Board Candidates

President

Danielle Scola-Harris

Eighth Judicial Circuit, Alachua County

    

Danielle joined the Eighth Judicial Circuit as a Staff Attorney in 2022 focusing primarily on postconviction relief and criminal law research. Danielle joined FTCSAA in 2022 and also serves as the President-Elect Designate in the Young-Lawyers Division of the Eight Judicial Circuit Bar Association.

Despite self-identifying as a Floridian, Danielle was born in New Jersey and raised in southwest Florida. She studied at the University of Florida where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2018, and the University of Tennessee College of Law where she obtained a Juris Doctor with a Concentration in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution in 2022. While attending UTK Law, Danielle served as a research assistant to former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Professor Penny J. White, research editor for The Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender and Social Justice and The Tennessee Journal of Law & Policy. She also served as a student attorney and received a CALI award in recognition of her work in the Advocacy Clinic.

Danielle lives in Gainesville with her lovely wife and their chaotic cocker spaniel, Benjamin. Outside of her work for the court, Danielle enjoys reading, traveling, and gardening.

President-Elect

Dave Beaumont

Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County

Dave Beaumont is a senior trial court staff attorney with the Tenth Judicial Circuit, working in the felony divisions. Before becoming a staff attorney almost five years ago, Mr. Beaumont had a private practice, specializing in estate planning. Before that, he worked for a litigation firm that focused on small-business disputes. Mr. Beaumont has served on the FTCSAA Planning Committee for the past three years. Mr. Beaumont graduated from Cooley Law School in 2016, where he served as editor of the law review. Law is a third career for Mr. Beaumont, after being a high-school Math teacher back in the 1900s and then a systems engineer in I.T. Mr. Beaumont is a life-long musician and, to this day, moonlights as banjo player in the Myakka River Boys and a guitar player in the Hwy 41 South bluegrass band. Mr. Beaumont is a Florida native: born in Orlando; raised in San Antonio, Florida; and now makes his home in Fort Lonesome, in Hillsborough County.

Secretary

Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County

Amber Hickman (née Perkins) joined the Ninth Judicial Circuit as a Staff Attorney in January 2023. She quickly joined the Florida Trial Court Staff Attorney Association as a member in her first year as a Staff Attorney. Prior to her employment as a Staff Attorney, Amber practiced in the Ninth Judicial Circuit as an Assistant Public Defender.

Treasurer

Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County

Jamie Brown is a Senior Staff Attorney with the Ninth Judicial Circuit and has served in that role for five years. He primarily handles civil matters, especially motions for summary judgment. He graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. He also earned his Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law. He is currently pursuing, part-time, a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences—Infectious Disease at the University of Central Florida.

His two feline paw-ralegals, Arthur and Lancelot, may have made an appearance in the background of virtual meetings. In his free time, he enjoys video games (perhaps a little too much), movies, and reading. When the weather cools, he also likes visiting the theme parks.

First DCA Representative

Choung Mi Akehurst

Third Judicial Circuit, Columbia County

Choung Mi Akehurst is a Senior Trial Court Staff Attorney with the Third Judicial Circuit handling all seven counties. Ms. Akehurst has approximately 24 years of legal experience with 13 years as a Senior Trial Court Staff Attorney. Ms. Akehurst primarily works in criminal post-conviction cases. Prior to working as a staff attorney Ms. Akehurst worked as an Assistant State Attorney, Assistant Public Defender, and as a Senior Attorney at the Florida Department of Children and Families. Ms. Akehurst graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from New York University, Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law, and an LLM in International Crime and Justice from University of Turin.

Second DCA Representative

Jessica Hathaway

Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County

Jessica Hathaway is a staff attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, serving in the Civil and Appellate Divisions. A native of the Florida Panhandle, she earned a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University, majoring in political science and interdisciplinary social sciences, with a minor in psychology and a concentration in economics. She received her Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law, where she was recognized as a Dean’s Scholar and earned book awards in both Common Interest Communities and Residential Real Estate Transactions.

After graduating from law school, Jessica spent nearly a decade at a well-established real estate law firm in St. Petersburg before founding her own mediation firm. As a mediator, she handled hundreds of cases in the Sixth and Twelfth Judicial Circuits. She has been a member of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and has volunteered her time with Lawyers for Literacy, the Community Law Program, and the Twelfth Judicial Circuit’s Citizen Dispute Settlement Program.

Third DCA Representative

Catherine McManus

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County

Catherine McManus is an Assistant General Counsel with twelve years’ experience in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.  Catherine is assigned to the Appellate Division, and previously worked in the Complex Business Litigation Division. She was honored to receive the G.E.M. (Going the Extra Mile) in 2018 at work, as well as recognition for her volunteer work on the Circuit’s law library fundraiser.  She graduated from FIU on a full tennis scholarship, received her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, and recently completed her LLM in taxation (online) at Boston University.  Catherine uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage her colleagues to succeed and work hard.  She is inspired by her parents, four siblings, and nine nieces and nephews.  In her free time, Catherine helps to advance voting rights through her membership on the League of Women Voters, enhances members in their public speaking skills in her Board position for Toastmasters, and works on her backhand in her tennis tournaments.

Fourth DCA Representative

Eric Weisberg

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County

Eric Weisberg is a Senior Staff Attorney working in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit since August 2016. Eric works in the General Civil Division while also serving as the current Staff Attorney Appeals and Writs Coordinator. Prior, Eric spent 4 years working in the Probate Division of the Staff Attorney’s Office. Eric is the immediate past 4th DCA Representative.

Eric was born and raised in Broward County, Florida. He attended Florida State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree, having double majored in Political Science and Criminology & Criminal Justice with a minor in Religion. Thereafter, Eric received his Juris Doctor, graduating Cum Laude from St. Thomas University School of Law, where he also received a Certificate in Elder Law. Before working for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Staff Attorney’s office, Eric worked in private practice for a small law firm in Pembroke Pines, focusing on Probate, Guardianship, Foreclosure and Landlord/ Tenant law. He currently lives in Weston, Florida with his Wife, 11-year-old daughter, 3-year-old son, and Goldendoodles, Ollivander and Milo.

Fifth DCA Representative

Katie Bowman

Fifth Judicial Circuit, Marion County

Katie Bowman is currently the supervising trial court staff attorney in the Fifth Circuit.  She is headquartered in Marion County.  She started as a staff attorney in April 2012.  Currently, she works on all dockets in Marion County, including the felony docket, the civil docket, and the appellate panel, as well as supervises the other staff attorneys throughout the circuit.  She received her B.A. in criminology and sociology in 2008 from the University of South Florida and her J.D. in 2011 from Florida Coastal School of Law.  She joined the Florida Trial Court Staff Attorney Association in 2012 and has previously served as the at-large representative from 2021-2022.  She loves to travel and make delicious baked goods and is a new mom!

Sixth DCA Representative

Antoinette Romano

Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County

Antoinette Romano has been a Staff Attorney since 2019 and is currently an Assistant Supervising Staff Attorney with the Ninth Circuit. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology in December 2015. She then obtained her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law in 2019. While in law school, Antoinette was a research assistant and served as Secretary and President of the Women Lawyers Association.

Antoinette joined FTCSAA in 2019 and has been a member of the Board since 2022. She currently serves as FTCSAA’s 6th DCA Representative and is a member of the Nominating Committee. Antoinette is also an active member of the Orange County Bar Association, serving on the Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors and co-chairing the Investitures Committee and Mentoring Committee.

In her free time, Antoinette enjoys reading, attending concerts and shows, and spending time with her dog, friends, and family.