstanding result.” Mullen has tried more than 100 cases to verdict, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has served as an officer of the Miami chapter of ABOTA for the last several years, including president in 2014. He has also been the state delegate to the National Board of ABOTA. FLABOTA is making a contribution of $5,000 for law school advocacy to a law school of his choice, and Mullen has chosen St. Thomas.
Fourth Circuit Judge Tyrie Boyer was named Jurist of the Year. The award honors a judge who is “committed to preserving and improving the jury trial system; is knowledgeable, prepared and rules in a timely manner; follows the rules of law and applies them evenhandedly; demands professionalism from all lawyers; and maintains open and accessible working relationships with the trial bar.”
Daniel Gerber, of Rumberger, Kirk and Caldwell in Orlando, received the Joseph P. Milton Professionalism and Civility Award, named in memory of the past FLABOTA president of Jacksonville. The award is bestowed to a FLABOTA member who “conducts themselves with professionalism, civility, and the highest degree of ethics, always exhibiting integrity, honor, courtesy and a sense of fair play; has educated the public about the civil justice system and the rule of law; has contributed skill and knowledge and efforts to enhance and educate the profession; and has demonstrated a commitment to serve others.”
