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Dec 5, 2012

Attorneys' Division to Honor Three Exceptional Legal Professionals

The Attorneys’ Division of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will honor and present achievement awards to three dedicated members of the local legal community at its 29th Annual Judicial Reception to be held on January 23, 2013, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail in Miami. The popular event, which includes a cocktail reception, is attended by hundreds of legal professionals from across Miami-Dade County.

Judge William E. Gladstone will be recognized with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished 40-year career on the bench and his vocal advocacy of the rights of dependent children and families. A former Circuit Court Judge, he also served as an Administrative Judge in the Family/Juvenile Division and a Senior Judge before fully retiring in 2011. He also served for a year as the full-time Special Advisor to Florida’s Governor and Secretaries of Health Rehabilitative Services and Corrections on matters of Juvenile Justice and Youthful Offenders. Over the course of his illustrious career, Judge Gladstone has served on the boards of numerous national and community agencies, primarily involved in the areas of juvenile and family law, mental health, human relations, and child and adolescent care and rehabilitation.

Judge John W. Thornton, Jr., the selected recipient of the 2013 Community Service Award, has served as a Circuit Court Judge with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida since 2007. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was a founding partner of the law firm of Thornton & Rothman, P.A. In addition to his many professional accomplishments, he has dedicated significant time and energy to serving the indigent and homeless in our community. He is a Past Chairman of Camillus Health Concern and Past President of the Dade County Bar Association. He also served as President of the Florida Bar Foundation and Chairman of its Legal Services for the Poor Committee.

John W. Kozyak, Esq. will receive the 2013 Honorable Theodore “Ted” Klein Special Recognition Award. He is a founding partner of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A., a Miami-based commercial litigation and bankruptcy law firm. A nationally renowned litigator, he has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America in every edition since1983. Mr. Kozyak also passionately promotes diversity and inclusion opportunities with particular emphasis on mentoring programs for black law school students. He and his wife, Barbara Silverman, also have established the Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation, which hosts an annual minority mentoring picnic that has attracted the participation of more than 3,500 law students, judges, lawyers and guests.

The 29th Annual Judicial Reception is being co-chaired by Solomon Genet and Scott L. Baena.

Couvert for the 29th Annual Judicial Reception is $85 per person, and is not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution. Dietary laws will be observed and there will be no solicitation of funds. For reservations and more information, click here or contact Emily Stone at 786-866-8414 or [email protected]

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