Agenda for this year.

• Author: Bookman, Alan B.
• Position: Florida Bar - President's Page

Here we go. This is the first of my President's messages and it is the task that scares me the most about the role I am about to undertake.

I am honored to serve as The Florida Bar's 57th president. All of my predecessors are distinguished, competent, and talented lawyers, and I have some very large shoes to fill. The Florida Bar owes a great debt of gratitude to Kelly Overstreet Johnson for being a tremendous advocate for our profession this past year.

I have been asked, on many occasions, what my "program" will be during my Bar year. I have responded that I don't have one, and I don't want one. I have tremendous respect for all of the projects and programs of my predecessors and will continue to ensure their efficacy. My goal, however, is to ensure continuity of The Florida Bar's strategic plan, the objectives of which are to 1) ensure that the judicial system is independent and adequately funded; 2) sustain a consistent effort to promote the legal profession; 3) improve The Florida Bar's disciplinary process and increase the confidence of the public and attorneys in our disciplinary system; and 4) strengthen The Florida Bar's position with its members. In future President's Pages I will discuss items 2, 3, and 4; however, I want to begin my Bar year by what I perceive to be of prime importance to our profession and the public at large and that is, the Rule of Law and an independent judiciary.

I am sure all of us are aware of the recent unjustified attacks on and the vilification of our judiciary. Disagreement with unpopular decisions has evoked the cries of "activist judges," "impeachment," and, worst of all, attempted legislative intervention. Those whose voices were the loudest wanted the judiciary to disregard the law and base the ruling on what those voices felt was, in their opinion, morally correct. These are the true activists. But, it is no longer the legal profession's luxury to be able to sit back and watch these matters from the sidelines. We, collectively in a unified voice, must educate the public and remind them that without a strong and vibrant Rule of Law, our democracy will simply cease to exist. Without the Rule of Law, "might," both economic and/or political, makes "right."

I am pleased, however, that our own governor showed respect for the judicial process in the Schiavo and "L.G." cases.

As practitioners, we are too busy trying to represent our clients, raise our families, and earn a living without busying ourselves...