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Law Day event recognizes best in and outside the field

Honors and reflections on the state of the law mark the annual Clearwater Bar event.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published May 20, 2006

CLEARWATER - Keynote speaker Charles Rose made it clear to the attorneys and judges gathered at the annual Law Day lunch Friday: The rule of law is in great danger in our country.

In just five years, the nation has gone from being a victim of a terrible act of terrorism to a nation that has ignored the Geneva Conventions, said Rose, assistant professor at Stetson College of Law.

Why?

Because "we are afraid," he said. It is up those in the legal profession, who Rose called "heroes," to stand up and make a difference, to demonstrate courage.

His remarks were the centerpiece of the Clearwater Bar's 45th annual Law Day celebration.

The Bar's Liberty Bell Award, which honors a nonlawyer for outstanding contributions to the people of the area, was presented to Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke, in part because he designed his office to be more user-friendly for the community.

"It's overwhelming to be recognized by the Bar Association," Burke said, adding he believed someone in his office other than himself was going to be recognized at the luncheon, and he wanted to attend to support that person. "I was at the Supreme Court planning conference in Orlando this morning. I probably broke a record getting back here."

Judge James Whittemore, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, was awarded the George W. Greer Judicial Independence Award. When a federal judge assigned him the Terri Schiavo case at 3:30 one morning, Whittemore issued an order refusing to get involved.

"I'm very proud and honored," Whittemore said of the award. "I did not know (Judge) Greer until last summer. I have a lot of respect for him, and it's an honor to be recognized with an award in his name."

The Ralph Richards Award for professional excellence went to Scott E. Schiltz of Boyer & Schiltz, P.A. in Dunedin.

Schiltz was honored for volunteering his time to the Bar Association, serving as its president, chairing committees and working hard for charity organizations.

"I was very, very surprised," he said. "We as bar members realize we're lucky and we have to give back (to the community)."

Judge James R. Case was the recipient of the John U. Bird Distinguished Jurist Award for his high ideals, personal character, judicial competence and service.

Clearwater Police Department Detective William Harding was presented with the Allen L. Moore Gold Badge Award for his leadership with the department's Homeland Security program.

A former Naval intelligence officer, he now works in the Criminal Investigation Division, training officers in weapons of mass destruction, biological weaponry and dirty bombs.

"I'm very honored," Harding said. "Sergeant Moore (who is deceased) was a terrific officer. Everybody who knew him loved him.'

Also recognized were Pinellas Park High School students Tommy Stoner and Alysha Phelps, who took first place in a program called the Great Debate. They were given a trophy and $150.

As the luncheon concluded, the Clearwater Bar's president, Susan Demers, stepped down from her post, and Jewel White Cole, managing assistant county attorney, was inducted as the 875-member organization's new leader.

"In a day and age where our profession is attacked on what seems like a daily basis as part of what is wrong with society, where we are vilified as ambulance chasers, where we are represented in the press by our colleagues who choose to market themselves as pitbulls, I am proud to be part of an organization that is the absolute antithesis of all these things," Cole said.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

[Last modified May 20, 2006, 01:58:12]