July 2026 Bulletin

Jul 29
3 min read

Chair's Message

Dear Section Members:

I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Government Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar. I want to thank the members of the Section’s Executive Committee, as well as our committee chairs and representatives, for all the hard work that you contribute to our section.

I would also like to introduce myself. I am a Florida native who graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Political Science and from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Since law school, my career has been spent in government service. Currently, I serve in the Attorney General’s Office, where I focus on keeping Florida’s children safe from nicotine vaping products. Having served on the board of the Government Lawyers Section since 2020, I look forward to the upcoming year!

My primary goal for this year is to emphasize connection:

Connecting members with informative and engaging CLE opportunities;
Connecting members with information on topics that matter to them, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness;
Connecting members with colleagues who share similar practice areas or subject-matter expertise;
Connecting members with employment opportunities and ways to serve within the Section; and
Connecting law students to public service through the Section.

If you are interested in connecting with other members by contributing to our Section’s newsletter, The Voice, you can submit your article here. And in line with our theme for the year, if you have an idea for a CLE, questions about board service, or any other feedback, I would love to hear from you. Please reach out at Liz.Stinson@myfloridalegal.com or 850-414-3860.

2026-2027 Executive Council Slate

CLE Opportunities

9939 Public Records and Open Meetings: 2026 Update by Pat Gleason

Join the Government Lawyer Section on Friday, August 7, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET, for an informative CLE covering the latest developments in Florida's Public Records Law and Government-in-the-Sunshine Law.

Presented by Pat Gleason, Special Counsel for Open Government in the Florida Office of the Attorney General, this program will provide a timely update on the laws that promote transparency and accountability in government. As the principal editor of the Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual for more than 20 years, Ms. Gleason brings extensive knowledge and practical insight into the evolving landscape of Florida's open government laws.

Whether you advise public agencies, represent governmental entities, or simply want to stay current on legal developments affecting public records and open meetings, this one-hour program will offer valuable guidance on recent updates, emerging issues, and best practices for compliance.

9914 The Commission on Ethics Formal Opinion Process.

Join the Government Lawyer Section on Friday, August 14, 2026, for an informative CLE exploring the Florida Commission on Ethics' formal advisory opinion process.

Presented by Steven Zuilkowski, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel for the Florida Commission on Ethics, this program will provide a practical overview of how the advisory opinion process works and when it can be a valuable tool for public officials and government attorneys.

Attendees will learn about the advantages and potential drawbacks of seeking an advisory opinion, the different types of advisory opinions available, and the procedures for requesting one. The program will also examine several recent advisory opinions and discuss their practical application and significance.

Whether you regularly advise public officials or simply want to better understand the Commission's guidance process, this CLE will provide valuable insight into navigating ethics issues with confidence.

One of the biggest benefits of Section membership is monthly free CLE that include specialty CLE credits. Our CLE committee is always looking for topics and speakers, so please let us know if you have any idea for a topic! Reach out to the CLE Committee Chairs Steven Zuilkowski and Kathy Savor.

Don't forget, Section member's can access previous recording here.