Each year the Central Florida chapter selects a Trial Lawyer of the Year (alternates between plaintiff and defense), and a Jurist of the Year. These awards are given to central Florida attorneys and judges who exemplify the ideals of ABOTA.
Prior CFLABOTA Award Recipients
2022 Jurist: John E. Jordan
Defense lawyer: Rafael E. Martinez
2021 Jurist: Lisa T. Munyon
Trial lawyer: Dan H. Honeywell
2020 Jurist: Lisa Davidson
Defense lawyer: Dennis O’Connor
2019 Jurist: Alan C. Lawson
Plaintiff lawyer: O. John Alpizar
2018 Jurist: Patricia A. Doherty
Defense lawyer: John W. Bussey, III
2017 Plaintiff lawyer: David King
Jurist: James A. Edwards
2016 Defense lawyer: Walt Ketcham
Jurist: Fred Lauten
2015 Plaintiff lawyer: Butch Wooten
Jurist: Skip Dalton
2014 Defense lawyer: Scott Kirk
Jurist: Vincent Torpy
2013 Plaintiff lawyer: Roger Helms
Jurist: Judge Mihok
2012 Defense lawyer: Jack McEwan
Jurist: Rob Rouse
2011 Plaintiff lawyer: Russell Troutman
Jurist: John Antoon
2010 Defense lawyer: Bud Kirk
Jurist: John Kest
2009 Plaintiff lawyer: Sammy Cacciatore
Jurist: Belvin Perry (FLABOTA award)
2008 Jurist: Bruce Jacobus
Defense lawyer: William B. Wilson
2007 Jurist: Lawrence Kirwood
2004 Defense lawyer: John Fisher (FLABOTA award)
2002 Defense lawyer: Chan Muller (FLABOTA award)
2001 Jurist: William Gridley
1999 Plaintiff lawyer: Mike Maher (FLABOTA award)
1996 Defense lawyer: Leon Handley (FLABOTA award)
Prior judges possibly received it: Emerson Thompson, Alice Blackwell
Prepared by Marybeth McDonald based on reports from prior Presidents of Central Florida chapter and records from FLABOTA. (Please provide any additions or corrections to ExecDir@cflabota.org)