PRESENTED BY:
Florida Rural Legal Services FRLS.ORG
ASK FRLS ABOUT:
Pro Bono on Demand (Virtual)
OCT. 24, 2025 19TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
BENCH BAR
Conference
A day filled with insightful discussions, CLE and CJE learning opportunities, and valuable professional networking.
Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa
Gary Lesser, Esq. Keynote Speaker
Meet Some of Our Conference Speakers: Judge Alan O. Forst 4th District Court of Appeal Judge
Catherine S. Eaton, Esq. The Eaton Family Law Firm, P.A.
Chief Judge Charles A. Schwab 19th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge
Gary Lesser, Esq. Former FL Bar President Larry, Lesser, Smith, and Siegel, PLLC
Iola Mosley, Esq
FRLS Treasure Coast Regional Managing Attorney
Judge Jeffrey W. Hendriks 19 Judicial Circuit St. Lucie County Judge th
Kanisha Taylor, Esq. FRLS Palm Beach County Regional Managing Attorney
Leticia MedinaRichman, Esq.
FRLS Executive Director
Michael Borlaug Capstone IT Services
Judge Rebecca White 19th Judicial Circuit Judge
Judge Sherwood Bauer, Jr. 19th Judicial Circuit Judge
Judge Steven J. Levin 19th Judicial Circuit Judge
PRESENTED BY:
Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa
Florida Rural Legal Services FRLS.ORG
Bench Bar Agenda 7:30 a.m. 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Registration Opens Location: Sea Turtle Foyer
Continental Breakfast
Location: Loggerhead Ballroom Breakfast Sponsored By:
8:30 8:40 a.m.
8:40 – 9:30 a.m.
19th Judicial Circuit Bench Bar Conference Welcome Presented by: Iola Mosley, Esq., FRLS Fort Pierce Regional Managing Attorney Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Ethics and Professionalism Presented by: Judge Jeffrey W. Hendriks, 19th Judicial Circuit St. Lucie County Judge Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Break
Discussion And Insights 9:30 – 10:20 a.m.
Moderator: Chief Judge Charles A. Schwab Panelists: Judge Jeffrey W. Hendriks Judge Jennifer Alcorta Waters Judge Rebecca White Judge Sherwood Bauer, Jr. Judge Steven J. Levin Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
10:20 10:25 a.m.
11:20 a.m.– 12:10 p.m. Part 1
Presentation of Pro Bono Beacon of Hope Awards
Recipients: Carl J. Domino, Esq. Jason D. Berger, Esq. Jessica M. VanValkenburgh, Esq. Steven A. Messer, Esq. Presented by: Agnes Lambert, Esq., FRLS Pro Bono Coordinator Britt Berg, Esq., FRLS Pro Bono Manager Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
10:25 - 10:40 a.m. 10:40 – 11:20 a.m.
19th Judicial Circuit Round-Up
Location: Sea Turtle Foyer
Keynote Address: Mentoring, Professionalism and the Future of the Legal Profession
Speaker: Gary Lesser, Esq., Larry, Lesser, Smith, and Siegel, PLLC Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Mental Health Awareness in the Legal Profession Leading with Strength and Compassion: Elevating Legal Teams Through Purpose-Driven Leadership Presented by: Kanisha S. Taylor, Esq., FRLS Regional Managing Attorney Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
PRESENTED BY:
Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa
Florida Rural Legal Services FRLS.ORG
11:20 a.m.– 12:10 p.m. Part 2
Mental Health Awareness in the Legal Profession Absorption Vulnerabilities: Through the Legal Lens - Recognizing and Managing the Hidden Costs of Caring in the Practice of Law Presented by: Jennifer Sees, LCSW; iMind Chief Clinical Officer Stephany Eddowes, iMind Director of Business Development Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Luncheon Buffet 12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
12:10 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Loggerhead Ballroom
Greetings from the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Florida Bar
Lunch Sponsored By:
Presented by: Arti Hirani, Esq., Young Lawyer Division President Location: Loggerhead Ballroom
12:45 – 12:55 p.m.
Conference Address from FRLS
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Appellate Procedures Case Update - 4th DCA
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
Presented by: Leticia Medina-Richman, Esq., Executive Director Location: Loggerhead Ballroom
Presented by Judge Alan O. Forst, 4th District Court of Appeal Judge Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Choice of Breakout Session I
Probate and Guardianship
Presented by: Judge Rebecca White, 19th Judicial Circuit Steve R. Wilson, Esq., Rossway, Swan, Tierney, Barry, and Oliver, P.L. Judge Steven J. Levin, 19th Judicial Circuit Location: Loggerhead Ballroom
Disaster Relief Presented by: Kevin Sarlo, Esq., Equal Justice Works Fellow at FRLS Peter Dennis, Esq., FRLS Fort Myers Regional Managing Attorney Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Electronic Filing and Case Management St. Lucie County Clerk’s Office Panelists: Donna Follmer, Esq., Director of Compliance Elizabeth Maxwell, E-Portal Administrator Jose Clavijo, Director of Information Technology Michelle R. Miller, Clerk & Comptroller Tanya Green, Chief Operating Officer Location: Kingfish Ballroom
PRESENTED BY:
Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa
Florida Rural Legal Services FRLS.ORG
Afternoon Cookie Break
3:00 - 3:10 p.m.
Location: Sea Turtle Foyer
Choice of Breakout Session II
3:10 – 4:00 p.m. Cybersecurity and AI Presented by: Michael Borlaug, Capstone IT Services Location: Loggerhead Ballroom
Criminal Law – When Mental Health Meets the Law: A Guide to Competency and Sanity
Presented by: Cheo Reid, Esq., Deputy Executive Director, Office of the 15th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Judge Jeffrey W. Hendriks, 19th Judicial Circuit St. Lucie County Judge Schnelle Tonge, Esq., Chief of Mental Health & Social Services, 15th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office
Family Law – Motions Practice and Procedure
Presented by: Judge Charles A. Schwab, 19th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Judge Sherwood Bauer, Jr., 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Location: Kingfish Ballroom
Networking Break
4:00 - 4:10 p.m. Choice of Breakout Session III
4:10 – 5:00 p.m.
Family Law - Collaborative Divorce
Wills and Trusts
Presented by: Catherine S. Eaton, Esq., The Eaton Family Law Firm, P.A.
Presented by: Jamy E. Barreau, Esq., Barreau Legal
Location: Sea Turtle Ballroom
Location: Kingfish Ballroom
Conference Sponsor
FRLS’s Pro Bono on Demand(Virtual)
Pro Bono Program Funded in Part By:
A flexible, low-commitment way for you to give back without ever leaving your desk. How it works: Use our registration calendar to choose a time block that fits your schedule
Meet with clients either in person or via phone call or Zoom Complete paperwork quickly with the help of FRLS Note: To sign up you must be able to work in a secure location and be barred in the state of Florida.
Sign Up Today and Save on Your Next FRLS.org/pro-bono-on-demand Bench Bar Ticket