Tanner sworn in as the Bar’s president-elect
Michael G. Tanner of Jacksonville being sworn in as president-elect of The Florida Bar at the Bar’s Virtual General Assembly June 19 as his wife, Dawna, holds the Bible. In introducing Tanner, U.S. Senior Judge Paul C. Huck said: “Mike, too, is an optimist — about our profession and the third branch of our government. Mike loves our profession, being a lawyer, being around lawyers, and most important, Mike appreciates the precious gift of being able to practice law in a free, open society.”
U.S. Senior Judge Paul C. Huck describes incoming Bar President-elect Michael G. Tanner as “one of the most talented, effective, civil trial lawyers in North Florida” and says everything Tanner does is with the “highest level of professionalism and civility.”
Speaking at the Bar Virtual General Assembly minutes before Chief Justice Charles Canady administered the oath of office to Tanner, who practices with the Gunster Law Firm in Jacksonville, Huck said if there is one over-arching, consistent theme in Tanner’s view, it is that all lawyers should aspire to the very highest level of professionalism — competence, ethics, and civility.
Huck said he cannot recall a single, meaningful conversation he has had with Tanner in which Tanner didn’t discuss the importance of professionalism, in all of its aspects.
“As is reflected in his stellar reputation among those with whom he litigates, Mike not only talks the professionalism talk, he walks the walk,” he said. “As a Jacksonville attorney, who knows Mike as well as anyone, told me recently, ‘If I have an ethical question, Mike is on the very short list of lawyers from whom I would seek advice. Mike is passionate about the law and practicing it the right way.’ That’s been my observation as well.”
Huck said he is “confident and, indeed, grateful” that promoting professionalism will be a central theme in Tanner’s presidency.
He said what a lawyer does in addition to his or her law practice generally tells you a great deal about that person and so it is with Tanner. During the 1990s through the early 2000s, Tanner did missionary service in countries of the former Soviet Union.
“This probably says as much about Mike’s character and dedication as anything else, and, interestingly, led to his writing a novel based on the people whom he met during his missionary work titled, ‘Nikolai Returns,’” Huck said.
Huck said the legal profession, like society in general, is facing substantial changes in how it does things. “With those changes, come substantial challenges — but also substantial opportunities,” Huck said. “Now, more than ever, we need strong, effective leadership. In Mike Tanner, you have those leadership qualities — talent, commitment, energy, consensus-building, leading by example, and vision — qualities needed to meet the challenges and maximize the opportunities.”
Huck said Tanner is fond of quoting Winston Churchill, who once said of himself: “I am an optimist. It does not seem much use being anything else.”
“Mike, too, is an optimist — about our profession and the third branch of our government. Mike loves our profession, being a lawyer, being around lawyers, and most important, Mike appreciates the precious gift of being able to practice law in a free, open society.”
