MAITLAND, Fla. – Orlando attorney Tad Yates has been reappointed by The Florida Bar to the board of The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice.

Specializing in the area of criminal defense, Yates practices at his own firm, The Law Offices of Tad A. Yates, P.A. He earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.

Yates is a past president of the Orange County Bar Association as well as the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association. He is also a past member of the board of the First Central Florida American Inns of Court. Yates currently serves on the Foundation’s grant allocation and development committees, previously serving on the administration of justice grant committee.

He was awarded the Young Lawyer Professionalism Award by the Orange County Bar Association. He currently serves on the board of directors for the University of Florida Alumni Association. He has served on The Florida Bar Criminal Rules Committee and as a member of the Bar’s Ninth Circuit Grievance Committee.

In May 2011, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer appointed him to the City of Orlando Nominating Committee. Florida Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which he chaired for two years.

Yates, a Florida Bar Foundation Fellow and member of the Foundation’s Bronze Society for lifetime giving, will begin his three-year term July 1.