GLS Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award -
A Government Lawyer Section award, presented only when the section deems it appropriate, not necessarily annually, and no more than once each year. The Lifetime Achievement Award is the Government Lawyer Section’s highest honor for long-term public servants. Recipients typically served as public servants for 20 years or more, earned election or appointment to a senior level government position, and made extraordinary contributions to the public interest, resulting in lasting changes within the legal profession, their client organization, community, or area of expertise. The recipient is determined by a consensus of the Government Lawyer Section Executive Council.
Award Recipients:
2008 Peggy Quince - View ceremony photos
2005 Tom Tedcastle
2002 Bob Butterworth
1996 Janet Reno
The Distinguished Public Service Award -
A Government Lawyer Section award, granted to qualified individuals at The Florida Bar midyear meeting each January. The Distinguished Public Service Award recognizes dedicated government lawyers typically with at least 5 years of public service whose recent contributions to the profession and the community deserve special recognition. At least one and no more than six lawyers shall be recognized annually with this award. As with all other awards, evaluation criteria will include: government position attained, tenure, accomplishments and impact over time; recognition by fellow professionals, media, and the general public; and participation in other professional and community organizations and activities. All persons nominated for the Claude Pepper Award will automatically be considered for the Distinguished Public Service Award, although nominators may supplement the application. The Claude Pepper Award application and nominating committee will be utilized to determine recipients. The recipients are determined by a consensus of the Claude Pepper Award Nominating Committee appointed by the Chair of the Government Lawyer Section.
Award Recipients:
Geri Atkinson-Hazelton, General Counsel
Norman A. Blessing, Deputy General Counsel
John D. Maher, Deputy General Counsel
Robert Whaley, Deputy General Counsel
Claude Pepper Award -
A Florida Bar award, granted to one individual at The Florida Bar’s annual meeting each June. The Claude Pepper Award is presented to government lawyers typically with at least 10 years of service, whose character and accomplishments exemplify the highest ideals of government service. Recipients are well-rounded lawyers, whose importance to their agency or employer is irrefutable. This award looks for more than just a single even if remarkable event, instead seeking out lawyers demonstrating annual contributions over time and commitment to public service and the public interest. The recipient is determined by a consensus of the President of The Florida Bar, the Chair of the Government Lawyer Section and the Chair of the Claude Pepper Award Committee of the Government Lawyer Section, as advised by the Claude Pepper Award Nominating Committee appointed by the Chair of the Government Lawyer Section.
Award Recipients:
2012 Michael J. Alderman, Deputy General Counsel, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Tallahassee
2011 Stephanie Daniel, Special Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, Tallahassee
2010 John S. Slye, Deputy General Counsel with the Department of Children and Families
2009 Gerald B. Curington, Deputy Counsel to Governor Charlie Crist, Tallahassee
2008 Patricia R. Gleason, Director of Cabinet Affairs as a Special Counsel to the Office of Open Government, Tallahassee
2007 Judson M. Chapman, General Counsel for Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Tallahassee
2006 W. Anthony Loe, Broward County State Attorney’s Office, Homicide Prosecutor
2005 Jack Shreve, Senior General Counsel for Consumer Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General,Tallahassee
2004 Sheryl Wood, General Counsel for the South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach
2003 William B. Hammill, a Civilian Attorney-Advisor with the United States Central Command Stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, St. Petersburg
2002 Denise M. Nieman, Office of the County Attorney, Palm Beach
2001 Deborah K. Kearney, General Counsel Department of State, Tallahassee
2000 George Lee Waas, Assistant Attorney General Department of Legal Affairs, Tallahassee
1999 James A. Peters, Assistant Attorney General Department of Legal Affairs, Tallahassee
1998 Jorge L. Fernandez, Office of the County Attorney, Sarasota
1997 George B. Barrs, Office of the Public Defender, West Palm Beach
1996 Anthony C. Musto, Office of the Broward County Attorney, Ft. Lauderdale
1995 Joseph Lewis, Jr., Assistant Attorney General Department of Legal Affairs, Tallahassee
1994 Irene M. Quincey, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach
1993 Enoch “Jon” Whitney, General Counsel for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Tallahassee
1992 John J. Copelan, Jr., Broward County Attorney, Ft. Lauderdale
1991 Chriss Walker, Senior Attorney, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services Office of Child Support, Tallahassee
1990 Navy Lt. Commander Charles Coles Jeffries, Jr.