AMANDA KNOX FEATURED SPEAKER AT LUNCHEON TO KICK OFF ‘LAW WEEK’
Palm Beach County Bar Association President John Whittles interviews
internationally-known figure from Italian trial saga
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) – The Palm Beach County Bar Association recently held a luncheon featuring Amanda Knox, one of the most internationally-recognized figures from the world of trial law. Bar president John Whittles of Mathison Whittles, LLP, interviewed Knox on a variety of topics, including her experience during four years in an Italian prison, the impact of the trial on her family and what she is doing now.
A Seattle native, Knox made international headlines as a foreign exchange student in 2007 for being accused of her roommate Meredith Kercher’s murder in Perugia, Italy. The case turned into a worldwide media frenzy, portraying her as the villain before the Italian Supreme Court acquitted her in 2015.
Nearly 300 people attended the luncheon April 26 at the Embassy Suites in West Palm Beach. The candid conversation kicked off Law Week in Florida, held the first week of May each year. The observance is aimed to help people appreciate liberties and cultivate respect for the law, and it is also a way to recognize and discuss the role of the courts in the United States. Locally, members of the Palm Beach County Bar Association volunteered in dozens of schools presenting mock trials and educating students about the legal system. Students also had the opportunity to “Shadow a Judge” at the Palm Beach County Courthouse.
“Amanda Knox’s story is fascinating from all angles, but in addition to the legal fundamentals, the impact this process had on her and her family as human beings was significant,” Whittles said. “I am grateful to have had her sitting down with us and just talking candidly about the process. I can’t think of a better way to kick off Law Week. Amanda had all of these accomplished lawyers and judges just hanging on every word. In a very large and very crowded room, you literally could have heard a pin drop.”
At times, Knox broke into tears, especially when talking about her loved ones. “What happened to me was just as traumatic as what happened to my family,” Knox said. “I had never seen my dad cry before. When he told me it would take five years of imprisonment before I saw any light, I knew I was in trouble when he was crying.”
These days, Knox is a writer and a journalist. “I feel a lot less alone when I’m communicating what I understand,” Knox said. “There’s no better feeling than being understood.” She now works to figure out how humans relate to each other and the driving forces behind what happened to her. Knox also helps others falsely imprisoned and gets together with a group of exonerees every year. She remains level-headed, refusing to lash out at her accusers. “I know what it feels like to be judged on falsehoods and incomplete truths, and I don’t want to do the same thing to anyone.”
John Whittles will finish his term as the elected president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association in May. Established in 1922, the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s mission is to serve its members, foster professionalism and enhance the public’s understanding and awareness of the legal system. Members are active in providing numerous public service activities and giving back to the community. Visit http://www.palmbeachbar.org/ or call 561-687-2800.
John Whittles is a partner at Mathison Whittles, LLP, a full-service law firm that pairs the talents of its two founders to efficiently and cost-effectively provide clients the entire spectrum of real estate, business, estate planning and litigation legal services. Mathison Whittles maintains offices at 5606 PGA Boulevard, Suite 211 in Palm Beach Gardens and 301 Pine Street in West Palm Beach. Contact them at 561-624-2001 or 561-469-1160 or visit https://mathisonwhittles.com/.
###