Caitlin Szematowicz, partner of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A., was recently sworn in as President of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court. Her husband Judge Brett Szematowicz, a Pinellas County Court Judge, was also sworn in as Co-President. The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court serves Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, the Second District Court of Appeals, and the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division

Caitlin Szematowicz’s Background of Leadership Continues

Caitlin Szematowicz has also previously served as President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation and President of the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association. Her role as President of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court marks her third presidency of a local Pinellas County voluntary bar organization. Caitlin was sworn in by the Honorable Pamela Campbell at the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court Annual Banquet at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. She is excited to serve as co-president of the Inn, and she looks forward to a great year serving as co-president of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court. Caitlin’s previous positions with the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court include Membership Coordinator, Secretary, and Executive Director. In 2012, Caitlin Szematowicz was awarded The Judge Thomas E. Penick Jr. “The Rock” Award by the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court. The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court began awarding “The Rock” award in June 2004, and it is presented annually by the Barney Masterson Inn of Court to a lawyer with less than five years in practice who has provided exceptional service to the community. The award is named in honor of Judge Thomas E. Penick, Jr., who was one of the four founders of the Barney Masterson Inn of Court and who believed strongly in a lawyer’s duty to provide service to the community. “The Rock” is considered a once in a lifetime award and symbolizes the idea that community service is the bedrock and basic foundation of a strong community.

Barney Masterson Inn of Court Has Deep Roots in the Legal Community

The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court generally has between sixty five and seventy five active members, divided into three classifications. Masters include lawyers with fifteen or more years of experience and judges of various courts. Barristers include lawyers with more than four but less than fourteen years of experience. Associates include lawyers with less than four years of experience. Students attending law school, or “pupils”, are also admitted to the Inn on a limited basis through a partnership with Stetson University College of Law. The Inn also has Sustaining Members, which are members who have been members of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court for a period of three years. Each member is selected for a one-year term. Members are selected each year through the application process by the Executive Committee. The formation of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court is largely attributed to the efforts of Judge William Castagna in the 1980s, who worked to create and build a Pinellas County Inn of Court. The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court is a general inn which strives to focus on issues of importance to lawyers in Pinellas County, regardless of their practice area (civil or criminal, family or commercial, bankruptcy or administrative law) or nature of the practice (private practice or government entity, large firm or solo practitioner). The Barney Masterson Inn of Court’s focus is on litigation. The Barney Masterson Inn covers all areas of litigation that may be of interest to its members, and it tries to balance the educational aspects of its programs with the goals of mentoring and professionalism. The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court is composed of law students, lawyers, and judges. The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court has received the Achieving Excellence Platinum Level Status from the American Inn of Court from 2017 through the present. Benefits and responsibilities of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court include networking with local attorneys and the judiciary, mentorship opportunities, CLE credits, general membership meetings and events, active participation in assigned pupilage groups, and membership to the American Inns of Court and subscription to the Bencher. The Barney Masterson American Inn of Court also supports the Mike Barbetta Scholarship, which is a scholarship fund for those attorneys whose professional ideals align with the American Inns of Court, to promote the highest levels of professionalism in the practice of law, and who desire to become an Active Member of the Inn but could afford to do so. American Inns of Court are one of the fastest growing legal movements in the country. There are over three hundred and fifty American Inns of Court in all fifty states. American Inns of Court were created in the 1970s and were modeled after English Inns of Court. American Inns of Court are designed to improve the skills, professionalism and ethics of the bench and bar.

Caitlin Szematowicz Continues to be a Shining Star at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A.

Caitlin Szematowicz is a Partner and Shareholder with the law firm of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. She practices in the areas of Civil and Commercial Litigation, Appeals, and Employment Law. Caitlin joined the firm in August 2012. Caitlin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May 2012. Caitlin Szematowicz is recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and was named a Rising Star in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. She is actively involved in the legal community, and her roles include Past President of the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association and St. Petersburg Bar Foundation She also serves on the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation’s annual professionalism seminar committee and is appointed to the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Professionalism Committee. Caitlin Szematowicz was selected as a speaker for the Florida Bar’s “Practicing with Professionalism CLE” in both 2014 and 2016. Caitlin has also chaired numerous events for the St. Petersburg Bar Caitlin Szematowicz is a member of the Florida Bar. She is also admitted to practice in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida, and Florida Middle District Bankruptcy Court.