THE MARSHAL: HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE. THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA IS NOW IN CEREMONIAL SESSION. ALL WHO HAVE CAUSE TO PLEA, DRAW NEAR AND GIVE ATTENTION AND YOU SHALL BE HEARD. GOD SAVE THESE UNITED STATES, THIS GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THIS HONORABLE COURT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. PLEASE BE SEATED.

GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA, ONE OF MY GREAT HONORS IS TO PRESIDE OVER CEREMONIES SUCH AS THIS, OUR INDUCTION CEREMONY, AND I SEE THAT I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU ALL THAT UNLIKE MANY OF OUR FORMAL CEREMONIES, OF COURT, WE DON'T MIND FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY. I HADN'T SAID THAT YET, AND WE DON'T MIND LAUGHTER AS LONG AS IT IS AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND WE ALSO DON'T MIND INTERRUPTION FROM CHILDREN AS LONG AS IT IS NOT TOO BAD BUT WE DO ASK YOU TO TURN OFF ANY CELL PHONES. I HEAR WE HAVE A RECORD CAPACITY THIS MORNING OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY SUPPORTING OUR NEWLY -- SOON TO BE NEWLY ADMITTED LAWYERS. I MYSELF HAVE BEEN A LAWYER FOR 32 YEARS, ACTUALLY THIS MONTH I WAS SWORN IN IN OCTOBER OF 1973. AND THE FLORIDA BAR LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT BACK THEN. THERE WERE VERY FEW, IF ANY, MINORITIES. THERE WERE VERY FEW WOMEN LAWYERS. I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE STATISTICS, AND OUT OF ABOUT 12,000 LAWYERS OVERALL IN THE YEAR 1973 I WAS ONE OF ABOUT 600 WOMEN ATTORNEYS. WE ARE NOW TODAY IN THE YEAR 2005 UP TO ALAN, WHERE IS IT, 70,000? ABOUT 70,000 WITH 30% OF THE LAWYERS BEING WOMEN. SO WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN MANY WAYS. SOME MIGHT SAY THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY LAWYERS IN AMERICA AND IN FLORIDA, BUT I'D LIKE TO QUOTE YOU SOMETHING THAT I FIND TO BE REALLY THE PROPER RESPONSE TO THAT. A LAWYER IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY LAWYERS IN AMERICA, SAID, QUOTE, AMERICA HAS MORE LAWYERS THAN ANY COMPARABLE NATION BECAUSE AMERICA HAS MORE INDIVIDUAL AND ECONOMIC FREEDOMS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. IT HAS MORE LAWYERS BECAUSE AMERICA HAS MADE AN UNPARALLELLED EFFORT TO SEE THAT THOSE WHO ARE WEAK THROUGH POVERTY OR OTHERWISE HAVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL WHEN BESET BY THE POWERFUL. IT HAS MORE LAWYERS BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS ARE NEITHER INTIMIDATED NOR SHY, INCLUDING OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS, ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS. WE ARE THE VEHICLES FOR THEIR VINDICATION. SO ARE THERE TOO MANY LAWYERS? I SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT. THERE ARE ALWAYS ROOM FOR GOOD LAWYERS. AND IN THE YEAR 2005, THE UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THE POOR ARE TREMENDOUS. ALSO, THE PRACTICE OF LAW CAN BE THE MEANS AS IT HAS BEEN FOR ME OF FULFILLING YOU WITH A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF SATISFACTION AND FULFILLMENT. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PITCH FOR WHAT I SEE TO BE SOME OF THE BASIC PREREQUISITES. YOU'VE PROBABLY GOTTEN ALL OF THE ADVICE THROUGH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN A GRADUATION YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE TODAY BEFORE YOU GET SWORN IN. AND ONE IS BASIC TO ME, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. WE HAD A CEREMONY THIS MORNING FOR A JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR, RAYMOND EHRLICH, AND I THOUGHT HE EPITOMIZED PROBABLY ALL OF THESE QUALITIES. ONE IS RESPECT. RESPECTING YOUR COLLEAGUES, YOUR CLIENTS AND OF COURSE THE JUDGES YOU APPEAR BEFORE. THE SECOND FINDING A MENTOR TO HELP GUIDE YOU. IT COULD BE ANOTHER LAWYER IN YOUR FIRM OR A LAWYER WHO YOU RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY OR IN AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE INS OF COURT OR THE BAR ASSOCIATION, BOTH THE FLORIDA BAR AS WELL AS YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION. THIRD, GET IN THE HABIT OF COMMITTING TO PRO BONO ACTIVITIES. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE PRO BONO COMMITMENT OF FLORIDA LAWYERS AND WE CONTRIBUTE MANY, MANY HOURS, BUT STILL MORE THAN A MAJORITY DO NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY. ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN REACHING OUT TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THOSE UNREPRESENTED IN OUR COURT SYSTEM WILL NOT JUST DO GOOD. I PROMISE YOU IT WILL FEEL GOOD. IT IS SAID YOU MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT YOU GET. YOU MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE. NOT TO MENTION THE PART OF THE OATH THAT YOU WILL BE TAKING TODAY, AND PART OF THAT OBLIGATION GOES HAND IN HAND WITH PRACTICING LAW. ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS, THOUGH, AS I TALK ABOUT THOSE IDEALS OF WHAT LAWYERS REPRESENT IS THAT THE MOST BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW, AND THE RIGHTS GRANTED TO ALL PERSONS BY OUR CONSTITUTION ARE MEANINGFUL. ONLY INSOFAR AS LAWYERS MAKE THEM REAL DAY IN AND DAY OUT. EARLIER TODAY, AS I MENTIONED, WE HELD A CEREMONIAL SESSION HONORING A GREAT FLORIDIAN, A LAWYER AND FORMER JUSTICE OF THIS COURT, RAY EHRLICH. IN AN INTERVIEW BEFORE HE DIED, JUSTICE EHRLICH SUMMED UP WHY LAWYERS ARE SO IMPORTANT. HE SAID, THE BILL OF RIGHTS WOULDN'T BE WORTH THE PAPER IT IS WRITTEN ON EXCEPT FOR A VIGILANT AND STRONG BAR. AS YOU ENTER YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE TODAY, ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU, ALL OF YOU, ARE THE GUARDIANS OF OUR BASIC LIBERTIES. OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE DEPENDS ON US, ALL OF US, AND NOW ALL OF YOU. I HAVE BELIEVED THAT FOR THE PAST 32 YEARS, AND AS A LAWYER AND A JUDGE, AND I ASK YOU TO CARRY THAT CREED FROM THIS DAY FORWARD. IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO CALL UPON ALAN BOOKMAN, A LAWYER FROM PENSACOLA, AND OUR OUTSTANDING PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR WHO TO ME EPITOMIZES THE IDEALS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND THE COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO ASSISTANCE HAVING JUST THIS YEAR TAKEN ON HIMSELF A PRO BONO COMMITMENT TO A CHILD. ALAN, PLEASE COME UP.

CHIEF JUSTICE, PARIENTE, MEMBERS OF THE COURT, HONORED GUESTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MY NEW COLLEAGUES. LET ME BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND TO WELL COME YOU TO THE -- WELCOME YOU TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION OF FLORIDA AND TO WELCOME YOU TO THE NEW DEDICATION OF THE LAW. IT IS OUR CHALLENGE AS LAWYERS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND TO HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT OUR SYSTEM OF LAWS AND TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY INDEPENDENT COURTS. WE MUST ALWAYS FIGHT FOR AN INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL JUDICIARY THAT IS FREE FROM PARTISAN POLITICS AND WHIMS, A JUDICIARY THAT ACTS ON THE BASIS OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST, NOT WHAT IS POPULAR. YOU HAVE HEARD THE WORD PROFESSIONALISM USED TODAY AND AT LAW SCHOOL, THIS CONCEPT MEANS MUCH MORE THAN BEING NICE TO ONE ANOTHER. IT MEANS A LOT MORE THAN JUST ADHERING TO THE RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR. THAT'S BASIC AND NO REAL EFFORT IS BEING REQUIRED. OUR GREATER TASKS AS PROFESSIONALS AS LAWYERS IN THIS NOBLE PROFESSION IS TO HONOR AND TO PROMOTE IN FLORIDA AND IN THE UNITED STATES A SYSTEM OF LASTING JUSTICE, A SYSTEM IN WHOSE INTEGRITY AND IMPARTIALITY OUR SYSTEMS WILL IMPOSE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE. WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT WE LAWYERS TRULY DO LOVE JUSTICE, THAT WE CARE ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG, THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE LEGACY OF JUSTICE THAT WILL LEAVE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW US. ALL OF US MUST DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALISM. WHEN MONEY BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CASE, WHEN IT BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUSTICE FOR OUR CLIENTS, WHEN THE PURSUIT OF PROFITS OVERCOMES THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE, OUR PROFESSION IS IN DANGER. WE MUST RAISE THE EXPECTATIONS WE ALL HAVE OF EACH OTHER AS LAWYERS AND PROFESSIONALS, AND IN SO DOING, WE AUTOMATICALLY RAISE THE INTEGRITY AND ESTEEM OF OUR PROFESSION. WHEN I WAS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE, THE SPEAKER IMPARTED WORDS OF WISDOM WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. NUMBER ONE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT OF A GOOD LAWYER. PREPARATION BEATS TALENT 99 TIMES OUT OF 100, AND THE ONE TIME IT DIDN'T, TALENT GOT LUCKY. APPRECIATE CHALLENGES, IT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER AND STRONGER PERSON. APPRECIATE LOSSES. THEY WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER AND STRONGER PERSON. APPRECIATE VICTORIES, THEY WILL HOLD YOU UP BETWEEN THE CHALLENGES AND THE LOSSES. BE YOURSELF. DON'T TRY TO ACT LIKE THAT OTHER LAWYER WITH WHOM YOU WERE REALLY IMPRESSED. YOU ARE NOT THAT GOOD OF AN ACTOR. AND YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR INTEGRITY ARE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS. WHEN YOU TAKE THE OATH TODAY, ADMINISTERED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, CONSIDER WHAT THOSE WORDS MEAN AND REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING: WE ARE THE LAWYERS. WE DISPLACED BRUTE FORCE WITH MERCY, JUSTICE AND EQUITY. WE ARE THE SPOKESPERSONS OF RIGHTEOUS CAUSES. WE TAUGHT MANKIND TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS TO THEIR PROPERTY, TO THEIR PERSONAL LIBERTY, TO FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND TO FREE ASSEMBLY. WE PLEAD FOR THE POOR, THE PERSECUTED, THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN. WE STAND IN THE WAY OF PUBLIC CLAMOR AND THE TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY. WE SEEK THE EQUALITY OF MANKIND, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CAST, SEX OR RELIGION. WE ARE THE LAWYERS. AGAIN, MY DEEPEST CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND MY VERY BEST WISHES TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING LEGAL CAREER. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]

THANK YOU, MR.^BOOKMAN. TODAY ALL OVER FLORIDA, INDUCTION CEREMONIES ARE TAKING PLACE IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICT COURTS OF APPEAL. ALL OF THEM SAVE ONE, THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL WHICH IS LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM US JOINS WITH US TO PERFORM THIS INDUCTION CEREMONY AT THE CHAMBERS OR IN THE CHAMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA. SO IN ORDER TO HAVE THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL INVOLVED, WE ALWAYS INVITE A REPRESENTATIVE TO COME SPEAK TO US, AND TODAY WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE JUDGE ROBERT BENTON OF THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL. JUDGE BENTON?

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE ADMITTED TO THE BAR AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHOSE HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE BROUGHT THEM TO THIS POINT. YOU LAWYERS TO BE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE A VERY IMPORTANT OATH. ONE WHICH WILL SHAPE YOUR LIVES. DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO LIVE UP TO YOUR OATH. READ IT OVER EVERY MONTH YOUR FIRST YEAR. IT IS REPRINTED IN EACH COPY OF THE FLORIDA BAR JOURNAL. AMONG THE THINGS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SWEAR TO IS THAT YOU WILL ABSTAIN FROM ALL OFFENSIVE PERSONALITY. THIS OLD-FASHIONED LANGUAGE CONTAINS A VERY CURRENT AND VERY IMPORTANT IMPERATIVE. WE ARE UNDER AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO BE COURTEOUS IN OUR DEALINGS AS LAWYERS AND JUDGES. DISCOURTESY POLLUTES THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE WORK, WHICH IS UNPLEASANT FOR US, AND MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHOM WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING. COURTESY IS A MUST IF THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS TO FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD. THE COURTESY KEEPS CHANNELS OPEN. KEEPING THE CHANNELS OPEN CAN MAKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CLIENTS. YOU OWE IT TO THEM TO MAKE THE EFFORTS. KEEPING THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR A SOCIETY AT LARGE. AMERICA HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY WITHIN THE LIFETIMES OF MANY OF US HERE TODAY. SURELY MORE CHANGE IS COMING, AND LAWYERS AND JUDGES WILL HAVE THEIR ROLES TO PLAY AS CHANGES UNFOLD. COURTESY IN OUR PROFESSIONAL DEALINGS WILL REDUCE THE INEVITABLE FRICTIONS EVEN CHANGES FOR THE BETTER WILL BRING. LAWS HAVE TO BE A LEARNED PROFESSION. YOU MAY FIND AS I HAVE THAT IT MIGHT MORE APTLY BE CALLED A LEARNING PROFESSION, BUT YOU ARE EMBARKING ON MUCH MORE THAN A COURSE OF STUDY. AS LAWYERS, YOU WILL BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAS SAID THIS IS A QUOTE, THAT MEMBERSHIP IN THE BAR IS A PRIVILEGE BURDENED WITH CONDITIONS AND AN ATTORNEY IS RECEIVED INTO THAT ANCIENT FELLOWSHIP FOR SOMETHING MORE THAN PRIVATE GAIN. AN ATTORNEY BECOMES AN OFFICER OF THE COURT AND LIKE THE COURT ITSELF AN INSTRUMENT OR AGENCY TO ADVANCE THE ENDS OF JUSTICE. OUR OWN SUPREME COURT HAS SAID THAT, QUOTE, LAWYERS AS OFFICERS OF THE COURT ARE PART OF THE GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE INVOLVED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PERFORM FUNCTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. IT IS THEIR PROFESSIONAL DUTY HONESTLY ANDABLEY TO ASSIST THE COURTS INSECURING THE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE RULE OF LAW IS A PRECIOUS HERITAGE WHICH CANNOT ENDURE WITHOUT REAL DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. THE RULE OF LAW REQUIRES BROAD RESPECT FOR LAW. WHICH DEPENDS IN NO SMALL PART ON WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF HOW LAWYERS AND JUDGES BEHAVE. LAWYERS LIKE JUDGES ARE TRUSTEES OF THE WISDOM HANDED DOWN BY PAST GENERATIONS THAT HAS MADE ITS WAY INTO OUR LAWS. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION TOWARD A MORE JUST SOCIETY. CERTAINLY THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE. SO I URGE YOU TO BE ABOUT IT. DO ALL YOU CAN TO BRING ABOUT THE FAIR AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. WHEN YOU FIND SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS IT SHOULD, DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, AND DO NOT BE EASILY DISCOURAGED. WHEN YOU FEEL MOST ACUTELY THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE SYSTEM MAY BE JUST THE TIME THAT YOU CAN DO THE MOST TO IMPROVE IT. CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A WAY THAT MAKES CLEAR TO ALL YOUR FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT TO HONOR, INTEGRITY AND FAIR PLAY. RECOGNIZE HONESTY AND CANDOR, NOT MERELY AS IDEALS TO STRIVE FOR BUT AS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE EVERYDAY WORKING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM. MAKE YOUR CAREERS INCONTROVERTIBLE EVIDENCE OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND THE LAW UNDER THE PUBLIC GOOD. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL. [ APPLAUSE ]

THANK YOU, JUDGE BENTON. I MENTIONED THE COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO SERVICES. WHILE AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN A JUSTICE, I HAVE OBSERVED THAT HOW OFTEN IT IS OUR NEWEST AND YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE BAR THAT MOST COMMIT THEMSELVES TO PRO BONO SERVICES, AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE YOU ADDRESSED BY OUR PRESIDENT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION WHO SHARES SOME REMARKS AND INSIGHT WITH YOU. IF YOU WOULD, JAMIE MOSES, COME UP AND ADDRESS US.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, GOOD AFTERNOON. WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY THIS MUST BE FOR YOU TO SOON BE BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE GREATEST PROFESSION THERE IS AND THE BEST BAR ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTRY. THE FLORIDA BAR. 11 YEARS AGO I WAS SWORN IN, AND I WAS CONSUMED WITH PRIDE AND JOY THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A LAWYER. AS I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I WAS CONSUMED WITH PRIDE AND JOY THAT I WAS NOT ONLY A LAWYER, BUT I WAS A FLORIDA LAWYER. AND I KNOW THAT MY PRIDE AND JOY AND MY DESIRE TO GO INTO THE OFFICE EVERY DAY IS DUE IN PART THAT I WORK AT A GREAT FIRM AND WITH WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMEN THAT I ENJOY SEEING EVERY DAY, AND DO IN PART TO THE FACT THAT I PRACTICE IN A CHALLENGING AND REWARDING AREA, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MY LOVE FOR THIS PROFESSION IS DUE TO MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE FLORIDA BAR. WITHIN WEEKS OF BEING SWORN IN, I WENT TO AN ORANGE COUNTY BAR YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION LUNCHEON AND GRADUALLY GOT INVOLVED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND EVENTUALLY THE FLORIDA BAR AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION PRESIDENT. I CAN GUARANTEE TO YOU THAT YOU WILL HAVE AS MUCH JOY AND PRIDE TODAY IN 11 YEARS, 20 YEARS, 32 YEARS AS YOU HAVE TODAY IF YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE FLORIDA BAR AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER IT IS THE CUBAN-AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, THE DADE COUNTY YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION, THE TALLAHASSEE WOMEN OR THE ENDS OF COURT. WHATEVER ORGANIZATIONS YOU GET INVOLVED IN, IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER. IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ORGANIZATION YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN, FIND ME ON THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION WEBSITE AND I WILL STEER YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I GUARANTEE YOU, THAT MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE FLORIDA BAR AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATES WILL MAKE YOUR CAREER EVEN BETTER THAN YOU COULD DREAM OF. MEMBERSHIP IN THE FLORIDA BAR IS MANDATORY, BUT ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IS A PRIVILEGE, AND IT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE INVITED. YOU ALREADY ARE INVITED ONCE YOU TAKE THIS OATH TODAY, AND I WOULD LIKE ALL OF YOU TO SAY IN YOUR HEAD BESIDES ALL OF THE THINGS YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO DO TODAY, I SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO GET INVOLVED IN THE FLORIDA BAR AND ITS AFFILIATES ORGANIZATIONS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT OUT LOUD BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MESS YOU ALL UP BUT IN YOUR HEAD MAKE THAT COMMITMENT ON ON THE WAY HOME THINK WHAT AM I GOING TO DO TO MAKE MY PROFESSION BETTER, OTHER THAN JUST BEING A PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL AND COURTEOUS AND COMPETENT LAWYER? AND I PROMISE IF YOU MAKE THAT COMMITMENT YOUR CAREER IS GOING TO BE MORE REWARDING THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA BAR. [ APPLAUSE ]

ALAN, DID YOU PAY HER TO SAY THAT? YOU CAN SEE THAT JAMIE HAS NO SHORTAGE OF ENERGY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE FROM OUR YOUNG LAWYERS AND SPEAKING OF YOUNG LAWYERS, EACH YEAR IN EACH CEREMONY WE SELECT A NEWLY ADMITTED LAWYER WHO HAS EXCELLED ON THE BAR EXAM TO MAKE REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE NEWLY ADMITTED LAWYERS. IT IS MY HONOR TO CALL UPON THEODORE RANDOLPH HOWELL FOR THAT PURPOSE. MR.^HOWELL?

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NEWLY ADMITTED LAWYERS OF THE CLASS OF 2005. WE ARE ENTERING ONE OF THE MOST ELITE GROUP OF BARRISTERS IN THIS NATION AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE BACK IN MY HOME PORTION OF THE STATE, THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. YOU SEE, AFTER TAKING THE BAR EXAM I MOVED OVER -- I MOVED MY FAMILY TO BE WITH MY WIFE AND WE NOW ARE LIVING IN MOBILE, ALABAMA, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING A GATOR ALUMNUS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAS BEEN PRETTY ROUGH. EVERYWHERE I TURN I'M REMINDED ABOUT HOW MY GATORS WERE SOUNDLY DEFEATED ON THE FIELD IN TUSCALOOSA LAST WEEKEND. TURN ON THE RADIO, OPEN THE NEWSPAPER, EVERYTHING, SO IT IS NICE TO BE BACK HERE IN MY HOME PORTION OF THE STATE TO SHARE THIS CEREMONY WITH Y'ALL. ENOUGH OF MY PERSONAL DILEMMAS. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO BE SWORN IN AS ATTORNEYS TO THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA. THIS IS AN ASTOUNDING ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT IS THE PRODUCT OF MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE. NOW THAT WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF ENTERING THE HARD AND OFTEN FAST-PACED LIFE OF A PRACTICING ATTORNEY LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT BACK ON WHAT GOT US HERE TODAY. THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A LICENSED ATTORNEY BEGAN LONG BEFORE WE EVER THOUGHT OF TAKING A BAR EXAM. ALONG THE WAY, EACH OF US HAD SPECIAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP US MAKE THIS JOURNEY TO BE HERE TODAY. FROM THE TIME WHEN WE WERE A LITTLE KID HELPING US WITH OUR HOMEWORK TO TAKING CARE OF US WHEN WE WERE SICK, JUST BEING THERE WHEN WE NEEDED SOMEONE TO HELP US OUT. THEY HAVE WALKED ALONG THIS JOURNEY WITH US, AND THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT IS MUCH A PRODUCT OF YOUR HARD WORK AS IT IS OURS. ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2005 NEWLY ADMITTED LAWYERS I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK YOU HAVE PUT IN. WITHOUT THIS NETWORK THAT YOU SET UP FOR US, THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT COULD HAVE NEVER BEEN POSSIBLE. WITH THE FOUNDATION CREATED BY THIS GREAT NETWORK AND FRIENDS AND FAMILIES, WE PROCEEDED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL. WE WENT TO THE VARIOUS PORTIONS ALL AROUND THE STATE, ALL AROUND THE NATION EVEN SOME OF US, AND WE LEARNED THE LAW AND MADE FRIENDS THAT WOULD LAST FOREVER. UPON GRADUATION, WE TOOK A BRIEF MOMENT TO CELEBRATE BEFORE WE ENTERED THE BAR EXAM. AND THAT WAS A TOUGH LITTLE TEST. MOTIVATED OUT OF FEAR WE SPENT EXORBITANT FEES WE TOOK BARBARIE AND OTHERS SO WE COULD TAKE THE TEST. EVERYONE LEFT THE TEST FEELING LIKE THEY HAD JUST BEEN CRIPPLED BY THIS EXAM. WE WENT BACK WITH OUR TAILS BETWEEN OUR LEGS AND WENT INTO OUR VARIOUS JOBS AND JUST SWEATED OUT THE WEEKS UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT OUR RESULTS WHEN THEY WERE POSTED ON THE SUPREME COURT'S WEBSITE. AND THEN WE KNEW THAT ALL OF THE WORK HAD PAID OFF AND WE WOULD FINALLY BE ABLE TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSION WE HAD STUDIED SO LONG AND HARD TO BECOME A PART OF. NOW THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT TOTAKE IN THIS PROFESSION AND PUT OUR LEGAL SKILLS FINALLY TO WORK, THIS IS NOT A TIME TO REST ON OUR LAURELS. GREAT THINGS ARE EXPECTED OUT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE MORE CONTINUED HARD WORK AND PERSEVERENCE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION, TO HELP THOSE IN NEED AND TO ENSURE THAT THE RULE OF LAW IS JUSTLY FOLLOWED BUT ALONG THE WAY IN DOING THIS HARD WORK TO ACHIEVE THESE GREAT THINGS, DON'T FORGET THESE WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY THAT MADE THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT POSSIBLE. STRIVE TO MAKE A PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, FRIENDSHIP AND FAMILY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. [ APPLAUSE ]

MR.^HOWELL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS, AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, HAVING A GATOR HUSBAND AND GATOR COLLEAGUES THAT THERE ARE MANY GATORS THAT FEEL YOUR PAIN. THE NEXT PERSON THAT WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE IS MR.^TERRY RIGSBY WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE FLORIDA BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS TO PRESENT THE CANDIDATES AND MOVE FOR THEIR ADMISSION AND BEFORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HELPED WITH THAT LITTLE BAR EXAM THAT YOU ALL TOOK. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ELEANOR HUNTER, IF YOU COULD JUST STAN. [ APPLAUSE ] MR.^RIGSBY?

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, I'M ONE OF THOSE GATORS IN ANGST. PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT RELATING TO ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR, THE CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU HAVE BEEN RIGOROUSLY EXAMINED BY THE BOARD, BOTH AS TO KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW AS MR.^HOWELL REFERRED TO, THAT TOUGH LITTLE TEST, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE STANDARDS AND IDEALS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION. IN ADDITION, THEIR BACKGROUNDS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SEARCHING CHARACTER AND FITNESS INVESTIGATIONS. ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS, I CERTIFY THAT THESE CANDIDATES ARE FULLY QUALIFIED, AND THAT EACH ENJOYS THE ENTHUSIASTIC RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR. THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU AT THIS TIME ARE:.

AND WE ASK YOU TO STAND AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED OUT.

MR.^ADAMS. MR.^ASWANI. MR.^ATKINSON. MR.^BABINGTON. MR.^BAKER. MR.^BAURIES. MR.^BONFANTI. MS.^E. BURGESS. MR.^G. BURGESS. MS.^BURT. MR.^COLLINS. MR.^DAFFIN. MS.^DAVIES. MR.^DePALMA. MR.^DIAZ. MS.^DICKSON. MR.^ENGELHARDT. I'M SORRY, MS.^ESCALONA. MR.^FISHER. MR.^FLEMING. MR.^FOJO. MS.^FRIEDMAN. MS.^GARDENER. MS.^GNAU. MS.^GOLSON. MR.^GOODWIN. MR.^GRAHAM. MR.^D. HALL. MR.^R. HALL. MS.^HARDY. MS.^HATFIELD. MR.^HEITMAN. MS.^HENKLE. MS.^HORWITZ. MR.^HOWELL. MS.^JOBE. MS.^L. JOHNSON. MS.^R. JOHNSON. MR.^KAUFMAN. MR.^KEEP. MS.^LASTRAPES. MR.^LAWS. MS.^MATLOCK. MR.^MOODY. MS.^MYERS. MR.^NEF. MS.^NORTON. MR.^ORR. MS.^OUTLER. MS.^PARSON. MR.^PEDRAZA. MS.^PETROVA. MR.^POWER. MR.^QUALLS. MR.^RASCHKE. MS.^RICE. MR.^RICHARD. MS.^RINGSMUTH. MR.^ROBERSON. MR.^ROYER. MR.^RUBIN. MS.^SHE'LL. MS.^SCHRADER. MS.^SCOLES. MS.^SHEPPARD. MR.^SHOWMAN. MS.^SMALL. MR.^J. SMITH. MS.^S. SMITH. MR.^C. STUDSTILL. MS.^L. STUDSTILL. MR.^TIMMERMAN. MR.^USRY. MS.^VELEZ. MS.^WALKER. MR.^WEBSTER. MS.^WILSON. MS.^WINTER BERGER. MR.^WOOD. MR.^WRIGHT AND MS.^YOUMANS.

I'LL TELL YOU, I THINK THAT WAS IN RECORD TIME. WE HAVE 79 ADMITEES. HE MUST HAVE PRACTICED THAT FOR A WHILE. WE ARE NOW ABOUT TO COME TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WILL RISE TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE. FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, THE OATH OF ATTORNEY IS PRINTED IN YOUR PROGRAMS, AND WE DO THAT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T EXPECT OUR ADMITEES SO HAVE MEMORIZED THE OATH OF OFFICE. SECOND OF ALL, AS JUDGE BENTON ALLUDED TO, THE PRECEPTS OF THE OATH OF OFFICE ARE CRITICAL TO YOUR PRACTICE AS AN ATTORNEY, AND WE HOPE AND WE URGE THAT YOU NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A PRIVILEGE. YOU ARE ENTERING INTO A PROFESSION. IT IS NOT A BUSINESS, AND THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE OATHS AND PARTS OF THE OATH, ALTHOUGH THE WORDS ARE ARHANE, THEY HAVE MEANING TO US IN OUR DAILY LIVES AND SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THEY ARE THE ESSENCE OF WHAT WE EXPECT OF ALL OF YOU AS ATTORNEYS. WITH THAT, I WOULD ASK EACH OF YOU TO STAND AND RISE. RISE AND STAND. AND REPEAT AFTER ME. MY HAND UP. I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I WILL MAINTAIN THE RESPECT DUE TO COURTS OF JUSTICE AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS. I WILL NOT COUNSEL OR MAINTAIN ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDINGS WHICH SHALL APPEAR TO BE TO BE UNJUST NOR ANY DEFENSE EXCEPT SUCH AS I BELIEVE TO BE HONESTLY DEBATABLE UNDER THE LAW OF THE LAND. I WILL EMPLOY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE CAUSES CONFIDED TO ME SUCH MEANS ONLY AS ARE CONSISTENT WITH TRUTH AND HONOR, AND WILL NEVER SEEK TO MISLEAD THE JUDGE OR JURY BY ANY ARTIFICE OR FALSE STATEMENT OF FACT OR LAW. I WILL MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENCE AND PRESERVE INVIOLATE THE SECRETS OF MY CLIENTS, AND WILL ACCEPT NO COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR BUSINESS EXCEPT FROM THEM OR WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL. I WILL ABSTAIN FROM ALL OFFENSIVE PERSONALITY AND ADVANCE NO FACT PREJUDICIAL TO THE HONOR OR REPUTATION OF A PARTY OR WITNESS, UNLESS REQUIRED BY THE JUSTICE OF THE CAUSE WITH WHICH I AM CHARGED. I WILL NEVER REJECT, FROM ANY CONSIDERATION PERSONAL TO MYSELF, THE CAUSE OF THE DEFENSELESS OR OPPRESSED, OR DELAY ANYONE'S CAUSE FOR LUCRE OR MALICE. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU ARE ALL ADMITTED TO THE FLORIDA BAR. [ APPLAUSE ] NOW, WHILE YOU ARE STILL STANDING, I ASK FIRST OF ALL LET ME BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE YOU, BUT THERE HAS BEEN MENTION OF THE OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH YOU FROM THE BEGINNING. I'D ASK YOU TO TURN TO THOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU MAY BE SEATED. YOU ARE NOW ALL DULY ADMITTED LAWYERS AND OFFICERS OF THE COURT. I MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS CEREMONY, JUSTICE EHRLICH WHO WE HONORED EARLIER TODAY, AND I REALIZE AND I WROTE DOWN SOME OF THE WORDS THAT WERE USED TO DESCRIBE JUSTICE EHRLICH AND HIS LIFE. HE LEFT A LEGACY OF INTEGRITY, HUMILITY AND AN INCREDIBLE WORK ETHIC, A SENSE OF HUMOR, A LOVE OF THE LAW AND AN ABIDING PASSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR FREEDOMS AND PRESERVATION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. AS YOU GO FORTH TODAY IN YOUR NEW ROLE AS LAWYERS, I ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT EACH AND EVERY DAY YOUR LEGACY. IT IS IN YOUR HANDS. WITH THAT, I CONGRATULATE YOU AGAIN, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND THE COURT WILL BE IN RECESS, BUT I DO HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT. WE WILL BE HAVING YOUR PHOTOGRAPH, A TRADITIONAL PHOTOGRAPH IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE. THE SUPREME COURT STEPS, AND SO THAT JUST FOR CROWD CONTROL WE ASK ONLY THAT THE LAWYERS GO OUTSIDE, AND A WORD OF COMMENT ABOUT THAT PICTURE. THERE IS A PICTURE THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE LAWYERS LOUNGE AND IT IS HANGING UP THERE BECAUSE IN THAT PICTURE, TWO JUSTICES THAT SAT ON THIS COURT, JUSTICE MAJOR HARDING AND JUSTICE LEANDER SHAW ARE STANDING SIDE BY SIDE OUTSIDE THE STEPS OF THIS SAME COURTHOUSE, AND SO WHO KNOWS IN 10, 20, 30 YEARS WHO YOU WILL BE STANDING NEXT TO WHEN YOU VENTURE ON INTO THE NEXT STAGES OF YOUR CAREER. AGAIN, GOOD LUCK, CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH YOU, AND WE WILL SEE YOU OUTSIDE AND WITH THAT THE COURT IS IN RECESS.