BOG Meeting Preview – February 2019
This email was sent to all Florida Bar members to provide information on items for action coming up at the February 9, 2019, Board of Governors meeting in Tallahassee.
Action Items
NEW SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
The Board will be visited by Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady and the Court, marking the first board meeting with the three newly named Florida Supreme Court Justices. Newly elected Gov. DeSantis named Third DCA Judge Barbara Lagoa on January 9, Third DCA Judge Robert Luck on January 14, and veteran government lawyer Carlos G. Muñiz on January 22. The justices traditionally attend part of the Tallahassee board meeting and lunch with board members.
2019 PRO BONO AWARDS
The Board will also attend the annual Pro Bono Awards Ceremony will be held on Feb. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Twenty-two circuit recipients will be honored along with a Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division member and all of the recipients of the Chief Justice’s annual pro bono awards: the Tobias Simon Award, awards for Distinguished Judicial Service and Distinguished Federal Judicial Service, a Law Firm Commendation and a Voluntary Bar Association. Watch the ceremony live at http://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel.
PROPOSED RULE ON LAWYER ADVERTISING
At this meeting, the Board of Governors’ agenda includes a proposed amendment on first reading to Rule 4-7.13, “Google AdWords.” The amendment and changes to the comment would “prohibit a lawyer from stating or implying another lawyer is part of or affiliated with the advertising lawyer’s firm if that is not the case.
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH
The Board will be considering nominees for appointment to the:
- The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors: Two lawyers for three-year terms.
- Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNCs): One lawyer for each JNC for four-year terms (three names nominated for each seat).
- Statewide JNC for Judges of Compensation Claims for the First, Third and Fifth District Courts of Appeal: Three lawyers for four-year terms.
- Florida Patient’s Compensation Fund Board of Governors: One lawyer for a four-year term.