Amazing. Judge Greer clearly committed obstruction of an investigation by Congress, which is a felony, and Judge Whittemore acted completely contrary to the law passed by Congress (and in a most dilatory fashion -- he was quite expert in running out the clock on Mrs. Schiavo's life) yet this group of lawyers throws quite a little shindig for this pair.
Photographs: LuxImages/Freddy Rozentzvaig FLABOTA recently selected Circuit Judge George W. Greer and U. S. Middle District Judge James D. Whittemore, as its Jurists of the Year. Charles H. Baumberger of Miami was selected as its Trial Lawyer of the Year. The three were honored July 15 during FLABOTA’s annual awards banquet at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida where the keynote address was given by Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist. The prestigious awards are bestowed each year on the individuals who represent the highest standards of protecting the integrity of Florida’s civil trial system.“Judge Greer, Judge Whittemore and Chuck Baumberger each have made significant contributions to the betterment of Florida’s trial system, not just this year, but throughout their careers,” said Herman Russomanno, president of FLABOTA. “They each have made a profound impact in Florida’s courts, with their peers, and in their respective communities.”
As Jurist of the Year, the Honorable George W. Greer, Circuit Judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court since 1993, was recognized for outstanding service and dedication and integrity as a circuit judge for the citizens of the state of Florida. He was selected because he exemplifies the criteria for the award, not the least of which include following the rule of law and applying it evenhandedly; demanding professionalism from all lawyers; and maintaining open and accessible working relationships with the trial bar.
Judge Greer received his bachelors’ degree from Florida State University (1964) and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law (1966). He was first elected to the circuit court in 1992 and re-elected in 1998 and 2004. Since taking office, he has served in the Juvenile, Probate and Guardianship, Criminal Law and Family Law Divisions. In 1999-2000, Judge Greer served as Chair of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, the statewide organization of more than 500 circuit judges in Florida. In October 1994, Greer was presented the Mary Zeller Award by the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program as the child advocate for the Sixth Circuit. He has also received recognition and numerous distinguished jurist awards by the Clearwater, St. Petersburg, West Pasco, and Hillsborough Bar Associations, the Florida State Guardian’s Association, and the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Judge Greer also served on the Advisory Board of the Clearwater Salvation Army and is a member of the Clearwater Rotary Club.
The other Jurist of the Year Award recipient, the Honorable James D. Whittemore, United States District Judge, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, was nominated for appointment as U. S. District Judge in October 1999 by President Clinton, and was unanimously confirmed by the U. S. Senate to take office in May 2000. Judge Whittemore was first appointed to the circuit court bench in February 1990 by then-Governor Bob Martinez, and was re-elected without opposition in 1991 and 1996. He presided over the General Civil Division “G” of the 13th Judicial Circuit, after previously serving as Administrative Judge in Plant City over general civil, probate, criminal and family law cases.
Judge Whittemore graduated in 1974 from the University of Florida with honors and earned his J.D. degree at Stetson College of Law in 1977. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He is a past president of the William Glenn Terrell Inn of Court, past president of the Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, former director of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and past chair of Florida Bar Grievance Committee 13A. He has received several awards including Outstanding Jurist Awards from the Hillsborough County Bar Young Lawyers Division and The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, the 2001 Judicial Achievement Award presented to him by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Stetson University College of Law.
“Both Judge Greer and Judge Whittemore, through their efforts in dealing with the Schiavo case, have distinguished themselves as jurists willing to follow the rule of law in the face of unprecedented pressure from sections of the public, the executive, and legislative branches,” said Brad Powers, president of the Tampa Bay Chapter of ABOTA which unanimously nominated the judges as co-Jurists of the Year. “Both jurists are deserving of this award given their professional handling of the Schiavo matter. They have greatly honored the civil justice system that our organization seeks to protect.”
Charles H. (Chuck) Baumberger, recipient of FLABOTA’s 2005 Trial Lawyer of the Year award, was recognized for his superb reputation of high ethics and fair play. He has had a distinguished legal career as an outstanding member of the plaintiffs bar. Baumberger, a founding partner with Rossman, Baumberger, Reboso & Spier, P.A. in Miami, received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University (1963) and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law (1966). His experience as a trial advocate began more than 38 years ago in Miami. He has recovered numerous multi-million dollar jury awards and settlements for his clients, including a 7-figure verdict in 1973 at the age of 32, the youngest lawyer in the country to do so. He has won professional distinction for his representation of plaintiffs in medical malpractice, defective products, premises liability, railroad, aviation and other substantial liability cases. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial by The Florida Bar and in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is also listed in Who’s Who in American Law. His peers have regularly voted him among South Florida’s top lawyers in the South Florida Legal Guide.
Chuck Baumberger served as President of the Miami Chapter of ABOTA in 1995, the same year that chapter won the National Chapter of the Year Award. In 2000, he served as President of FLABOTA, and turned the Annual Meeting into a “think tank” to discuss the purposes of FLABOTA and its future. As a result of the energy and ideas produced by that session, FLABOTA has grown into the active state organization that it is today. Chuck has served as a National Board Representative for 10 years, including roles as Chair of the Key Person Committee and currently, the Chair of the Legislative Analysis Fund.
Outside the courtroom, Baumberger has distinguished himself through his generosity to both his profession and his community. Chuck has held leadership positions as chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar; President of the Dade County Bar Association; a founding member of the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association; Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; and Fellow of the International Society of Barristers.
“Chuck is a person of excellent character and absolute integrity. He has continually practiced law by exhibiting the highest level of superior skills and recognized ability in trial practice” said Joe Kalbac, President of the Miami chapter of ABOTA which nominated Baumberger for the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. “Chuck is an outstanding trial lawyer who has served the best interest of the legal profession by continually advocating the right to jury trial and by promoting the highest standards and techniques of trial advocacy. We cannot conceive of a more deserving, dignified and finer example of what a plaintiff’s trial lawyer should be, and therefore, our chapter was honored to nominate Chuck as FLABOTA’s Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2005.”
