Course 9847

The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section presents “Tackling Ethics and Professionalism on Appeal,” featuring Justice Meredith Sasso and Judge Morris Silberman. This CLE will examine the ethical and professionalism issues appellate lawyers most commonly encounter, including duties of candor, civility in written and oral advocacy, interactions with the court, and navigating difficult strategic decisions while maintaining credibility and enhancing effective appellate advocacy

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

As a result of attending this session, the learner will be better able to:

1. Identify the ethical obligations governing appellate advocacy, including duties of candor to the court, accuracy in record citations, and compliance with appellate procedural rules.
2. Recognize common professionalism issues that arise in appellate briefing, oral argument, and interactions with opposing counsel and the judiciary.
3. Analyze how professionalism and credibility affect judicial decision-making and the persuasive effectiveness of appellate advocacy.
4. Develop practical strategies for addressing difficult ethical and strategic issues on appeal while maintaining civility, professionalism, and compliance with The Florida Bar’s standards of conduct

FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES

Hon. Meredith Sasso, of Tallahassee, was appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023, becoming the Court’s 93rd justice. A Tallahassee native and graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Justice Sasso began her career in private practice, handling complex civil litigation and appellate matters in state and federal courts. She later served as Chief Deputy General Counsel to Governor Rick Scott, representing the Governor in significant litigation before Florida appellate and trial courts, before her appointment to the Fifth District Court of Appeal in 2019. In 2023, Governor DeSantis recommissioned Justice Sasso to the newly created Sixth District Court of Appeal, where she was selected by her colleagues to serve as the court’s first Chief Judge before joining the Florida Supreme Court later that year.

Hon. Morris Silberman, of St. Petersburg, has served on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal since 2001 and previously served as Chief Judge of the court from 2011 to 2013. Before joining the bench, Judge Silberman practiced civil litigation and appellate law in Clearwater, focusing on business and contract disputes, after beginning his career as a law clerk to Judge Herboth S. Ryder of the Second District Court of Appeal. A graduate of Tulane University and the University of Florida College of Law, Judge Silberman has held numerous leadership roles within Florida’s legal community, including serving as President of the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal and Chair of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. He is also a frequent lecturer on appellate practice, ethics, professionalism, and judicial administration and has contributed extensively to legal education and scholarship throughout Florida.