INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A Vero Beach attorney has been named president of the Indian River County Bar Association.
“I obviously feel it is a great honor to be president of this organization and the great local lawyers we represent,” Bobby Guttridge said in a statement. “I am hopeful that during the coming year we can reach out to serve even more of the lawyers in our area.”
Guttridge, who has spent more than 18 years practicing law, will serve as president for the Indian River County Bar Association for the 2019-2020 term, officials said. The past president for the association was Michelle Servos.
“As a lawyer who primarily practices criminal defense, I have the pleasure of being in the courthouse and interacting with personnel, security and judges everyday,” Guttridge said. “I feel that interaction gives me a keen understanding of the day to day on going and allows our organization and me personally to be responsive to the needs of our court system and membership.”
For Guttridge, a Florida native, the road to becoming president of the association was a journey of commitment and perseverance. Candidates must first be nominated to serve on the board of directors and approved by the membership, Guttridge said.
The board consists of five directors at large and an executive board that has a secretary, treasurer, president elect, president and past president. Over the years, board members have the opportunity to move up to different positions and can eventually become president, Guttridge said.
“The bar association is obviously very diverse in practice area and we make a concerted attempt to reflect that on the board of directors,” Guttridge said.
The Indian River County Bar Association serves more than 200 members by operating as a liaison between the members, court system, judges and the community, officials said. The association also hosts community activities such as annual charity softball games, judicial breakfasts in the courthouse and the lawyer in the classroom program.
The bar association gives out two annual scholarships to students at Indian River State College taking legally-related classes, officials said. The organization also oversees “The Young Lawyers Division,” which organizes young lawyers to do community work, network and social interacting.