Highlands County Celebrates Law Week 2005 With Chief Justice Pariente


The Highlands County Bar Association and the Justice Parker Lee McDonald Law Library celebrated our 5^th year of Law Week with activities that focused on the theme, The American Jury System, We the People in Action. Our Law Day Committee visited the local schools, teaching them about the American Jury System and encouraging them to enter our Law Day Essay, Poster and Photography contests. The younger students enjoyed hearing the story of The Trial of Cardigan Jones written by Tim Egan. In spite of the obstacles of making up for missed days during the hurricane season and the FCAT preparation, the excitement they generated for our Law Day contests resulted in 215 poster entries, 88 essays, and two photography entries, . Legal Seminars Members of the local Bar Association teamed up to teach a seminar on Florida Living Wills and other Advance Directives. A second seminar was given on Unmarried Parent’s Rights. These seminars were offered at the Sebring Civic Center and the Sebring Public Library meeting room and were free and open to the public. Teaching the seminars were attorneys Robert Livingston, Anthony Ritenour, Janette Branham and Linda Rodriguez Torrent. Law Day Activities, April 21, 2005: Professional Awards Ceremony Our Law Day Professional Awards Ceremony and Luncheon featured our keynote speaker, the Honorable Barbara J. Pariente, Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. The luncheon was followed by a Bench/Bar reception. Posthumous recognition was given to the family of County Judge Jesse Clay Barber, who passed away in June of 2004. Recognition was also given to Thomas Portz and Ramon Gavarette for their work on the courthouse expansion; Senior Director of Court Services Robert Germaine, and Jury Manager Stephanie Layton. The Judge Clifton M. Kelly award was given to Janette Branham and the Law Day award was given to Sheriff Susan Benton. A community reception and Annual Law Day Program A community reception, which was open to the public, was held at the Highlands County Courthouse in Sebring, and followed by our annual Law Day Program for teachers and students at the Highlands County Government Center. Justice Pariente gave a second Law Day speech, addressing the students. She was awesome! Recognition was given to the winners of the Law Day contests and the graduating Teen Court participants. The Avon Park Elementary School chorus, the Avonaires, directed by Wendy Garcia, provided music for the program.
Our Student Award Winners Were:
Essay K–2nd 1st Shaquavia Gayle 2nd Ana Diaz 3rd Heidi Hartzell Poster K-1st Grades 1st Caleb King 2nd Anthony Vela 3rd Lazaro Rodriguez Photography K-5 1st Ansley Selander 2nd Taylor Clark	Essay Grades 3-5 1st Jordan Buck 2nd Marissa Baldwin 3rd Brendan Bivens Poster Grades 2-3 1st Emily Gossett 2nd Byron Cobb 3rd Raveen Gobourne	Essay Grades 9-12 1st Brittany Pinson 2nd Courtney Harris 3rd Kari Helseth Poster Grades 4-5 1st Bridget Egan 2nd Marie Farmer 3rd Ashley Quinn
For information Highlands County Law Day Contact: Nancy Thomas, Law Librarian Tel: 863-402-6621 E-mail: nthomas@bcc.co.highlands.fl.us
Law Week Pictures (Hold mouse over picture for description, click on thumbnails for larger view)




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