On Thursday, April 21, 2022, the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the George Edgecomb Bar Association hosted Gideon v. Wainwright: A Discussion About the Right to Counsel as Fundamental and Essential to Fair Trials. The panel was moderated by United States District Judge Mary Scriven, and featured United States Magistrate Judge Mark Pizzo, the Middle District of Florida’s Federal Public Defender Alec Hall, and practitioner Grady Irvin as panelists. Over fifty attendees enjoyed the panel’s discussion on how the landmark case of Gideon v. Wainwright has impacted our legal system. After the panel discussion, attendees enjoyed a reception at Le Meridien in honor of Alec Hall’s June 2021 appointment as the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Florida. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful event including the Middle District of Florida’s Bench Bar Fund!

More photos below!"

On Thursday, March 31, 2022, members of the YLD delivered over 450 books to 5 elementary schools around the Tampa area - Cleveland, Broward, Just, Lockhart, and Palm River. The books focused on diversity and inclusion in honor of Black History Month, and the schools were so excited to receive their new books! YLD members were able to meet students at each of the five schools and give each one a new book, and the excitement on their faces was palpable. We can’t wait to continue this initiative for many years to come.

please contact Erik Johanson.