The coronavirus pandemic dominated the discussion and format of this year's Florida Bar conference, where John Stewart left the president post and Dori Foster-Morales, a family law partner at Foster-Morales Sockel-Stone, was installed in the leadership role Friday.

The 2020 conference, originally slated to be held in Orlando, took place online in a series of pre-recorded videos and multi-panel Zoom meetings.

In each speech — whether given by Stewart, Foster-Morales or Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady — the pandemic and the related challenges for the legal profession was front and center.

"In this speech, incoming Bar presidents are expected to describe their agenda for the upcoming year — what great program or idea they would like to espouse," Foster-Morales said in her installation speech. "I was pondering what I was going to launch or expand in my speech. And then the boat sunk."

Instead, Foster-Morales said that her yearlong term would be about "rebuilding, becoming stronger." The Florida Bar, she said, will become more proactive in serving their members as the state and profession settle into a "new normal." She highlighted her commitment to diversity and inclusion and mental health.

She also alluded to the current outrage and strife that has erupted since George Floyd's death at the hands of the Minneapolis police, manifesting into protests across Florida and the country. She said it is up to the Florida Bar, courts and various voluntary bars to "ensure that the phrase 'and justice for all' is meaningful."

The hourlong leadership-change event was emceed by Stewart and hosted on Facebook and YouTube. The program toggled between various homes offices, speakers and Zoom conference mosaics.

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady administers the oath to Incoming Florida Bar President Dori Foster-Morales. Standing with Foster-Morales is her husband and Miami Beach City Manager, Jimmy Morales, and children Nora Morales and Peter Morales

Canady administered oaths to Foster-Morales, the Florida Bar Board of Governors and Florida Bar President-Elect Michael Tanner.

Tanner, a business litigation partner at Gunster, narrowly beat out Ocala attorney Renee Thompson in the March election. He ran on a platform advocating for a strong, independent judiciary; protection of current member benefits; curbing unprofessional behavior; and maintaining the mandatory bar structure. (See his Florida Bar platform.)

In his outgoing address, Stewart reiterated the same goals that brought him into the presidency such as equal access to legal services and the mass adaptation of legal technology. These priorities, he said, are only more pressing in light of the pandemic. And he assured the bar that his successor will continue the work.

"The capability of practitioners and staff to use technology to work remotely has never been more important," Stewart said. "This pandemic, and the challenging state of current events, provide a perfect example of why the legal system … must quickly modernize in order to continue to serve people in trying times."

The legal system can not grind to a halt, Stewart continued, because of disruption to the traditional delivery of legal services. He reiterated the need for equal access to legal services for all Floridians.

"This is why lawyers must innovate," Stewart said. "I'm proud of the way our profession has responded as fully as well and as quickly as we have. … We can not, we will not and we should not, return to business as usual."

Throughout the pandemic, Stewart and the Florida Bar have supported its members by putting out CLEs on topics such as federal aid and remote work. The bar also had updated its members on court procedures and evolving rules through targeted emails tailored to each member's region of practice.

Originally slated for July, the bar pushed up the rollout of its confidential helpline, a free service that connects attorneys to professional counselors. In its April release, Foster-Morales said the pandemic accelerated the need for this resource, as attorneys "are facing an epic moment of collective crisis."

Foster-Morales said a focus on wellness will continue under her presidency and stressed that now, more than ever, the Bar has to do what it can to support the mental health of its members.

"Like many of you, I had to suddenly abandon my familiar work surroundings, shift to conducting business in a new way and follow a fresh and ever-changing set of rules," she said.

And while lawyers, she said, have done a good job at adapting to new platforms and technologies, the shift has led to unintended mental health challenges: "They also cause additional strain as we learn how to lawyer remotely while being effective advocates for our clients."