Spring greetings, Appellate Practice Section members!
The clocks have moved forward, North Florida is becoming covered in a thick layer of yellow pollen, and the snow (!!) is a distant memory. With 2025 in full swing, the Section has multiple opportunities ahead for education, connection, and professional development.
Before giving the rundown on the fun ahead, I did want to take a moment to reflect on the past couple months. The Section had many opportunities to gather and learn in January, culminating in The Florida Bar’s Winter Meeting. There, we held our committee and Executive Council meetings, as well as a townhall. So many thanks to those of you who came out and shared your ideas to help the Section better serve its members.
Our opportunities to gather reached their pinnacle in February when the Section traveled to Rome, Italy, for its biennial retreat. Fifty-one Section members, including seventeen judges, plus their guests enjoyed highlights in the Eternal City like a private tour of the Vatican, a visit to the Italian Supreme Court with a lecture from three of the justices, and tours of multiple landmarks around Rome with exceptionally knowledgeable and engaging tour guides. We learned, we dined, we marveled.
Coming up, we have several fantastic CLE opportunities. Our monthly webinar series has timely topics like “A Primer on Appellate Mediation” on March 18 and “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers” on April 15. For our newer appellate attorneys, Navigating Your First Appeal returns with Part II on April 2. This two-hour webinar will guide you through appellate motions and handling oral arguments. Details and registration available here. And please join us on April 3 in Orlando for Beyond the Bar: Introducing Florida’s Sixth DCA. This full-day in-person CLE will feature a host of panels and presentations from Sixth DCA judges, practitioners, and staff. Details and registration can be found at this link.
For those looking just for the chance to connect, the Section’s Outreach Committee will have another Virtual Happy Hour on Tuesday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m. Join us on zoom for engaging conversation, shared drink recipes, and a round of trivia about famous women in the law to celebrate Women’s History Month.
Be on the lookout for more opportunities to connect and serve in the coming months. I look forward to seeing all of you in June at the Annual Florida Bar Convention, for another round of committee and Executive Council meetings, our leadership summit and Chair’s Reception, as well as our signature Dessert Reception.
Thank you for being an essential part of our Section. If you have ideas, feedback, or are interested in getting more involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Wishing you a wonderful spring season filled with fresh opportunities and continued success!
Courtney Brewer
