Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law.

• Author: Boje, Debra L.
• Position: Annual Reports of Sections and Divisions of the Florida Bar: 2018-2019

The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section continues its tradition of being the largest section of The Florida Bar and proudly serves almost 11,000 members. Our executive council consists of more than 280 members, four of whom serve on the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar. Our Executive Committee this past year was led by Chair Debra L. Boje; ChairElect and General Standing Division Director Robert S. Freedman; Probate & Trust Division Director William T. Hennessey; Real Property Division Director Robert S. Swaine; Secretary Sarah S. Butters; Treasurer Wm. Cary Wright; Legislation Committee CoChairs S. Katherine Frazier and Jon Scuderi; CLE Committee Co-Chairs John Moran and Steven H. Mezer; Director of At-Large Members Lawrence Jay Miller; and Immediate Past Chair Andrew M. O'Malley.

The section holds five meetings each year. There are four in-state meetings and one out-of-state meeting. This year's in-state meetings ere held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, The Four Seasons in Orlando, The Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, and Opal Sands in Clearwater Beach. The out-of-state meeting took place at the Westin in Rome, Italy.

The endeavors of our section focus on fulfilling the purposes as set forth in the bylaws. The section aspires to 1) further the knowledge and practice of our members; 2) inculcate our members on the principals of duty and service to the public; and 3) improve the administration of justice and advance jurisprudence in our fields of practice. In order to achieve our purposes, our section is divided into three divisions (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, and General Standing) with more than 60 active committees. Below are the highlights of the activities of these divisions over the past year.

* General Standing Division--As in past years, the section's Fellows Program continued with eight active fellows who applied for the two-year program that provides financial support for attendance at section meetings. We have developed this program to encourage active participation by younger lawyers or those that might not otherwise be able to attend our four in-state meetings each year. The section has also been supportive of the Florida Bar's Leadership Academy and has recommended an individual as the section-sponsored candidate for the 2019-2020 Bar year.

Through the section's Amicus Coordination Committee, the section has filed an amicus brief in Johnson v. Townsend, which involves the Fourth...