Letters.

Dignity in Law

Congratulations are due Bar President Tad Aronovitz on his leadership in spearheading the much-needed awareness campaign, Dignity in Law.

As the incoming president of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida -- consisting of all active and retired county court judges throughout Florida -- one of my goals is to enlist more judges to serve on our Public Education on the Court Teams (PECTS) and educate the public on the role and function of our courts. We, too, are disappointed in the public's perception that we are "Judge Judy" or one of the many tyrant judges portrayed on the movie screen. I would like to offer our support, involvement, and partnership in this campaign.

Judge Beth Bloom

Miami

I think that Tod Aronovitz will make a wonderful Bar president, but I disagree with his voluntary plea for money in order to polish up the image of Florida lawyers. Our loss of status, as well as any one-sided perception of lawyers, has its genesis in a lack of civility and respect in our dealings with each other. Clients come to depositions and see us at our worst. Jurors see lawyers put on a display in a courtroom that is often designed for anything but to lead to the truth.

Of course, I am not speaking of all lawyers or even the majority of lawyers in Florida. I am addressing the fact that lawyers need to improve on their substance rather than figure out how to create a better image. The better image will come with a better substance, and for this we do not need to contribute $45. We simply need to resolve among ourselves that we will treat each other as professionals in a common cause with a noble purpose. Once this is understood and practiced, then the image will follow the substance and the "whole story" will be laid bare for all to see.

Howard J. Hollander

Miami

As chair of the Board of Legal Specialization and Education for the coming year, I want the membership to know the board will support the Dignity in Law campaign.

The board in recent years has been emphasizing not only the usual certification standards of experience and expertise in an area of law, but also the manner in which the practitioner holds himself or herself out to their colleagues and the public they serve.

The Board of Legal Specialization and Education stands ready to assist President Tod Aronovitz' efforts this coming year.

L. Norman Vaughan-Birch

Sarasota

If the "Dignity in Law" program is truly "use the same new communications techniques that large corporations use to manage business reputations," as President Tod Aronovitz explains in his ad in the June 1 News, then he ought to consider one of the more important aspects of corporate communications "techniques." That is, not everyone in the corporation maintains his or her own media outlet.

While Mr. Aronovitz may use some polished technique in his attempt to convince the public lawyers are "good," most people still will see the full-page ads in the telephone book, the 30-second TV spots, and the unsightly billboards pleading with people to "come on in and sue someone."

It is that kind of communication which creates the image of the...