USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia / S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 19, No. 13
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
March 27, 2019
1 Section, 8 Pages
Legal Professionals and the Hollywood Myth
Three legal professionals provide their thoughts on Hollywood’s spin of the legal profession and shared their reality of being a part of the legal community. by Shekka Drayton Geico Staff Counsel
Art imitates life, but for many legal professionals, this imitation is not a form of flattery. Hollywood frequently misses the mark in portraying the legal profession. Legal professionals are an important staple of any community, yet are often cast in polarizing lights in television and film. Three legal professionals provided their thoughts on Hollywood’s spin of the legal profession and shared their reality of being a part of the legal community. These three members of the bar, Judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz, Attorney Aaron Watson and Attorney Randall Etheridge weighed in on the misconceptions of legal professionals in media. When asked about the portrayal of judges on television, Judge Frydrychowicz, an Escambia County Court Judge, said “I think it depends on the show/movie. I do not claim to be a TV or movie buff, but I cannot think of a fictional production that I believe accurately represents me or our local judiciary. Unfortunately, many TV/movie judges are portrayed as “crooked.” They are “working for the mob” or can be bribed.” Her reality could not be further from this portrayal. She went on to add, “I am proud of the work I do, and I am proud of my colleagues. The First Judicial Circuit is fortunate to have fair and impartial judges working hard to ensure justice is done in our community.” Attorney Watson, a personal injury lawyer of The Watson
Firm with offices in Pensacola and Fort Walton, provided his take. “Often times, television and film portrays the legal profession with consistent glamour and quick results. Also, entertainment portrays lawyers as highly wealthy individuals with daily enticing courtroom drama.” Rejecting these assumptions, he clarified, “ While the legal profession can be financially rewarding and glamorous at times, entertainment is very misleading on the time and effort required to reach those results. Court proceedings can be riveting and provide drama for spectators. However, most court proceedings are tedious and require a high amount of preparation.” Attorney Etheridge, a Pensacola criminal defense attorney at his namesake firm, shared the sentiment of Watson, adding, “Television makes lawyers out to be dramatic. It’s overly adversarial. The practice of law is not as combative. I enjoy working with my counterparts at the State Attorney’s Office.” Themes of power, corruption and glamour dominate Hollywood’s portrayal of the legal profession. In combating such stereotypes, Judge Frydrychowicz, Watson, and Etheridge opened up about the most rewarding aspects of their respective careers. “I am so thankful to serve, and I find my job rewarding in more ways than I can count in this article,” Judge Frydrychowicz said. “Most attorneys who
appear before me are new to the practice of law. Many come to me requesting feedback, and I am proud when they take the advice and become better attorneys for it. It is rewarding when they go on to do well in their careers, whether promoted within their offices or out in private practice.” She went on to shed light on her role in Escambia’s specialty courts. “I have presided over T.E.A.M. Court (Escambia County’s Mental Health Court) since January 2016,” she said. “Our participants have small and large victories every time I see them. I share in their joy when they meet their goals, whether it be securing a valid driver’s license, employment, or celebrating reunification with their children.” For Watson, connecting with his clients prove to be the most rewarding part of his career. “Client hugs are the most rewarding to me,” he said. “There is nothing like a genuine hug from a client after winning their case. Just the other day, a client came back to my office and said she just wanted to give me a hug. It literally gave me chill bumps as she explained that she prayed for me every day since I took on the case.” For Etheridge, it is all about being an advocate for his clients. “Helping people who cannot help themselves is the most rewarding,” he said. “I enjoy that more than anything.” Judge Frydrychowicz perfectly reflects the sentiment of the profession in her declaration:
“Overall, my job is rewarding because I have the opportunity to serve others.” In breaking away from the stereotypes of legal professionals in media, consider the active roles each individual serves in their local community. Although her role as a sitting judge keeps her busy, Judge Frydrychowicz still finds time to give back. Judge Frydrychowicz often uses her voice to inspire the next generation of legal professionals, speaking to pre-law students at the University of West Florida, Boy Scout Troops and elementary aged students. Her commitment to education is notable. She has served as a voluntary judge in collegiate and high school mock trial competitions, and she has volunteered to facilitate a program for foreign military students at NAS Pensacola. The program, inspired by the 15-year work of Judge Maney in Okaloosa County, serves as an introduction to the American legal system and is held a few times a year. Judge Frydrychowicz has served as the First Circuit Representative to the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida since 2015, has served as the Legislative Chair for the Conference and has been appointed and certified as a judicial mentor by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. She also facilitated Escambia County’s first Driver’s License Clinic, a “one stop shop” for citizens to interact with local and state agencies and/or the court so that they would be educated on how to regain their
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driving privileges. The success of the program has members of the community hopeful for another clinic next spring. Many would be surprised to learn that Watson is a Guardian Ad Litem. Watson and his wife visit children at their homes each month to check on their wellbeing. “We attend court hearings and speak on behalf of the children assigned to us,” Watson said. “The children are so happy to see us when we visit. As new parents of twin boys, we know the importance of guidance and mentorship in the lives of young children.” Furthermore, Etheridge and his wife give back to the community by volunteering and providing meals at the Waterfront Rescue Mission. The Waterfront Rescue Mission is a social services organization in Pensacola that offers food, emergency shelter, and rehabilitation services to homeless, unemployed or otherwise vulnerable members of the community. Ultimately, even attorneys and judges are not immune from Hollywood’s grand departures from reality and hyperbole. It’s dedicated members like Judge Frydrychowicz, Watson and Etheridge who prove that legal professionals are far from the typecasts portrayed in the media. They are volunteers, advocates, and parishioners. They are everyday members of the community with personalities and interests as diverse as the people they serve.
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