About the Inn
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We're live for 2026-27! Our inaugural year is underway.
The Second DCA's long-awaited move to its St. Petersburg headquarters in 2025 breathed life into a nascent community desire for a new appellate-focused Inn of Court. A few intrepid attorneys from diverse backgrounds took up the cause and grew the movement. With the support of the court and the expressed interest of dozens of local attorneys and students, it was just a matter of putting it all together.
We're proud to announce that the Second District Appellate American Inn of Court received its Charter from the American Inns of Court in the spring of 2026. The Inn serves judges, attorneys, and students from throughout the six counties of Florida's Second District.
Our inaugural class was seated this summer, and the Inn held its first meeting in August 2026. What was a dream a year ago is now a reality.
Meetings and Programs
The program year kicked off in August with an orientation and welcome meeting.
Thereafter, the Inn will have a total of six mandatory general meetings—three in the fall (September, October, November) and three in the spring (February, March, April). All meetings are held at the Second District Court of Appeal on Mirror Lake in St. Petersburg, Florida, usually on the third Thursday of the month, unless otherwise noted. Meetings are held over the lunch hour and lunch will be served.
The dates for the mandatory meetings are as follows:
- September 17, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- November 19, 2026
- February 4, 2027 (first Thursday)
- March 18, 2027
- April 15, 2027
The Inn's membership is divided into six pupillages. Second District Judges and Masters of the Bench will lead each pupillage with the goal of providing each person--no matter their background--a unique and worthwhile experience in mentorship, collegiality, research, project development, and public speaking. And appellate practice, of course.
Each pupillage will be assigned one general meeting at which they will present a 50-minute program investigating some aspect of appellate practice in Florida appellate courts. Pupillages are encouraged to leverage the varied experiences of their groups and the creativity of their members to develop a program that is as interesting or unique as it is educational. All members of the Inn receive CLE credit for attending each presentation, and we hope to also obtain CJE credit for judges who attend.
The year will close with a social event in May, where the members can enjoy reminiscing over the past year with the connections made through shared experience.
Membership Make-Up
Membership in the Inn is by invitation following a fair and impartial application process. Applicants will be grouped by the number of years they have practiced. These categories are Pupils (law students), Associates (0-5 years), Barristers (5 to 15 years), and Masters of the Bench (more than 15 years and all judges).
When selecting the Inn's membership, the Executive Committee must ensure that each pupillage will incorporate diversity of experience, both in time and in area. This is a core feature of the American Inns of Court. Space in the Inn is limited both by the physical size of our meeting space and in the interest of maintaining a workable size for each pupillage to encourage active involvement for everyone.
Those applicants who are not selected for any given year should not consider it a judgment on their qualifications. We encourage people to reapply for following years.
Cost
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A focus of this Inn has and will be financial and practical accessibility for all. For example, unlike many other inns, all mandatory meetings are held during lunch hours. And those lunches will be simple to keep costs down.
Your low membership fee covers your six lunches, national dues, and other administrative costs for the Inn. The 2026-27 fee schedule is as follows:
Government
- Master of the Bench (> 15 years or judiciary) - $275.00
- Barrister (5 years ≤ 15 years) - $225.00
- Associate (< 5 years) - $175.00
Non-Government
- Master of the Bench (> 15 years) - $375.00
- Barrister (5 years ≤ 15 years) - $325.00
- Associate (< 5 years) - $275.00
- Pupil (law student or awaiting bar results) - $100.00
Applications
Applications for the 2026-27 inaugural year are closed, and our inaugural class has been seated. Applications for the 2027-28 year will open next year. Follow us on social media using the links just below, and we'll let you know as soon as they open.