Civics Program at the Federal Courthouse

On April 27, 2017, the Tampa Bay Chapter held a civics program at the federal courthouse. It was a great program, with participation from several local high schools.

Retirement Reception in honor of U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Jenkins

On April 28, 2016, the Tampa Bay Chapter hosted a retirement celebration in honor of retiring United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Jenkins. The event was held at Le Meridien Tampa, a historic building that was once the United States Courthouse for the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida. The hotel was selected for its special significance to Judge Jenkins, who began her career as a federal judge when sworn in at that courthouse. The venue was filled to capacity by members of the Tampa Bay Chapter, Judge Jenkins’ colleagues from throughout the Middle District of Florida, and the judge’s special guests. The program included remarks from the Honorable Charles Wilson, Circuit Judge, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Honorable Steven Merryday, Chief Judge, Middle District of Florida, with additional remarks by representatives of Judge Jenkins’ law clerks and her family.














Chambers Lunch

On February 19, 2016, the Federal Bar Association’s Tampa Bay Chapter hosted its first Chambers Lunch with Middle District of Florida Judge Virginia Covington. The Chambers Lunch is a small-group lunch intended to facilitate unique and meaningful interaction between the Judge and members of the Tampa Bay Chapter. Judge Covington was eager to discuss her previous work experience with the ten attendees. She is particularly proud of her work as Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Section in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Judge Covington also spoke with the attendees about her efforts to ensure efficiency in issuing orders and decisions, describing the courtroom technology available to the Judge and her staff to track and manage her case load. Judge Covington ended the lunch with a tour of her chambers and courtroom. This Chambers Lunch is the first of an anticipated series of Chambers Lunches in 2016.


In Spring 2016, the Tampa Bay Chapter hosted two Chambers Lunches with U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington and U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich. The Chambers Lunch is a small-group lunch intended to facilitate unique and meaningful interaction between judges and members of the Tampa Bay Chapter. Judges gave short presentations about their time on the bench and took questions from participants.

View From the Bench: Lunch with a Panel of Judges from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

September 17, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Location: The University Club, One Tampa City Center, Suite 3800, Tampa, FL 33602

2008 Annual Federal Civil Seminar

September 19, 2008
Speakers: Hon. Susan Bucklew, Richard Lazzara, Mary Scriven, and Elizabeth Jenkins, Sylvia Walbolt, John DeVault III, Chris Knopik, and many more.
Topics include federal civil procedure, ethics, sanctions, juries, and more. Program includes lunch wiht your Middle District of Florida federal bench.
Location: The University Club

Reception for Hon. Beverley McLachlin

February 24, 2009
The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association hosted a Reception for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Beverley McLachlin. Justice McLachlin is the first woman to hold that position.

Luncheon with Hon. Michael G. Williamson at the Bankruptcy Court in the U.S. District Courthouse in Tampa

March 23, 2009
Judge Williamson will be speaking on Evidence in Commercial Cases: Application of Essential Concepts. The luncheon is from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and its part of our brown bag lunch series, where different district court, magistrate, and bankruptcy court judges in the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida speak on various topics of interest. Persons attending are permitted to bring their lunch, and listen to a presentation in a small-group setting.

The Eighteenth Annual National Seminar on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines

May 21–22, 2009
Presented by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the FBA and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in cooperation with the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section
The latest issues of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines will be discussed with some of the top experts in the field attending. The Seminar is open to the public.
Location: The Hilton, Clearwater Beach, Florida