Our Inaugural Year
Chair – Steve Stark
Priorities – Developing membership and CLE offerings
Major Accomplishments - The Florida Bar’s new appellate section is officially approved as the “Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section.”
Other Interesting Facts:
- The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals opened its Miami location.
- The Florida Bar announced Appellate Practice would become available as a Board Certification Area.
- The Section gets its first permanent Bar staff liaison, Ms. Jackie Werndli.
- The Section issues the first edition of the Record with Christoher Kurzner at the helm and with Suzanne Heller, a staff attorney at the Fifth District Court of Appeal, coining the name of the publication.
Chair – Steve Stark
Priorities – Establishing an Executive Council
Major Accomplishments – A Proposal is made to seek membership for a judge from each of the District Courts of Appeal on the Executive Council.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The idea for the Dessert Reception was born as a concept of an annual reception to honor Supreme Court justices with dessert and coffee.
- The Record includes the first installment of its ongoing series “Inside the District Courts of Appeal,” covering the First DCA.
- The first appellate certification examination is held by The Florida Bar, and 46 out of 65 examinees pass to become certified in appellate practice.
Chair – Anthony Musto
Priorities – Planning the Dessert Reception
Major Accomplishments – The Supreme Court Justices appear at the End-of-Year Meeting for a one-hour question and answer session.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The first annual Dessert Reception is held at the annual meeting in Orlando.
- The first annual James C. Adkins Award is made posthumously to Justice Adkins, who passed away in 1994.
Chair – Tom Elligett, Jr.
Priorities – Establishing a CLE to assist Section members in taking the Board Certification exam
Major Accomplishments - The Section holds its first Appellate Practice Certification Exam Review Course (in Orlando).
Other Interesting Facts:
- As a portent of things to come, in an article entitled “The Case of the Defamed Stripper,” Section member Robert Glazier advocates that appellate lawyers should be “on the internet.” Glazier even provided the A-B-C’s of how to set up a website.
Chair – Chris Kurzner
Priorities – Increasing APS membership
Major Accomplishments – By June 1997, APS membership was approaching 1000 members.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The first installment of “Hot Topics in Appellate Practice” takes place with approximately 130 people in attendance.
- A relationship with Stetson University College of Law is forged under the leadership of Tom Hall and the “Appellate Practice Workshop” or the “learning-by-doing” seminar is in the works.
Chair – Roy Wasson
Priorities – More CLE
Major Accomplishments – The Section holds the first Appellate Skills Workshop, with the faculty including current and former District Court of Appeal Judges, a former Supreme Court Justice, and appellate law professors.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section issues a survey to solicit feedback on whether the name of the Section should be changed.
Chair – Cindy Hofmann
Priorities – Communication
Major Accomplishments - The Section announces that it has established its website at https://www.flabarappellate.org; the Section holds its first seminar in collaboration with the Trial Lawyers Section, with the title “What Do You Mean I Didn’t Preserve the Issue?: What Every Trial Lawyer Needs to Know About Preservation of Error and Appeal.”
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section membership votes to shorten the name of the Section to the Appellate Practice Section.
- Roy Wasson’s article entitled “We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby!” celebrated the impact that the Section has had on the advancement of appellate practice as a specialty in Florida.
- Austin Newberry becomes the new Florida Bar Program Administrator for the Section.
- The Southeast Regional Moot Court Competition was scheduled to take place in Florida for the first time in November 1999 with a sponsorship by the section and the help of Mike Richmond, Law Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Law.
Chair – Ben Kuehne
Priorities – Sharing ideas and planning for the Section’s future
Major Accomplishments - The Section holds its first retreat in Hutchinson Island and hammers out its mission statement, goals, and plans for the next several years.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Multiple articles in The Record discuss the important role of appellate practitioners and many Section members in the recent presidential election disputes.
Chair – Hala Sandridge
Priorities – Making an impact
Major Accomplishments - The Chair’s Message in The Record exhorted appellate practitioners to contact their local legislators to oppose proposed judicial reforms that would threaten the independence of the judiciary.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Cindy Hofmann is elected Chair-Elect of the Council of Appellate Lawyers, and Siobhan Shea was voted to serve on the Executive Board of that same body (The Council of Appellate Lawyers was the newly-chartered appellate lawyers’ division of the American Bar Association).
Chair – Angela Flowers
Priorities – Helping others
Major Accomplishments - The Section announced its plan to create the Pro Se Appellate Handbook, designed to help pro se litigants understand what they need to do to obtain appellate court review of a trial court decision.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Section Vice-Chair Raoul Cantero was appointed by Governor Bush as the newest Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, filling the seat left by the retirement of Justice Major Harding.
- The Record proudly reprinted Judge Altenbernd’s enumeration of the 16 steps to an effective brief entitled, “Brief Writing: True Confessions of a Legal Grease Monkey.”
Chair – Jack Aiello
Priorities – Technology
Major Accomplishments – Providing input to the Florida Supreme Court at its request to comment on various matters relating to electronic filing, as the Court continued to plan for future expansion of the use of computer technology in the court system.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section’s Pro Bono Award is bestowed for the first time on Siobhan Shea.
- The Section proposed revisions to the Section’s Bylaws to better solidify the presence of the Section’s website and provide for the website’s development and maintenance.
- The Section held its second retreat at the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa with David Freeman of Whetstone Consulting serving as facilitator to lead the Section through initiatives suggested by the Section’s mission statement.
- The Section commenced its mentoring program accessible from the Section’s website.
Chair – John Crabtree
Priorities – Focus
Major Accomplishments – Providing financial support to the Florida Court System by making a financial contribution for the Second District Court of Appeal’s new court facility within the Tampa Law Center.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Chair John Crabtree leads the Section to distribute a survey to its members for the guidance of future goals and initiatives.
- The Section begins holding its series of monthly appellate telephonic lunch seminars.
Chair – Thomas Hall
Priorities – Connection
Major Accomplishments - The finals of the Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition are held in conjunction with the discussion with the Florida Supreme Court at the End-of-Year Bar Meeting
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section once again presents its appellate practice workshop in conjunction with the Stetson College of Law.
- Steve and Carole Brannock graciously host a dining extravaganza at their “ranch” in conjunction with the Section’s general meeting.
Chair – Susan Fox
Priorities – Judicial involvement
Major Accomplishments - Through a collaborative effort with First DCA Chief Judge Charles Kahn and Section member Celene Humphries, the first annual Appellate Judges Conference takes place at the site of the Florida Bar End-of-Year Meetings in Boca Raton with more than 60 judges and practitioners gathering to discuss appellate practice.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section’s third retreat begins at Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and results in the clear identification of priorities for the next several years.
- The Brannocks again host a Section dinner at their ranch.
Chair – Steve Brannock
Priorities – Independence of the Judiciary
Major Accomplishments - In response to proposed legislation to decrease funding and independency of Florida’s judicial branch, the Section for the first time adopted legislation positions, which The Florida Bar approved on January 26, 2007, to include support for: (1) maintaining an impartial and independent judiciary; (2) the Florida Supreme Court’s budget request for pay raises for appellate judges and support staff; and (3) the Florida Supreme Court’s certification of additional judges.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Florida Bar Journal published the Special Appellate Edition with contributions by numerous Section members.
- The First, Second, and Third District Courts of Appeal celebrate their 50th anniversaries.
- The Section co-hosted the Dessert Reception with the Cuban American Bar Association.
Chair – Siobhan Shea
Priorities – Supporting pro se litigants
Major Accomplishments – The publication of the Pro Se Handbook, with it being available to anyone online and at law libraries, prison libraries, and clerks’ offices throughout the state.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Florida Bar Foundation provided a grant to have the Pro Se Handbook translated into Spanish and Creole French and members saw to it that the online version was ADA-compliant and accessible to those with hearing or vision impairments.
Chair – Dorothy Easley
Priorities – Supporting others
Major Accomplishments – Reorganization of the Appellate Practice Pro Bono Committee under the leadership of Bryan Gowdy to develop a network of lawyers in a diverse array of specialties.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section voted to support Florida Law Related Education’s Moot Court program with funding and volunteer appellate lawyers to serve as moot court judges.
- The Section also voted to allow a stipend for judges to attend The Florida Bar’s Annual meeting and scholarships for government and legal aid lawyers to attend Advanced Appellate Advocacy programs.
- The Section co-sponsored the Eleventh Circuit’s Appellate Practice Institute (ECAPI) in Atlanta with a Family Law Appeal Seminar theme.
- The first Section CLE by webinar occurred.
- The Appellate Practice Guide and The Record debuted in online format.
- The Section filed an amicus brief in Pleus v. Christ, SCO09-565, at the unanimous request of the judges of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
- The Section opened membership to law students and law professors as affiliate, non-voting members.
Chair – Raoul Cantero
Priorities – Appellate eFiling
Major Accomplishments – Presentations on electronic filing by judges and clerks of courts with a focus on developments in the statewide e-portal.
Other Interesting Facts:
- At The Florida Bar annual meeting the Justices of the Florida Supreme Court also discussed (1) the future of court funding; (2) the status of e-filing; (3) improving the process of amending the rules of procedure; (4) trends in lawyer discipline; and (5) trends in death penalty appeals.
- The Florida Supreme Court and Second District Court of Appeal plan to try one system through the statewide e-filing portal, while the First and Fifth District Courts of Appeal plan to try another system to determine which one will be adopted by the courts.
Chair – Matt Conigliaro
Priorities – Coming together with the DCA judges at the DCA Conference of Judges.
Major Accomplishments – The Executive Council hosted its meeting via conferencing at the respective DCAs. Council members from Tallahassee (1st DCA), Tampa (2d DCA), Miami (3d DCA), West Palm Beach (4th DCA), and Daytona Beach (5th DCA) attended the meeting, and, for the first time, the Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges allowed the Section to attend and participate in the program held in Amelia Island.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section recreated and revamped a committee focused on legislative matters—The Legislation and Public Education Committee.
Chair – Jack Reiter
Priorities – Reinvigorating outreach to improve visibility and participation within the Section.
Major Accomplishments – The Section worked with The Florida Bar on the campaign known as “The Vote’s in Your Court,” promoting awareness regarding merit retention of Florida’s appellate judges. The Section also took an official position on “Amendment 5” to the Florida Constitution, urging voters to reject that amendment as it threatened an independent judiciary. Voters ultimately rejected Amendment 5 during the general election
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section’s pro bono committee began tracking appeals its members had handled on behalf of pro bono litigants.
- The Advanced Appellate Practice and Certification Review Course was presented for the first time by webcast.
Chair – Caryn Bellus
Priorities – Celebrating Our History and Looking Forward
Major Accomplishments – Section 20th Anniversary Dinner at The Florida Bar Annual Convention. The Section was invited to the attend the DCA Judges Conference.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Practice Institute (ECAPI) was held in Miami and included a reception with Judge Rosemary Barkett.
- The Outreach Committee worked to advance the Section’s visibility and expand its liaison program.
- The Pro Bono Committee handled appeals referred from legal aid organizations, as well as direct requests from indigent pro so litigants, and worked with legal aid to provide mentoring and guidance through the appellate process.
Chair – Ceci Berman
Priorities – Fresh Perspectives
Major Accomplishments – A section-wide survey of our membership to gather information about members’ interests
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section took a position to oppose legislative proposed term limits for appellate judges and Supreme Court justices.
- Chair Carlyle addressed the Legislature on the issue.
- The two-day, intensive Advanced Appellate Advocacy CLE was presented at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law.
Chair – Chris Carlyle
Priorities – Funding the Judiciary and Access to the Courts
Major Accomplishments – A $50,000 donation to the Florida Bar Foundation (now Funding Florida Legal Aid)
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Executive Council voted unanimously to oppose term limits for judges at any level of the Florida court system.
- A section committee was formed to work on issues surrounding the section’s reserves and how to manage them appropriately.
Chair – Duane Daiker
Priorities – Modernizing communications
Major Accomplishments – The first retreat and long-term planning session in 10 years was held in Key West. APS started its relationship with the statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office for pro bono assistance by our members.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Started to establish an APS social media presence.
- The Record was converted from a PDF format to a blog format.
- CLE delivery moved to more webcasts and virtual offerings.
Chair – Kristin Norse
Priorities – Attention to detail
Major Accomplishments – Providing over 1000 hours of pro bono service to the Defending Best Interests Program and being awarded the Guardian Ad Litem’s “I Am for the Child” Award.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section started work on a new project with the Domestic Abuse Council Partnership assisting victims of domestic violence.
- The Section partnered with the Criminal Law Section and presented a 4-hour webinar.
- The Section submitted a white paper on a Constitutional Revision Commission proposal with the help of Chris Altenbernd and Gerald Cope.
- The CLE Committee rolled out CLE Webinars in place of telephone conferences.
Chair – Sarah Lahlou-Amine
Priorities – Connections
Major Accomplishments – The Section held its first out-of-state retreat to Washington, D.C., with a reception at the United States Supreme Court and an interactive presentation at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Rolled out a scholarship program to extend an opportunity for two deserving Section members to join us in D.C.
- Talks started with the Government Lawyer Section to evaluate the possibility of a joint Section membership option for the next Bar year.
- The Pro Bono Committee provided an opportunity for Section members to volunteer with the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, a D.C.-based organization that provides pro bono counsel to veterans appearing in the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
- The pro se handbook was translated into Spanish and French Creole adapted for HTML/ADA compliance.
Chair – Nick Shannin
Priorities – Hurricanes and the Pandemic!
Major Accomplishments – Remaining flexible is a sea of change and revamping offerings to allow social distancing.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section collaborated with the Government Lawyers Section to reduce those practitioners’ dues who participate in both sections.
- The Section held the first of its kind joint CLE program held in conjunction with the Bar’s midyear meeting, entitled Appeals for the Pro Bono Practitioner.
Chair – Chris Donovan
Priorities – Ingenuity and Zoomtastic Events
Major Accomplishments – Keeping the Section members connected through virtual meetings with Zoom trivia nights and virtual scavenger hunts, and happy hours
Other Interesting Facts:
- Through the magic of the internet and Zoom, our committee meeting attendance increased.
- The Section partnered with YLD and the Trial Lawyers Section to present the coveted Presidential Showcase CLE at the Florida Bar Convention, including an appearance from Justice Labarga.
- The Section’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee engaged in the Student Education Initiative, which is a multi-module pipeline project aimed at high school, college, and law school students of diverse backgrounds throughout the state.
- The Section kicked off its inaugural year of the Fellows Program developed by Jamie Moses and Courtney Brewer with Chelsea Kirkpatrick as our first Fellow.
Chair – Kimberly Jones
Priorities – Covid Protocols and Advancing the Section
Major Accomplishments – The Section took an active role in commenting on the proposed elimination of the Bar's Certification Committees’ discretion to waive certain requirements, with Chris Donovan presenting oral argument to the Florida Supreme Court on the Section’s behalf.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section presented a New and Returning Member Orientation, an exclusively virtual event via Zoom, prior to meeting at Annual Convention.
- The partnership with the Government Lawyer Section garnered almost 100 joint members.
- The Section offered a free CLE jointly with the Government Lawyers Section on Navigating Your First Appeal, with over 220 registrants.
- The Communications Committee, chaired by Dineen Wasylik and Morgan Weinstein, facilitated a modern and streamlined website update and curated the Section's social media presence.
Chair – Judge Carrie Ann Wozniak
Priorities – Making an international impact
Major Accomplishments – The Section held its first international retreat in London, England.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section held an officers’ retreat in Savanah, GA, which resulted in team building and strategic planning for the Section’s future.
- The first annual leadership training and new member orientation was a resounding success at The Florida Bar Annual Meeting.
- For the Section’s 30th anniversary, Duane Daiker interviewed 5 past chairs (Tony Musto, Tom Hall, Hala Sandridge, Nick Shannin, and Sarah Lahlou-Amine) to discuss the Section’s history, traditions, and ongoing focus.
- Also for the Section’s 30th anniversary, the Section’s founding documents were on display (thanks to Judge Makar) during the EC Meeting and the Chair’s Reception at the Bar’s Annual Convention.
Chair – Judge Kansas Gooden
Priorities – Altering our digital presence
Major Accomplishments – After a successful officer retreat in Key Biscayne, the Table of Authorities (a virtual luncheon with Florida appellate judges and Section young lawyers) was born.
Other Interesting Facts:
- Section members provided substantive training at the DCA Judges Conference and held a reception at North Beach Fish Camp.
- Section member Jamie Moses won the Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award.
- The Section launched its new website.
- Our chair was appointed to the Third District Court of Appeal at the end of the chair term.
Chair – Courtney Brewer
Priorities – Advancing appellate practice in Florida
Major Accomplishments – Leading the Section on the second international retreat, to Rome, Italy. 51 section members, including 17 judges, plus their guests enjoyed an unforgettable time in the Eternal City. Highlights of the trip included a private tour of the Vatican, a visit to the Italian Supreme Court, a lecture by Stefano Passeri from the law firm Chiomenti about practicing law in Italy, and tours of multiple landmarks around Rome.
Other Interesting Facts:
- The Section introduced a new two-part webinar, Navigating Your First Appeal, and held its first annual Board Certification Town Hall.
- The ongoing program “Bench Briefs” (featuring 5 minute segments by 10 appellate judges on a single appellate issue) was rolled out.
- The Section continued to provide high quality CLE programs including Beyond the Bar at the Fifth DCA in October 2024 and Beyond the Bar at the Sixth DCA in April 2025 and offered timely discussions on emerging issues in appellate practice during its monthly webinar series.
