October 2012 Bankers Club Luncheon

On October 10, 2012, the Federal Bar Association’s South Florida Chapter hosted a panel discussion titled Narrowing the Field, which featured current and past chairs of Florida’s state-wide Federal Judicial Nominating Commission and its Southern District Conference.

The panel, comprised of Thomas Schultz, a highly-regarded practitioner in South Florida, and Roberto Martinez and Kendall Coffey—both former U.S. Attorneys—discussed the nominating process for U.S. District Judges, U.S. Marshals, and U.S. Attorneys. They also fielded questions from the audience regarding the history of the JNC, the qualifications it seeks in applicants, to what extent, if any, the nomination process is “political,” and the challenges associated with seeking qualified applicants from private practice.

The panelists agreed that the primary characteristic they look for in applicants is an even and fair temperament. All also remarked that it was a distinct honor, if not the greatest of their professional careers, to be a part of the nominating process.