Linnes Finney, Jr.
Partner

221 East Osceola Street
Stuart, FL 34994

(772) 283-8260
FAX: (772) 463-1205

Linnes Finney, Jr. has spent the last 24 years building an exemplary career in the legal profession. He is a partner with the Stuart, Florida law firm of Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson & Sperando, one of the nation’s most distinguished, and his practice areas are Personal Injury, Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Police Misconduct, Medical Malpractice and General Civil Litigation.

Mr. Finney was recently (August 2006) inaugurated as the 64th President of the National Bar Association, the nation’s oldest and largest bar association of color. The organization’s network exceeds 40,000 African-American judges, lawyers, educators and law students. As president, Mr. Finney has elected a theme of, “National Bar Association – Carrying the Torch, Leading by Example,” wherein he will assure that the organization continues to illuminate the path to an independent judiciary, provide the fair administration of justice as well as equal access to the legal system, expand the pipeline to the legal profession, and urge economic opportunities for all.

A native Georgian, Mr. Finney earned his B.S. from Georgia Southern University and his J.D. from the University of Florida (UF) in 1982. His passion for the legal profession began early in his career, which was evidenced by him serving as President of the Black Law Students Association while a student at UF. He later earned the UF College of Law Student Leadership Award. Since that time, Mr. Finney has consistently given of himself by carrying out leadership and membership responsibilities with an array of organizations, including the Academy of Trial Lawyers of America, the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the Fort Pierce Teen Center Advisory Council, Alpha Health Services, Inc., the Fort Pierce Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinating Committee, the Florida Association for Community Action (FACA), and the Alcohol Drug Treatment Center. Further, Mr. Finney is a member of the Florida Bar Association and past chairman of Judicial Nominations and Procedures Committee. He also served on and served as chair of the judicial nominating committees for the Florida Supreme Court (1996-2000) and the 19th Judicial Circuit (1992-1996).

Mr. Finney is greatly involved in his profession, and he is known as one to give of himself in many capacities to help further the cause of justice. He is a life member of the NAACP and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is a board member and trustee of the United Way of St. Lucie County, and a recent recipient of this organization’s Community Impact Award. Mr. Finney’s other awards and honors include the Florida Bar, Pro Bono Service Award; the Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.’s Robert Bryant Award; and Florida Head Start Association and Region IV Head Start Association’s Humanitarian of the Year.

Mr. Finney is actively involved in his church, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Pierce, FL, where he has been a part of the Steward Board for more than 15 years. He has also served as a youth mentor at the church. Mr. Finney is married to Sonya’ Finney, and they are the proud parents of Chase and Clayton.

PRACTICE AREAS:

Personal Injury, Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Police Misconduct, Medical Malpractice and General Civil Litigation

EXPERIENCE:

Joined firm, 1982

EDUCATION:

Georgia Southern University, 1979

University of Florida, College of Law, J.D. Degree, 1982

BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS:

Florida Bar, 1982
Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, 1991
Certified Juvenile Arbitrator, 1991
Federal Court, Middle District of Florida, 1994

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT:

National Bar Association (President)
Board of Directors, 1994 - present
Region XI Director, 1994 - present
Nominations and Elections Committee, 1994-present
Academy of Trial Lawyers of America
Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers
The Florida Bar
Executive Council, Trial Lawyers Section, 1995-present
Board of Governors (non-voting representative) 1993-1994
19^th Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee, 1993-present
Chairperson, 1995-present
Vice-Chairperson, 1994-1995
Judicial Nominations and Procedures Committee, 1994-1995
Civil Justice Advisory Group/Pro Bono Committee for the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Florida Chapter, National Bar Association, President, 1993-1994
St. Lucie County Bar Association, President, 1993-1994

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
St. Lucie School District Speaker’s Bureau
Fort Pierce Teen Center Advisory Council, President, 1990-Present
St. Lucie County Head Start Policy Council, 1985-1988
The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.
Various Select Committees 1990-Present
By-Laws Committee Chair, 1988-1991
Personnel Committee Chair, 1990-Present
Board of Directors, 1988-Present
The Housing Authority of Fort Pierce, Florida, Family Self-Sufficiency
Program Coordinating Committee
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Life Member)
United Way of St. Lucie County, 1991-1994
Alpha Health Services, Inc. (Substance Abuse Center)
Board of Directors, 1990-1993
Alcohol Drug Treatment Center, Volunteer Legal Services, 1990-1992
Juvenile Alternative Services Program
Volunteer Legal Advisor, 1992-1994
Juvenile Arbitrator, 1992-Present
Advisory Council, 1983-1984
Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers’ People’s Law School Lecturer, 1989-1990
Florida Association for Community Action (FACA), Inc. 1993-Present

AWARDS and HONORS

The Florida Bar, Pro Bono Service Award, 1992
The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc., Robert Bryant Award, 1991
The University of Florida/College of Law, Student Leadership Award, 1982
Georgia Southern University, Student Leader of the Year Award, 1975
Florida Head Start Association, Humanitarian of the Year, 1993/1994
Region IV Head Start Association, Humanitarian of the Year, 1993-1994

SOCIAL AFFILIATIONS:

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (Life Member)
Constitution & By-Law Committee, 1995-Present
Southern Province, Board of Directors, 1995
General Counsel, 1992-1995
Fort Pierce Alumni Chapter
Keeper of Records, 1990-Present
Intake Chairman, 1982, 1987, 1990-Present
Vice Polemarch, 1982, 1984, 1986-1988
Polemarch, 1983, 1985

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS:

St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ft. Pierce, FL
Steward Board, 1990-Present
Youth Mentor, 1989-1992

Linnes Finney, Jr. Partner

Linnes Finney, Jr.
Partner