At the Foundation’s June 2022 board of directors meeting, Foundation President Connie Bookman honored Joseph “Jody” Hudgins with the 2022 President’s Award for his passionate dedication and innovative commitment to increasing access to Florida’s justice system while promoting the principles of equal justice for all.

Jody Hudgins

Hudgins began his term on The Florida Bar Foundation’s board of directors in 2019 as a delegate for Florida Bar President John M. Stewart. He continued on the next term as Stewart’s delegate, and again in 2021-22 for Florida Bar President Michael G. Tanner.

Hudgins, who was appointed to The Florida Bar Board of Governors as a public member in 2019, has been a banker for more than 40 years. He was the Chief Credit Officer of First Florida Integrity Bank in Naples.

In 2020, Hudgins proposed a rule amending rule 5-1.1 of the rules regulating The Florida Bar. The proposed rule, if passed, would establish a simplified framework for banks to pay interest rates on lawyers’ trust accounts.

The rule is designed to provide more certainty in interest rate calculations for banks and the Foundation. It would also most likely increase IOTA revenues, which would allow the Foundation to award more grants. The rule is currently pending before the Florida Supreme Court.

The award was sponsored by St. Denis & Davey.

In December 2023, The Florida Bar Foundation changed its name to FFLA. Posts prior to this date contain our former name.