Florida Justice Association Honors Legacy Leaders, Introduces New Award
Event summary
- Florida Justice Association honored Alexander 'Zander' Clem with the Perry Nichols Award for leadership in civil justice.
- John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, made a rare public appearance to present the award.
- Eric Romano and Nancy Romano were honored for their multigenerational contributions to the FJA.
- Alex Ortega Gomez received the BJ and Tom Masterson Award for ethical professionalism and public defense work.
- Chris Searcy became the inaugural recipient of the new Legate Award for his $1M+ donation and decades of leadership.
The big picture
The Florida Justice Association's annual luncheon underscores the organization's deep-rooted legacy and its role as a benchmark for state trial lawyer associations. The event highlights a strategic emphasis on compassionate advocacy and institutional memory, while the introduction of the Legate Award signals confidence in the FJA's growing influence. The honors reflect a profession where leadership extends beyond legal victories to include significant personal and financial investments in the civil justice system.
What we're watching
- Legacy Continuity
- How the FJA will sustain multigenerational family involvement in its leadership.
- Institutional Growth
- Whether the creation of new awards like the Legate signals expanding influence and resources.
- Public Service Impact
- The pace at which public defense work gains prominence within the FJA's recognition framework.