Lawyers must educate the public about merit retention.

Comparing this fall's merit retention elections with an attorney's responsibility to revere the law in both public and private, Bar President-elect designate Gene Pettis encouraged attendees at the Young Lawyers Division Affiliate Outreach Conference to educate voters in their communities on the role the judiciary plays in state and federal government.

With three Florida Supreme Court justices and 15 appellate judges up for merit retention, Pettis told the young lawyers he believes merit retention is one of the most important issues the Bar faces this year.

"We've removed the judges from the political system," said Pettis, recognizing Florida voters' decision in 1976 to have judges face no opponents in retention elections rather than campaign for votes in a regular election, "but I'll tell you that there are those who are not happy with the system."

Pettis reminded audience members that while the Florida Supreme Court reviews about 15,000 cases during its term, some special interest groups choose to take issue with one, single opinion.

That, he said, is the problem. "We should not allow one single decision that a judge made--on the law or statutory interpretation--that you might not have liked, but that's the rule of law--to drive that judge out.

"As a [unified] Florida Bar, we can't go out and advocate for any of the great justices ... but we can go out and educate the public on the process, and the importance of making sure that the public understands the significance of this particular merit retention program."

Pettis referenced the 2010 retention...