Welcome to the 2024-2025 Appellate Practice Section year! I am honored to serve as the Section’s Chair this year and excited about all we plan to offer our members.
The Section has been incredibly meaningful to me throughout my career, connecting me with new colleagues, offering opportunities to deepen my involvement in the appellate community, providing top-tier educational programs, and hosting unforgettable receptions and retreats.
None of what the Section offers is possible without the dedicated service of its members. Whether they serve on a committee or the Executive Council, take on a pro bono case, author an article, or speak at a CLE, I have time and again been amazed by the dedication of our members to this Section and to bettering the appellate world.
In reflecting on that service, I want every member to know that opportunities abound to be involved in the Section’s ongoing work. We are always looking for the next generation of Section leadership. I encourage every member to reach out to me if you want to get more involved. My inbox is always open.
The hard work of your fellow Section members is set to bring us a great year ahead. We have several not-to-be-missed CLEs coming your way, starting with Beyond the Bar at the Fifth DCA on October 29, 2024. The organizers have put together a wonderful program, which I am looking forward to! Registration for this CLE is now open. Registration will soon be open for our annual board certification boot camp prep course—not to be missed for anyone sitting for the exam in March. And of course, our monthly webinar series continues, with another great program on October 15 discussing motions to disqualify and related appellate proceedings.
In addition to our formal CLEs, our Table of Authorities program continues to bring together new appellate attorneys and appellate judges for informal discussions over Zoom. Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities, and many thanks to the appellate judges who have so generously contributed their time to this program.
If you are curious about our next retreat, that committee has been hard at work hoping to set a course for international travels again. Plans are underway for a trip to Rome, Italy, on February 23-27, 2025. Registration is coming as soon as possible.
Finally, I invite everyone to attend our Executive Council meeting, which will take place virtually this fall, at 12 p.m. on Thursday, October 17. Come hear about all the exciting work of the Section from the comfort of your home or office computer! Ahead of the fall meeting, on Friday, October 11, several of our committees will have meetings of their own. Attending a committee meeting is a great way to get more involved. Check out the schedule below and be on the lookout for links to register for these meetings:
October 11 Committee Meeting Schedule
• CLE – 10:00 a.m.
• Publications – 11:00 a.m.
• Programs/Outreach – 12:00 p.m.
• Pro Bono – 2:00 p.m.
Thank you all for your continued support of the Section! I am looking forward to another great year together.
Many thanks,
Courtney Brewer
Chair, The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, 2024-2025
Courtney Brewer
Chair, Appellate Practice Section
