The Founding of the Inn
In 1991, Judge John M. Scheb, then preparing to retire from a
long career on Florida's Second District Court of Appeal, asked a
core group of lawyers and judges to establish an Inn in Sarasota
County. On June 21, 1991, the American Inns of Court Foundation
chartered the Sarasota County American Inn of Court as Inn
#139.
The new charter was accepted by Judge Chris W. Altenbernd, then
Judge Scheb's newest colleague on the Second District Court of
Appeal, and a Master in the William Glenn Terrell Inn of Court in
Tampa, Joryn Jenkins, Esq., a trustee of the American Inns of Court
Foundation, and Debra J. Sutton, Esq., a former staff attorney of
Judge Scheb who had assisted him in organizing an Inn of Court in
Polk County.
In addition to Judge Scheb, the subscribers to our charter were:
Hon. Stephen L. Dakan, Hon. James W. Whatley, Charles J. Bartlett,
Esq., Jill H. Breslau, Esq., Theodore C. Eastmoore, Esq., G. Hunter
Gibbons, Esq., Claire L. Hamner, Esq., M. Joseph Lieb, Jr., Esq.,
A. Lamar Matthews, Jr., Esq., Frank Strelec, Esq.
The officers elected to serve the first term were Judge Scheb,
President; Frank Strelec, Vice President (Counselor); Claire L.
Hamner, Secretary and Theodore C. Eastmoore, Treasurer.
The Renaming of the Inn
In the Spring of 1994, the membership voted to change the name
of the Inn to
The Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court. The Inn was
renamed as a tribute to Judge Scheb, who represents the ideals of
legal excellence, ethics, civility and professionalism. Judge
Scheb passed away in 2010.
Judge Scheb had
a distinguished record of public service. A Florida native and
long-time resident of Sarasota, he received his B.A. from Florida
Southern College and his LL.B (now J.D.) from the University of
Florida College of Law in 1950. In 1984 he earned the LL.M. in
judicial process from the University of Virginia. He holds honorary
doctor of humanities and law degrees from Florida Southern and
Stetson, respectively.
Judge Scheb
practiced law in Sarasota from 1950- 1974, serving as City Attorney
from 1959-1970. He served as a Judge of the Second District Court
of Appeal from 1975-1992 including a term as Chief Judge from
1980-1982.
Judge Scheb
served as a reserve Judge-Advocate in the U. S. Air Force and as an
adjunct instructor of criminal law at Florida Southern College. He
co-authored textbooks on criminal law and procedure and appellate
practice, and is was a Distinguished Professorial Lecturer at
Stetson University College of Law. The American Inns of Court
Foundation conferred upon him the A. Sherman Christensen Award in
1994. In 1997 the Florida Bar awarded him the James C. Adkins Award
for significant contributions in the field of appellate
practice.
May 10, 2016 25th Anniversary Gala Judge John M. Scheb American
Inn of Court
Documentary
Film Premiere-- Legacy of Professionalism: John M. Scheb and Our
Inn of Court