Welcome to the First District Appellate American Inn of Court
A message from Peter Webster, Inn President 2012-2013
The American Inns of Court is a national organization consisting of local Inns located in some 47 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and London. The mission of the organization, which is modeled on the English Inns of Court, is to foster excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills. Each local Inn meets periodically to “break bread” together, and to hold programs and discussions intended to further that mission.
The First District Appellate Inn was founded in 2008. Membership for the 2012-13 Inn year includes six active First District Court of Appeal judges, appellate lawyers from throughout the First District’s territorial jurisdiction (including Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Panama City and Pensacola), and students from the Florida State University College of Law.
Membership includes participating in five monthly program/dinner meetings during the Inn year. Our March meeting this Inn year will be a joint meeting with the Stafford and St. Andrews Bay Inns in Blountstown. Pupilage teams, composed of a judge, senior and junior lawyers, and students, are responsible for the programs. The teams are also expected to meet at least once during each of the five months to discuss their upcoming program or other matters of mutual interest. As a pro bono project, the Inn annually presents a seminar focused on appellate practice to one or more legal aid organizations.
We are proud of the fact that (as reflected by the “platinum level” stamp in the upper right-hand corner of this page), although the Inn has been in existence for only four years, this past year it was recognized as in the top ten percent of Inns nationally in furthering the mission to foster excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills.
Past presidents of the Inn are The Honorable James R. Wolf (2008-2009), Susan L. Kelsey, Esquire (2009-2010), The Honorable Charles J. Kahn, Jr. (2010-2011), and Michael G. Tanner, Esquire (2011-2012).
Thank you for your interest.