EJCBA September 2025 Luncheon - Florida Bar President Sia Baker-Barnes
- Lauren Richardson
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 30
By: Yanet Serrano
Last Friday, the EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT BAR ASSOCIATION invited its members and invited guests to hear and listen from the newest Florida Bar President, Sia Baker-Barnes. I, and two other legal interns, including Attorney Lauren Richardson, had the privilege to learn more about Baker -Barnes' career and her presidential goals in this upcoming year as she serves as the Bar’s 77th President.
Who is the 77th Florida Bar President?
Born and raised in Florida, Rosalyn “Sia” Baker-Barnes, is an astonishing lawyer, advocate, a wife and mother, and most recently, the first Black woman president of the Florida Bar. In her 25-year career, Baker-Barnes has earned various accolades and awards, and has fought for justice for victims in areas including personal injury, medical negligence and product liability. Likewise, she is called “Affable and charismatic, voluble and down-to-earth…” and called by many as an intentional leader. Attorney Baker-Barnes’ success includes over hundreds of cases with over $100 million awarded to clients, partner status at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. and her role as the former Palm Beach County Bar Association President.
Presidential Priorities
Baker-Barnes was ecstatic about sharing her plan and goals for the next year, elaborating on numerous initiatives that underscored mentorship and resources for lawyers. One initiative that stood out to me was her launch of the Corporate Counsel Committee. After her state tour, Baker-Barnes was committed to finding a solution to the disconnect between in-house lawyers and the work of the Bar at large. Through the identification of various sectors such as technology, construction, banking and big corporations, there is in-progress work to finding spaces within the Bar’s network for these corporate council.
Impressions
The Florida State University Law Alum was thrilled to visit the Swamp, as she stepped on stage decked in orange and blue. She posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Today the time finally came for me to take my talents to Gator country for @TheFlaBar. I usually only come here to leave with a W, but today I wore orange and blue to visit great lawyers and law students in our 8th Circuit. To be clear, I’m forever a Die Hard NOLE” #❤️💛🍢." She told her audience it was her first time ever wearing the colors but felt the clothes were suitable to rep the Gator Nation’s color palate! As she stepped on stage, Sia gave attendees a warm thank you and brief speech about her background, revealing the enormous shoes she must fill and how as President, her number one priority is to be the voice for all lawyers in the Florida Bar. The luncheon was filled with insightful facts and information about the Bar’s demographics. A highlight of the event was learning about the success of Florida lawyers and the Bar member's integrity and ethics. Legal assistant Johannah Tador stated, “Learning that Florida is among the top three states with the most lawyers and that the Florida Bar is rapidly growing was incredible. It shows there remains a strong Southern legal sphere for aspiring young lawyers to tap into.” Legal intern Annabelle Newsom says, "Hearing Sia Baker-Barnes speak was a truly insightful experience. It was compelling to listen to such an accomplished woman in the legal field talk about all the projects she is working on. It was also very interesting to hear about all the different committees and groups that are formed within the Bar community."
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