CFACDL Presents:

A Ceremony for the

Honorable Gary L. Formet, Sr.
and
Joseph W. DuRocher Foot Soldier of the Constitution
Awards

The Honorable Gary L. Formet, Sr. Award, is named after one of the circuit’s most respected judges, and is given annually to a judge who exemplifies knowledge of the law, fairness, compassion, integrity, and respect in the courtroom.

Recipient:

Retired Justice James E.C. Perry 　

A native of New Bern, North Carolina, James E. C. Perry was appointed as the 85th Justice to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Charlie Crist and took office there on March 11, 2009. Before his appointment, he served as a Circuit judge of Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit upon his appointment by Governor Jeb Bush in March 2000. Justice Perry was the first African-American appointed to the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit and would later serve as Chief Judge of the Circuit for a two-year term beginning July 2003.

Justice Perry has received numerous honors and awards including the 3rd Annual Puerto Rican Bar Association’s Moot Court Competition Award in 2014, the 2014 Key to the City of Titusville Award for recognition of his dedication and extraordinary commitment to Justice, the Florida Memorial University’s President’s Award in 2014, the North Brevard County Branch NAACP’s Award of Appreciation for outstanding and exemplary service to this nation in fall 2014, the Seminole County NAACP Humanitarian Award, the Orange County Chapter NAACP Paul C. Perkins Award, and the 2005 Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Social Justice. In 2004, Justice Perry was honored by his hometown, New Bern, North Carolina, receiving the “Key to the City.” In 2005, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) selected Justice Perry as one of four individuals to be profiled during its national broadcast of An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence. Justice Perry received the prestigious Williams-Johnson Outstanding Jurist of the Year Award for 2006 from the Brevard and Seminole County Bar Associations.

Justice Perry retired from the Florida Supreme Court on December 30, 2016.

The Joseph W. DuRocher Foot Soldier of the Constitution Award, is given to a criminal defense attorney who exemplifies the actions of a true criminal defense lawyer.  They fight for their client’s rights, as well as improving the Criminal Justice system as a whole.

Recipient:

Roger L. Weeden　

1972-1973 Community Organizer w/ VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) 1974-1976 HRS, Child Protective Service Worker Investigating Child Abuse & Neg. Initiating Court Action when appropriate & necessary. Appearing before the Circuit Court Judge Joseph DuRocher, Juv. Div. Ninth Cir. 1979 DePaul Univ. College of Law, JD, 3L Internship Cook County GAL program, Summer Assoc. Law Office of Joseph Durocher 1979 Florida Bar; 1980 Illinois Bar 1979-1980 Attorney with Law Office of Joseph DuRocher 1981-1990 Asst. PD Ninth Judicial Circuit Joseph DuRocher Public Defender 1990-Present Law Office of Roger L. Weeden, Criminal Trial Practice State and Federal

Legal Associations and Pro Bono Activities　

National Lawyer’s Guild Mass Defense Committee National Police Accountability Project.  Pro Bono Defense of 13 Occupy Orlando Protestors through personal representation and recruitment of local defense lawyers. Pro Bono representation of accused citizens subjected to excessive force. Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Election Protection – Voter Rights Project. Criminal Justice Project – Bail Reform. Federal Bar Pro Se Project Representation of Inmates in Federal Ct Prisoner Rights Project. Pro Bono representation in State v Jaime Silva,1992 Serving life for homicide committed as juvenile 2016 obtained his outright release without further sanctions or supervision.

Significant Legal Accomplishments　

Researched and Drafted “Eyewitness ID Instruction” State v. Marquis Smith, Judge Komanski gave instruction and sent to Fla. Sup. Ct. Rules Com. as model for current pattern instruction. Extensive representation of accused homicide defendants obtained full acquittal or exonerations for 10 individuals. 2016 State v Alyssa Hogan-McCarthren, accused of spousal murder; obtained acquittal utilizing “Stand Your Ground” defense in lieu of Battered Spouse Syndrome. Currently representing two clients in Capital cases State v Juan Rosario and State v Markeith Loyd. Representing juvenile accused of attempted murder on LEO State v Edward Kelty.

Where:

Quantum Leap Winery
1312 Wilfred Drive
Orlando, FL 32803

 When:

Wednesday

May 3rd, 2017
6pm to 9pm

A Special Thank  You to All Members and Guests Who Were Able to Attend