Lawyer - Stetson University College of Law

A l u m n i N e w s
Elder law center suite named for Govoni, Staunton ’97
Stetson University College of Law named
the suite housing its elder law center the Govoni-
Staunton Suite for the Center for Excellence in
Elder Law in a special dedication ceremony on
April 26.
The elder law center is located adjacent
to Stetson’s Eleazer Courtroom, a model elderfriendly,
barrier-free courtroom.
The Govoni-Staunton Suite is named in
honor of Leo Govoni and John Staunton ’97,
co-founders of the Center for Special Needs
Trust Administration, Inc., a non-profit dedicated
to providing solutions for the elderly and the
disabled.
“This is a milestone for the Center for
Excellence in Elder Law,” said Professor Rebecca
Morgan ’80, the Boston Asset Management
Faculty Chair in Elder Law and director of
Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law.
“We at Stetson are extremely grateful for the
continuing support that they have given us.”
Govoni and Staunton also endowed the
Boston Asset Management Faculty Chair in
Elder Law, which was created in 2002. Stetson
remains the only law school in the U.S. with an
endowed faculty chair in the field of elder law.
Govoni and Staunton also serve as
members of Stetson’s Elder Law Advisory Board.
Above, from left, John Staunton
’97, Leo Govoni and Dean Darby
Dickerson stand by the plaque that
introduces the office suite that
bears the new name.
Left, Darby Dickerson and Board of
Overseers Chair Sammy Cacciatore
’66 accept a U.S. flag from David
Jolly on behalf of Congressman Bill
Young of St. Petersburg.
Recent grad appointed Deputy Solicitor General
C.B. Upton ’06 was
appointed deputy solicitor
general for the State of Florida
in September 2007.
As deputy solicitor
general, Upton helps oversee
civil appeals involving the
state, which includes appeals before Florida
courts, the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the
U.S. Supreme Court. His office also coordinates
amicus activities and offers some trial support
in major cases.
Upton also serves as counsel to an
immigration enforcement task force that brings
together law enforcement officers from all
levels of government to stop criminal activities
that flow from illegal immigration, a major
policy goal of Attorney General Bill McCollum.
“Because of the federal authority over
immigration matters, the legal questions that
arise are usually interesting separation of
powers issues,” Upton said.
Before joining the Solicitor General’s
office, Upton served for one year as a law clerk
to Judge Eugene E. Siler Jr. of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
“This job solidified my desire to do
appellate work,” described Upton. “I was
exposed to many interesting cases, and Judge
Siler was a great mentor who suggested
that the Solicitor General’s Office would offer
unparalleled experience for someone interested
in appellate practice.”
Upton attributes his Stetson education for
providing a firm foundation for his legal career.
“The practical skills in research, writing
and oral advocacy that Stetson helped me
develop are skills that I use every day. I feel
that Stetson gave me a boost in these areas
that allowed me to set myself apart from other
attorneys.”
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