The following is a real-time transcript taken as closed captioning during the ceremonial proceedings, and as such, may contain errors. This service is provided solely for the purpose of assisting those with disabilities and should be used for no other purpose. These are not legal documents, and may not be used as legal authority. This transcript is not an official document of the Florida Supreme Court.

Retirement of Marshal Wilson E. Barnes


MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE . HEAR YE.HEAR YE.HEAR YE.THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDAIS NOW IN SESSION . GOD SA VE TH ESE UNITED STATES , THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA AND THIS HONORA BLE COURT. LADIES AND GENTLE MEN , THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. PLEASE BE SE ATED .

CHIEF JUSTICE: WELL , I WAS GOING TO A SK EVERYONE TO REMAIN STANDING . [LAUGHTER]

I WILL BE AT EASE , MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE.

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE HAVE A STAND IN FOR REVEREND GREEN, WHO I AM SURE IS ON HIS WAY. I WOULD ASK JUS TICE QUINCE TO H ONOR US WITH THE INVOCATION.

WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER , WE THANK FOR YOU THIS DAY ANDWE THANK YOU FOR YET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR A LL OF US TO GATHER, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS SPECIAL OCCASION OF G ATHER ING IN HO NOR OF OUR DEAR FRI END , MARSHAL BARNES. WE ASK THAT THIS PROGRAM BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT ANDALL WHO LOVE THE L ORD , AM EN.

CHIEF JUSTICE: NOW , MARSHAL BARNES ASKED ME WHERE HE SHOULD BE SEATED FOR TODAY'S CEREMONY, AND WE THOUGHT , SINCE WE HAVE THE PODIUM OVER HERE , THAT I THINK THAT HIS PLACE OF HONOR IS A GREAT PL AC E TO BE. WELCOME , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. T O THE FLORIDA SUPREMECOURT. THIS IS A VERY SPECIALSESSION , AND THAN K FOR YOUBEING HERE TO HELP US CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND CAREER OF OUR DEAR FRIEND AND OUR MARSHAL , WILSON B ARNES.I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS , UNLIKE THE ARMY, FOR YOU KNOW WILSON SPE NT THE FIRSTPART OF HIS LIFE , WE DON'T HAVE MEDALS TO HONOR OUR HEROES. SO WE HONOR OUR HEROES, THEWAY WE KNOW BEST , W ITH OUR WORDS , WITH OUR THANKS , AND WITH THIS CE REMONY . BECAUSE OF WHAT MARSHAL BARNES HAS ME ANT TO US ALLOF US , THESE P AST 15 YE ARS , AND FOR S O MA NY , ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WITNESSED THIS COURT OVER THE INTERNET , OVER THE TELEVISION , AS WELL AS IN P ERSON , WE, ALL, KNOW THAT MARSHAL BA RNES 'S VOICE HAS BECOME THE VO ICE OF THESUPREME COURT , AND WHAT A GOLDEN VOICE IT IS , AND WE KNOW , AFTER HE I S LONG GONE FROM HERE , THAT HIS VOICE , HIS GO LDEN TO NES, WILL J OIN THE GREAT BARITONES OF THIS COUNTRY , AND I THOUGHT ABOUT , YOU KNOW, W HEN WE HEAR THE "HEAR YE HEAR YE" , WE ALL KNOW THAT COURT IS IN SESSION.I WAS REMINDED BY A LAWYER THAT WOR KS FOR ME, THAT USED TO ARGUE B E FORE US, THAT THAT "HEAR YE HEAR YE , WO UL D BRING T REP IDENTIFICATION TREPIDATION TO THE LAWYERS, KNOWING THAT THE TIME OF TRUTH HAD ARRIVED. FOR US, RE ALLY, THE "HEAR YE HEAR YE " IS THE " PLAY BA LL" OF OUR SESSION, SO TODAY WE ARE GO ING TO PLAY BALL. W E ARE NOT GOI NG TO HAVE REDLIGHTS FOR ANY OF YOU , BUTEVERYONE IS GOIN G TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR TIME, ANDWE WILL START WITH LINDAWELLS , WHO WILL TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE EARLYYEARS OF WILSON BARNES AND SOME OF HER O WN PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS. LINDA.

IS IT WORKING? YES. OKAY .

MS. WELLS : MAY IT P L EASETHE COURT. JUSTICES , LA DIES , GENTLEMEN , ADMIRERS OF WILSON BARNE S. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO DESCRIBE FOR YOU , WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD . CHARLEY AND I ARE V ERY LUCK Y,THAT IS JUSTICE WELLS AND I, ARE VERY LU CKY TO BE RESIDENTS OF WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR THREE CHILDREN ARE , ALSO , AMONG THOSE LUCKY RESIDENTS , AS IS MY B ROTHER , WHO EXCHANGES BO OKS WITH WILSON QUITE FREQUENTLY . I KNO W THAT EA CH OF YOU IS A HAPPY RESIDENT AS WELL , OF WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. WILSON BECAME A WARE OF NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN HE WAS A SMALL BOY IN RICHMOND , VIRG, W HERE HE WAS BORN . THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD , WILSON WAS KNOWN TO HISNEIGHBORS, THE ADULTS AND THE KIDS , ALL , KN EW ALL THE CHILDREN OF WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY KNEW WHERE EACH OTHER WERE. THESE DAYS, WE HEAR THE T ERM "ACCOUNTABILITY CO" AS THOUGH THE CONCEPT O F BEINGHELD TO ACCOUNT IS N E W. IT IS NOT NEW. WILSON 'S N E IGHBORS KNEW WHAT WILSON WAS UP TO. WILSON'S PA RENTS KNEW WHAT WILSON WAS UP TO, AND THEY KNEW WHAT ALL OF THE OTHERKIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE UP TO. AS A RES ULT, THEY WE REN'T UP TO MUCH! THAT IS WHAT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALL ABOUT. EACH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIMSELF O R HER SELF AND THEOTHERS IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . THE FO LKS IN WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD WERE NOT VERY FAR FROM SLAVERY. WILSON'S PARENTS WERE CHILDREN BORN INTO SLAVERY. HIS M A TERNAL GRANDMOTHER WHOM WILSON KNEW , COULD NOT READ OR WRITE, B U T THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WOULD MAKE VERY SURE THAT THEIR OFFSPRING WOULD READ , WRITE AND MORE. THEY WOULD WORK HA RD AND LEARN. WILSON TOOK TO HEART , WHAT HIS PARENTS AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD MENT ORS DEMANDED OF HIM . MARTIN LUTHER KING LATER S AID SOME THING LIKE , DON'TJUST BE THE BEST B LACK STREET SWEEPER. BE THE BEST ST REET SWEEPER . IT IS ONE OF WILSON 'S FAVORITE QUOTES FROM HIS HERO, AND IT STATES SUCCINCTLY THE KIN D OF CHARGE WILSON GOT FROM HIS NEIGHBORHOOD . EVEN IN THE SEGREGATED WORLD OF RICH MOND, THE KI DS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE WELL-TAUGHT BY WELL-TRAINED TEACHERS, WHOM WILSON REMEMBERS WITH PRIDE. WILSON'S NEIGHB ORHOOD EXPECTED HIM TO T AKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS EDUCATION, AND HE DID . WILSON GRADUATED FROM VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1960 , WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY. HE EA RNED A MASTER'S D EGREE I NSIDE ENS ED UCATION AND UNDER INSIDE ENS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION AND A MASTERS IN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, AND THESE STUDIES CAME FROM THE VIRGINIA STATE FOUNDATION , BUT IMMEDI ATELY AFTER HIS 1 960 GRAD UATION FROM VIRGINIA STATE, WILSON JOINED THE ARMY . NOW , WILSON'S NEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE U.S. ARMY, WAS RACIALLY INTEGRATED. IN THIS NEW NEIGHBORHOOD , WILSON WAS EX PECTED TO COMMAND , AND COMMAND HE DID. WILSON WAS, NOW , INCREASINGLY IN CHARGE OF HIS NEIGHB ORHOOD. HE WAS AN OFFICER. THE BOY WHOSE NEIGHBORS HAD HELD HIM ACCOUNTABLE , NOW HELD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE. WILSON MADE LIFELONG FRIENDSIN THE ARMY. WILSON LOST DEAR FRIENDS IN THE ARMY , INCLUDING MEN HE COMMANDED , FOR WILSON 'S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME , LO CATED IN VIET NAM. I F YOU HAD TO BE IN VIETNAM , YOU WERE SURELY FORTUNATE TO BE THERE IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD , FOR YOU HAD A JOB TO DO, AND YOU WOULD DO IT TO GETHER, WITH DIGNITY , EACH TAKING RESPONSIBILITYFOR THE OTHERS. THAT IS HOW IT WAS IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. WILSON RETI RED FROM THE ARMY IN 1988 AS A COLONEL. IN 19 90 , WILSON CAME TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT AS ITS MARSHAL. T ALK ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS! WILSON TOOK ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SECURITY O F SEVEN JUSTICES , NOT ONE A CARBON COPY OF THE O THER. HE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COURT , FOR THE SECURI TY OF LITI GANTS, AND FOR THE SECU RITY OF OTHER VI SITORS T O THE COURT . WILSON , ALSO , TOOK O N RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT THE COURT . IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU NEED A C LEAN PLACE TO WORK, TO T HINK , TO WRITE. YOU NEED FOR THE PHONES TO WORK PROPERLY, FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO GO UP ANDDOWN WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO. WILSON MADE SURE OF THAT . AS HAS BEEN TRUE WHEN HE WAS A BOY, AS HAD BEEN TRUE WHEN HE WAS A MILITARY MAN , WILSON'S WORK AT THE COURT WAS NEVER , NEVER JUST A J OB. IT WAS A WAY OF LIFE . WE CALL IT ACCOUNTABILITY . WE CALL IT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER. WE CALL IT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. EARLY ON , WILSON ANNOUNCEDTHE OPENING OF COURT WITH A L OUD INSP IRING , CLEAR VOICE , "HEAR YE , HEAR Y E , HEAR YE ". MY FATHER SO LOVE TO HEAR WILSON'S OPENING. IN FA CT E VERYONE WHO COMES TO THIS COURT LO VES TO HEAR WILSON 'S O YEZ . PRIMARILY WHEN HE CAME IN 1990, WHEN LAWYERS CAME TO ARGUE THEIR CASES , WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD WAS RELATIVELY SMALL BUT THAT WOULD CHA NGE. A T THAT TIME CHIL DREN WERE BEING SENT TO TALLAHASSEE BY SCHOOLS, TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR'S MANSION. OCCASIONALLY A JUSTICE WOULD BE ASKED TO TAKE A ST UDENT GROUP ON A TO UR OF THE COURT, BUT BY 1995 WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM WILSON , A CROWD O F ACTIVIST VOLUNTEERS , PRIMARILY COURT SP OUSES , PREPARED MATERIALS AND ORGANIZED THE DISTANCE PROGRAM AND C REATED A CADRE OF VOLUNT EERS T O TEACH FLORIDA VISITORS ABOUT THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT AND ALL OF THE COURTS. IN TIME , STUDENTS WOULD CONDUCT MOCK ORAL AR GUMENT , AND , OF COURSE , A C O VETED ROLE IS THAT OF THE MARSHAL, WITH HIS RESOUNDING "HEAR YE , HEAR YE " . OCCASIONALLY A G R OUP WILL HEAR WILSON'S "HEAR YE " IN PERSON AND ALWAYS GET TO HEAR IT IN A VI DE O PRESENTATION. FROM TIME TO TIME WILSON RECEIVES A LETTER FROM A STUDENT OR TEACHER OR A PARENT WHO WAS DE EPLY AFFECTED BY WHO WILSON IS AND WHAT HE DOES. WILSON WAS AND IS , THE FAVORITE. S ORRY, JUSTICES , BUT WILSON IS THE FAVORITE . IN RE CENT YE AR S , WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE CHILDREN OF TALLAHASSEE . WILSON WA NTED TO HE LP CREATE, FOR THESE CHILDR EN, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN, A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR TEACHERS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO , AND EX PECTED THEIR BEST. SO WILSON STARTED F INDING OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS OF TALLAHASSEE. HE WAS ON A CITIZEN BO ARD FOR HRS AND AS PAR T OF THAT WORK, REVIEWED AN APPLICATION FROM WE SSON ELEMENTARY SC HOOL FOR AGRANT TO TEACH GARDENING TO WESSON STUD ENTS. WILSON WENT TO WESSON SCH OOL AS A RESULT OF THIS. HE WA LKED THE ROOMS. HE WALKED THE CORRIDORS, ANDWHAT HE SAW WAS A DI NGY , UNKEPT SCHO OL, NOT THE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, NOT THE KIND O F ENVIRONMENT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD COULD TOLERATE. THAT DID IT. WILSON WENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.M ORE THAN ONCE . WILSON EXPLAINED TO THE BOARD WHAT HE HAD SEEN , MORE THAN ONCE. WILSON EXPLAI NED WHAT WAS NEEDED, A LOT MORE THAN ONCE . YOU WILL NOT BE SURPRISED T O LEARN THAT WESSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS REFURBISHED . ALONG THE WAY , WILSON HADBECOME A MEMBER OF THE WESSON ADVISORY BOA RD AND THE LEON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL. AND HE GOT INVOLVED WITH BOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE EN TIRE BOND NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HE SE RVES O N THE BOND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER BOARD. AS FOR THE SCHOOL S, THE WORK DIDN'T END WITH WESSON'S FACE-LIFT. BOND AND WESSON SCHOOLS ARE BEING RE PLACED BY A B RAND NEW SCHOOL . GOOD THI NGS HAPPEN IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . SYSTEMS AND P E OPLE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR AND TO EACH OTHER . WILSON'S CI VIC ACTIVITIES COVER EVERY SEGMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY. SCHOOLS , SALVATION ARMY , SO MUCH MO RE. WILSON HO LDS A DEMANDING JOB. NO MATTER. IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU PAY B A CK, YOU GIVE BACK , YOU LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER. A FEW YEARS BACK, WILSON 'S YOUNGER BR OTHER DIED , LEAVING A WI FE AND SO N. WILSON'S NEPHEW , NICHOLAS HENDERSON. WILSON TOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEINGFATHER TO HIS NEPHEW , ASMUCH AS HE COUL D. HE BEC AME THE BOY'S MENTOR , FRIEND , ADVIC E OR , MORE THAN ADVISOR , MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE FAV ORITE UNCLE. HE TAUGHT NI CHOLAS , DO WHAT YOUR MOTHER SAYS , BE EXCELLENT IN YOUR STUD IES , BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE. WILSON AND NIC HOLAS ARE VERY CLOSE.WE HAVE ALL MET NICH OLAS , BECAUSE WILSON BR INGS HIM TO MEETINGS AND EVENTS SUCH A S THE FLORIDA BAR ASSOCIATION MEETING , WHENEVER HE CAN . FUN AS THE FLORIDA BAR ASSOCIATION ME ETING M UST BE FOR NICHOLAS , H E MA VEN JOINED, EVEN MORE , THE EVEN MOORE , THE TIMES THAT WILSON TOOK HIM TO LEXINGTON , KENTUCKY. THERE THEY STAYED WITH WILSON'S CL OSE FRIEND , UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY 'S BABBLE COACH SMITH, WHO IS MARRIED TO HIS COU SIN DONNA. THEY GO TO THE BASKETBALL G AMES. THEY ARE FAMILY. AS FOR NICHOLAS, HE TOOK HIS UNCLE'S ADVICE , O BEYED THE LOVING COMMAN DS O F HIS SUBSTITUTE DAD AND DID WELL IN HIS STUDIES. NICHOLAS GRADUATED FROM H OWARD UNIVERSITY AND IS NOW WELL ALONG IN HIS STUDIES AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY MEDICALSCHOOL. L UCKY YOUNG MAN, IT TO LIVE IN WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . THE DO CENTS , THE CHILDREN WHO VISIT THIS COURT , T HECHILDREN AT WESSON AND BOND AND PERSONS THAT WORK AT THIS COURT, ESPECIALLY THE INCREDIBLE SECURITY FORCEHERE, ARE ALL PART OF WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. I BEGAN BY SAYING CHARLEY AND I AND OUR CHILDREN ARE PART OF WHAT WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD . WHEN I SAY OUR CHILDREN, THAT INCLUDES SO FAR , SON , DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW , DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, TWO GRANDSONS , ONE ON THE WAY AND ASHLEY AND CHIP. L AST FALL , OUR DAUGHTER ASHLEY MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE , WHEN SHE FINISHED HER FELLOWSHIP WITH AT LANTA LEGAL AID.SHE DID THAT SO SHE COULD BE CLOSE TO A YOUNG GATOR N AMED CHIP. WHEN WE KNEW CHIP AND ASHLEY WERE COMING TO TALL AHASSEE TO HEAR ORAL ARGUMENT, I TOLD WILSON WHAT WAS U P, ANDWHEN THEY CAME , WILSON MAD E IT A POIN T TO MEET AND HAVE A LONG TALK WITH CHIP . WILSON'S ENTHUSIASM ABOUT CHIP MADE US EVEN HAPP IER, WHEN A T CHRISTMASTIME , CHIP AND ASHLEY BECAME ENGAGED TO MARY. AS A MATTER OF FACT - - TO MARY , AS A MATTER OF FACT NEXT MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEKEND. THAT IS THE KIND OF CA RING , INTENTIONAL SUPPORT THAT WILLS AND THAT WILSON AND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ALLABOUT. THANK YOU, WILSON , FOR WHAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US, WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS. WE ARE DE EPLY HONORED , A LLOF US , TO BE PART O F WILSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THE RE ARE A LOT OF VERY , VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE HERE TO DAY , AND SO I KNO W THAT IF IMENTION SO ME OF THEM I WILL OFFEND OTHERS , BUT I CAN'THELP BUT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIRST VISIT TO OUR COURTROOM BY THE ANSTEAD TW INS , WHO ARE HER E, AND WE HOPE THEY WILL BEHAVE THEMSELVES D URING THE REST OF THE CEREMONY. I WOULD LI KE TO , NO W , CALL UPON JUSTICE LE ANDER J SHAW , WHO WILL GI VE HIS OBSERVATIONS O N BEHALF OF YOU AND THE COURT. I WAS WORRIED. I DIDN'T SEE ANY NOTES THERE. [LAUGHTER]

JUSTICE SHAW : THEY ARENOT AS LONG AS THEY SEEM. I HAD TO HAVE MY PRESCRIPTION CHAN GED AND I HAD TO HAVE BIG PRINT. CHIEF JUSTICE , JUSTICES , FRIENDS , WILSON BARNES , IT IS TRUE THAT GRATIFY ING EXPERIENCE TO JOIN WITH OTHERS TODAY, IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARSHAL BARNES . SOMEPLACE IN THE PERSONNEL FILES , I AM SURE THER E IS A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE MARSHAL OF THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT . BUT IT HA RDLY DEFINES WILSON'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COURT . TO THE STAT E OF FLORIDA AND THE TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY . A PAR TIAL LIST OF HIS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT INCLUDES M E MMER S H IP ON THEBOARD OF THE TALLAH ASSEE MARINE INSTI TUTE , MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF THE TALLAHASSEE BR ANCH NA ACP , MEMBERSHIP ON LEON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT , ADVI SORY PANEL , THE SALVATION ARMY, THE UR BAN LEA GUE , THE VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION , AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD , MEMBERSHIP ON WESSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD . HIS UNIQUE MA NNER OF ANNOUNCING AND CON VENE ING OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HAS BECOME HIS HALLMARK . ANYONE WHO HAS EVER HEARD HIS DISTINCTIVE "H EA R YE , HEAR YE " IS IMPRESSED WITH THE FACT THAT THE SUPREMECOURT OF FLORIDA IS IN SESSION AND THERE WILL B E N O DISRUPTIONS . EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE , IS THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT C O LONEL BARNES BR ING TO SAY THE COURT. AS YOU HAVE HEARD , HE HAS A BS IN BIOLOGY , A ND AN MS IN SCIENCE ED UCATION , AND HAS DONE DOCTORAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. HE S E RVED HIS COUNTRY FOR OVER 28 YEARS , IN WAR AND IN PEACE. AS A STA FF OFFICER AND UNIT COMMANDER . FROM 1960-TO-1988 , AND HAVING BEEN COMMISSIONED AROUND THAT SAME TIME , I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THE 1960s WERE NOT EA SY YEARS FOR A B LACK JU NIOR GRADE OFF ICER, A SECOND LIEUTENANT. I HAVE SEEN SOLDIERS CROSS THE ST REET , R ATHER THAN SALUTE A BLACK OFFICER. SO THOSE WERE NOT EASY YEARS FOR WILSON, I A M SURE . BUT HE PERSERVERED . DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER , IN AD DITION TO HIS OVERSEAS DUTIES , HE ATTENDED THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE. HE ATT ENDED COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL EGE . HE SERVED ON ADVISORY PA NELS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE . HE COMMANDED AN UNIT RESPONSIBLE FOR ARMY RECRUITMENT . AND A BU DGET IN EX CESS OF $1 MILLION . WITH STAFF OF 125 PERSONS. HE DIRE CTED 20- PERSON COMPREHENSIVE RES EARCH STUD FOY ARMY LEADERSHIP . STUDY, FOR ARMY LEADERSHIP. SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT, WHEN WILSON CAME TO THECOURT , HE BECAME THE GONE -TO MAN - - HE BECAME THE GO TO MAN. NO JOB IS TOO L ARGE AND NO JOB I S TOO S MALL , FROM OVERSEEING TO UP K EEP AND INVENTTORY OF THE BUILDING , TO COURT SECURITY . WHEN AN EMERGENCY COMES UP , THE CALL GOES OUT FOR MARSHAL BARNES . BY VI RTUE OF HIS MANY FRIENDSHIPS AR OUND THE STATE , HE HAS SERVED THE COURT AS A CONTACT PERSON , A FACILITATOR , AND AN AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL. IT IS THIS ATTE NTION TO DETAIL THAT HAS MADE WILSON A SUP ERIOR OFFICER ANDSERVED HIM WELL AS SUPREME COURT MARSHAL. THROUGH IT ALL , I HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM COMPLAIN. I HAVE NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THAT SOMETHING COULDN'T BE DONE . AND IN FACT , HIS FAVORITE EXPRESSION I S , I WILL MA KEIT HAPPEN . AND NO MA TTER HOW DIFFICULT A TASK, H E DO ES IT WITH THE DIGNITY , THO ROUGH NSNESS , AND THOROUGHNESS AND CONFIDENCE. ANOTHER ONE OF HIS FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS IS NO TASK TOO DIFFICULT , NO SACRIFICE TOO G REAT .

NO BU RDEN TOO HEA VY, N O SACRIFICE TOO GR EAT .

THOSE WHO WORK WITH HIMON A DAY-TO-DAY BA SIS , REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT HE IS TO THE COURT AND HOW MUCH HE WILL BE MI SSED. THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL BE IMMENSELY POORER , BY VIRTUE OF HIS RETI REMENT . I NEVER TOLD WILSON THIS , BUT THE THING THAT I ADMIRE , THE MOST ABOUT HIM, IS SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY MRS. WELLS. IT IS THE ROLE THAT HE HAS PLAYED IN THE LIFE OF HIS NEPHEW , WHOSE FATHER DIED AT AN EAR LY AGE . WILSON TOOK OVER THE ROLE OF SURROGATE FAT HER, AND HE HAS GUIDED , COUNSELED , AND FINANCED THIS YOUNG MAN'S EDUCATION AND U P KE EP. THOSE WHO WORK AT THE COURT HERE, HAVE PROBABLY SEEN HIM STUDYING IN THE LIBRARY , DURING SPRING BREAK AND HOLIDAYS , AND THAT IS UNUSUAL , BECA USE MOST COLLEGE KIDS TEND TO BE AT DAYTONA BEACH AROUND THAT TIME . AND THERE IS AN OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEAT URE ABOUT HIM. I GUESS HE IS IN HIS TWENTIES NOW , BUT IF YOU SPEAK TO HIM , HE LOOKS YOU IN THE EYE , AND HE ANSWERS YES, SIR AND NO, SIR , YES, MA'AM , NO, MA 'AM ! AND YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN A YOUNG MAN TOO OFTEN. AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT TO WILSON 'S INFLUENCE. UNDER WILSON'S TUTELAGE AND GUIDANCE, HE STAYED IN SCHOOL, GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND W E NT ON TO ATTEND COLLEGE, WHERE HE P LAYED FOOTBALL , WH ILE MAINTAIN ING A HIGH GRADE POINT AVERAGE , AND THE OTHER DAY, I AS KE D A BOUT HIM , AND IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT WILSON INFORMED ME THAT THE YOUNG MAN IS NOW I N HIS FIRST YEAR OF M E DICAL SCHOOL. I JUST FOUND IT OUT . WILSON, I KN OW YOU ARE PROUD OF HIM, AND WE ARE PROUD OF YOU . 'JOIN YOUR MANY FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN WISHING YOU GODSPEED IN WHATEVER YOUR NEW ENDEAVOUR S ARE . GOD BLESS YOU. MAY YOU EN JOY YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. EXCUSE ME. YOUR SECOND RET IREMENT. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] EN

CHIEF JUSTIC E: THAN K YOU , JUSTICE SHAW. I F IT IS ALL RIGHT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH EVERYONE HERE IS IMPORTANT , THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE A BR EAK IN ATRIAL , SO FOR ALL OF YOU PEOPLE THAT DON'T THINK TRIAL JU DGES WORK ALL THE TIME , SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK JUDGE NIKKI CLARK TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS SO YOU CAN GET BACK TO YOUR JURY TRIAL AND IMPRESS YOUR CHIEFJUDGE THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH .

MS. CLARK : CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE, JUSTICES , FRI ENDS.

CHIEF JUSTICE: YOU CAN CATCH YOUR BREATH.

YES. I JUST RUSHED IN. THANK YOU VERY , VERY MUCH FOR ACCOMMODATING MY SCHEDULE. I AM IN T RIAL. WE TOOK A RECESS. I JUST SO MUCH WA NTED TO BE OVER HERE AND DI DN'T WANT TO THIS MISTHIS FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, SO I THIS, FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, SO ITOLD THE WITNESS , H URRY UP , BECAUSE I HAVE GOT TO GO, BUT I WANTED VERY MUCH TO BE HERE TODAY , TO B E AMONGTHOSE WHO HAD A CH ANCE T O THANK WILSON BARNES FOR A JOB WELL DONE . I WANT TO J OIN EVERYBODY ELSE IN THANKING YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE T O THE STATE AND SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR 15 YEARS OF SERV ICE TO THE COURT SYSTEM . A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE G O ING TO REMEMBER WILSON FOR THE WAYTHAT HE OPENED COURTTHOUSANDS OF TIMES, WITH THAT MAGNIFICENT BO OMING V OICE . EVEN MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RE MEMBER YOU AND YOUR FACE AND YOUR VOICE AND WATCH THE N ATIONAL NEWS , DURING OUR NOW INFAMOUS 36 DAYS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2000. AND, OF COURSE , THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER WILSON FOR THE W A RM WELCOME THAT THEY RECEIVED WHEN THEY CAME TO VISIT THIS AWESOME COURTHOUSE . THE TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS IN THIS STATE WILL BE EVER GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT YOU PROVIDED IN OPER ATING SAFE AND E FFICIENT COURTHOUSES . OF COURSE , IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY , SECURITY CONCERNS HAVE UNFORTUNATELY B EEN HEIGHTENED IN RECENT MONTHS . IN FLORIDA , WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT WE HAVE BEEN AHEAD OF THE C URVE O N THOSE SECURITY IS SUES . THERE WERE MANY , MANY TIMES WHEN WILSON WOULD COME OVER TO THE SECOND CIRCUIT AND REVIEW WITH OUR COURT PERSONNEL AND OUR COURT ADMINISTRATION , ISS UES OF SECURITY AND ISSUES OF SAFETY AND ISSUES OF EFFICIENCY. WE APPRE CIATE THAT. WE WILL MISS THAT . ALSO, THIS ENTIRE COMM UNITY IS APPRECIA TIVE THAT YOU HAVE CH OSEN TO CALL TALLAHASSEE YOUR H OME . WITHIN MONTHS OF ARRIVING HERE, WILSON BECAME A PART OF THE LANDSCAPE OF TALLAHASSEE . WILSON WASN'T THE KI ND WHO SAT AROU ND AND WAITED TO SEE IF HE WOULD A D JUST TO TALLAHASSEE.HE MADE TALLAH ASSEE FIT WITH HIM. HE MADE SURE HE WAS A GOOD FIT WITH TALLAHASSEE. FOR E X AMPLE , WILSON NEVER JUST SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE N A ACP . HE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP TO THAT BOARD . AND WILSON HASN'T JUST SERVED A S A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL DIST RICT ADVISORY PANEL. WILSON HAS BEEN THE VOICE , THE CONSCIENCE, THE ONE WHO SHOWS UP AT THE MEETINGS TO HELP MAKE SCHOOL BOARD POLICY. WILSON IS , IN EVERY SE NSE OF THE WORD, A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY . EVEN LAKE E LLA, HE DIDN'T JUST FIND OUT ABOUT LAKE ELLA WHEN HE GOT HERE. WILSON CAME T O O WN LAKE ELLA. I CAN'T TE LL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I HAVE RI DDEN BY LAKE ELLA , ON THE WAY HOME OR ON THE WAY TO THE MALL OR ANYPLACE ELSE, ANDSOMEHOW WILSON IS ALWAYS THERE, WAL KING AROUND THAT CIRCLE IN HIS FAST PA CED KIND OF WAY .

CHIEF JUSTICE: CAN WE ASKHIM WHAT TO DO WITH THE D UCK ?

MS. CLARK : I WILL TELL YOU WHAT , WHEN H E WALKS IN THOSE FAST - PACED CIRCLES , THE DUCKS GET AWAY FROM HIM. SO EVEN LAKE ELLA HAS BECOME HIS PARK. WILSON WOULD, OF COURSE, ALWAYS SHOW UP AT WESSON ELEMENTARY AND WOULD ORGANIZE WHATEVER IT IS THATNEEDED TO BE ORGANIZED. WHEN TALLAHASSEE MARINE INSTITUTE NE EDED NEW I DEAS , THEY CALLED ON WILSON. THEY KNEW HE WOULD HAVE THOSE FR ESH ID EAS. THEY KNEW HE WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK HA RD. WHEN ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY NEEDED FRESH IDEAS , WILSON WAS THE MAN . IN ALL THAT HE DOES , AND ALLTHAT HE STANDS FOR , WILSON B ARNES INSPIRES EXCELLENCE , DILIGENCE , AND PERSEVERANCE . NOT ONE TIME HAS WILSON LET A FRIEND BECOME DISSPIRITED OR DISCOURA GED. NOT ONE TIME HAS WILSON ALLOWED AN IMPORTANT WORD TO GO UN SAID . HE HAS NEVER TOLERATED MEDIOCRITY . IT IS HIS JOB TO KEEP HISFRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES UPBEAT AND TR ULY READY FOR THE WORLD , AND TO THIS DAY IHAVE NO IDEA HOW HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AS MUCH AS HE HAS OR HOW HE HAS TIME AND MAN AGES TO KEEP CLOSE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS HE HAS. WILSON BARNES HAS TRULY MADE A DIFF ERENCE IN THE LI VES O F COUNTLESS FLORID IANS , INCLUDING MI NE. WILSON, WE LOVE YOU . WE WILL CERTAINLY MISS YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR COURTS. BUT WE WILL BE SEEING YOU AROUND, AT COMMISSION MEETINGS, AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS , AT LAKE ELLA , AND ANY EVENT WHERE A ST RONG VOICE IS NEEDED , LI TERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY . WILSON HAS SET THE STAN DARD THAT MARS HALS WOULD HAVE TO L IVE UP TO FOR YEARS TO COME . WHILE WILSON'S CA REER AS MARSHAL IS COMING TO AN EN D, ALL OF THOSE WHO KNOW HIM , KNOW THAT HIS RETIREMENT WILL NOT STOP HIM FROM SETTING MILESTONES . AFTER ALL, THIS IS N'T THE FIRST CAR EER WILSON HAS RETIRED FROM AND KE PT GOING STRONG . MADAM JUSTICE , THANK YOU , A GAIN , FOR ALL OWING ME TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS. I SO APPRECIATE YOUR ACCOMMODATING MY SCHEDULE. WILSON, THANK YOU, A GAIN, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS FRIENDSHIP , AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THA NK YOU FOR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS AND FOR YOUR CAMEO APPEARANCE HERE TODAY. I WOULD NEXT LIKE TO CALL ON JUSTICE GRIMES TO SHARE SOME WORDS WITH US.

JUSTICE GRIMES : WELL , I AM GOING TO TRY IT . "HEAR YE. HEAR YE.HEAR YE. " . THAT IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT . NOBODY CAN DO IT LIKE WILSON BARNES. I AM VERY HONORED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT WILSON'S RETI REMENT . I HAVE ALWAYS AD MIRED WILSON, B OTH AS A MAN AND, ALSO, FORWHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THIS COURT . YOU HAVE HEARD , AL READY , OF HIS WON DERFUL MILITARY EXPERIENCE, SERVICE TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM , 25 MONTHS SERVING WITH THE 1 O N 1 st AIRBORNE , SERVE WITH THE 10 1st AIRBORNE , SERVING IN THE MECHANIZED COMMUNITY , SERVING IN THE PENTAGON , BATTALION COMM ANDER , FORT KNOCKS, NA VAL WAR COLLEGE, AND SERVICE WITH NATO IN TURKEY. AND FINA LLY , FIN ISHING HIS THIRD TOURS OF DUTY AT THE U.S. CENT RAL COMMAND A T MacDILL , WHERE HE PLAYED A PART IN THE PLANNING OF DESERT STORM. RETIRED AS A F ULL COL ONEL , AFTER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE . INCLUDING SE VERAL ME DALS , THE BRONZE STAR AMONG THEM. INSOFAR AS THE COURT IS CONCERNED, I THINK THAT I A M QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO TALK, SOME , ABOUT WHAT WILSON HAS MEANT TO THE COURT , BECA USE UNLIKE THE SITTING JUSTICES , I WAS HERE WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED MARSHAL . AT THAT TIME , THE MACHINES OF THIS COURT - - THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS COURT WAS IN DISAR RAY. BASICALLY SHAB BY. I HAD JUST COME UP FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL A COUPLE OF YEARS BE FORE, AND WHEN I GOT UP HERE, ITHOUGHT I HAD BEEN DEMOTED . I LOOKED AROUND . [LAUGHTER] BUT EVEN MORE , WAS THE LACK OF SECURITY . THERE WERE ACT UALLY DOORS TO THE COURT THAT WERE UNGUARDED AND LEFT OPEN, ANDI HAD REMARKED AT THE TIME,THAT I THOUGHT A KID WITH A BOMB COULD WALK AROUND AND NOBODY WOULD EVER NOTICE IT . THAT ALL CH ANGED , WHEN WILSON CAME ABOARD . INSOFAR AS THE UP KEEP OF THE FACILITIES , YOU CAN SEE AS IT IS NOW , AND ADMITTEDLY THERE HAS BEEN, ALSO , SOME BUILDING RENOVATIONS WH ICH WERE NEEDED B A DLY , BUT NOW ITHINK THAT THIS BU ILDING , CONSIDERING ITS AGE, CAN COMPARE WITH ANY BUILDING IN THE STATE FOR ITS BEAUTY AND ITS UP KEEP. AND WILSON HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THAT . BUT EVEN MORE SO , IS THE IMPROVEMENT INSECURITY . IN MANY WAYS , OF COURSE, HE PUT IN THE S C ANNER , THE METAL DETECTOR IN THE FRONT DOOR. HE AR RANGED FOR SCREENING OF MAIL WHERE THE MAIL IS SCREENED OUTSIDE THE FACILITY, BEFORE IT G ETS HERE. HE C REATED OR DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE , BO TH THE STATE , F EDERAL AND LOCALLEVELS, WHER E HE COULD CALL ON THEM , WHEN SECU RITY INTERESTS AR E A CONCERN. SOM ETIMES WHEN, WHAT HASHAPPENED, WE GET SOME OF THOSE CRAZY LETTERS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE SORT OF SEMITHREATENING , AND HE COU LD HAVE THEM TO THE FAC ILITY TO BE ABL E TO GET THEM CHECKED OUT, TO BE SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT SOMETHINGTHAT WOULD BE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. HE TRAINED THE SECURITY PERSONNEL IN A WAY THE Y HAD NEVER BEEN TRAINED BEFORE. I GUESS THAT IS HIS MILITARY EXPERIENCE. HE NOTED THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO G UNS , AND I THINK SOME OF THEM HAD NEVER FIRED G UNS, AND HE THOUGHT MAYBE THEY OU GHT TO BE TRAINED , AND SO HE HAD ACTUALLY GUNNERY PRACTICE FOR THE GUARDS. HE WAS ALWAYS LO OKING A HEAD , TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A , A SECURITY ISSUE WOULDN'T COME UP THAT HE HAD NOT FORESEEN. I AM TOLD THAT YOU ARE IN THE TENS TIME OF THAT, DURING THE TENS TIME OF THE THE TENSE TIME OF THE 2000 EL ECTIONS , THAT HE ACTUALLY HAD DEPUTIES WATCHING AND GU ARDING THEHOMES OF THE JUSTICES . I KNOW THAT, WHEN I WASCHIEF JUSTICE, I HAD TO GO TO TA MPA ON SOME BUSINESS AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME PROBLEMS IN TAMP A THERE WAS A GROUP DOWN THERE THAT STRANGELY ENOUGH HAD STARTED THEIR OWN COURT SYSTEM AND WERE MAKING TH REATS AGAINST THE JUDI CIARY , AND IT WASSORT OF A PERIOD OF UNREST, AND UNBEKNOWNST T O ME WHEN I GOT TO TAMPA, THERE WAS A DEPUTY WAITING FOR ME , AND HE ESCORTED ME ALL THROUGH THE WHOLE DAY , JUST TO MAKE S URE THAT I DIDN'T FALL IN HARM'S WAY. BUT THAT WAS WILSON 'S , THAT WAS WILSON'S MANNER . HE SET THE STAN DARD FOR HOW SECURITY AND MAINTENANCEOUGHT TO BE . AND I AM TOLD THAT WE HAVE , THAT THE COURT HAS HIRED A MAN O F GR EAT EXPERIENCE WHOCAN CARRY ON WILSON'S WORK , BUT HE IS NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT ANY BETTER THAN WILSON . WILSON IS GOING TO RETIRE , BUT HE IS NOT GOING TO QUIT . YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES OUTS IDE THE COURT THAT HE IS INVOLVED I N . AND YET JUST LAST W E EK , OR L AST MONTH, R ATHER , HE AGREED, ALSO , TO JOIN ME O N THE BOARD OF ELDER-CARE , FOR WHICH I AM VERY GR ATEFUL . THEODORE ROOSEVELT ONCE S AID , FAR AND WAY, THE BEST PR IZE THAT LIFE OF FERS I S A CHANCE TO WORK HARD A T WORK WORTH DOING . WILSON, I BE LIEVE I CAN SAY , AND SPEAK FOR ALL 15 OF THE JUSTICES FOR WHOM YOU HAVE WORKED , AS WELL AS , REALLY , ANYBODY WHO HAS WORK ED IN THIS BUILDING D U RING THEPERIOD OF YOUR TENURE , THA T YOU HAVE WORKED HARD FOR WORK WORTH DOING , AND YOU HAVE DONE IT WITH S KILL AND DEDICATION , AND FOR THAT WE THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: MARSHA L, IWANT TO KNOW WHOSE CELL PHONE WENT OFF? I THINK LAST TIME WE HAD A CEREMONY, WE CONFISCATED OR GOT MON EY RETURN! [LAUGHTER]

CHIEF JUSTICE: OUR NEXT PRESENT ER/SPEAKER, AS HE IS MAKING HIS WAY DOWN TO THE PODIUM, IS OUR OWN JUSTICE WELLS. I DON'T KNOW. THERE IS SOMETHING UNDER THEBAG , SO I WOULD B E NERVOUS , IF I WERE YOU .

JUSTICE WELLS : C H IEF JUSTICE AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BE NCH , YOU KNOW I AM GOING TO SPE AK VERY BRIEFLY HERE. L INDA SP OKE FOR OUR TEAM , ON MARSHAL BARNES, AND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD , BUT I WANT TO RECALL FOR YOU , BACK , YOU KNOW IN 1998 , 1 9 99 AND THEFIRST PART OF 2 000 , WE HAD THE RELATIVELY CALM PERIOD OF CHIEF JUSTICE HARD ING . THE N, IN JULY OF 2000 , IBECAME CHIEF , AND IN THE WORDS OF THE VERNACULAR , ALL HELL BROKE LOO SE! [LAUGHTER] AND AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, ACTUALLY IT STARTED OFF OKAY. FLORIDA BEAT TEN NESSEE IN SEPTEMBER UP THERE. [LAUGHTER] AND THIN GS WERE GOING RELATIVELY WELL , AND THEN THEY HAD AN ELECTION , AND I CAME DOWN HERE O N A SU NDAY AFTERNOON OF THE ELECTION , AND THE JAPANESE M E DIA HAD ALREADY SET UP A BEACHHEADUP THERE ON THE LAWN OF THE COURT ! THERE WAS TENTS AND THEN, BY GOLLY , THE NEXT DAY , THERE WERE THREE BLOCKS OF SATELLITE TRUCKS. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THERE WERE JUGGLERS OUT THERE , JUG GLING THINGS UPAND DOWN. THERE WAS A LA DY THAT BROUGHT HER PET SKUNK! IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE ! [LAUGHTER] SO CRAIG WA TERS AND TOM HALL AND WILSON AND I , WE B E GAN MEETING EVER YDAY , AND TR YING TO, NOT EVERYDAY. WE MET ABOUT EVERY HO UR. AND BECA USE LI TERALLY , AS CRAIG WAT ERS WILL 'TIL YOU , OUR E MAIL WILL TE LL YOU , OUR EM AIL HITS ON THE MONDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION WERE ABOUT 10,000. OUR EMAIL HITS THE MONDAY FOLLOWING ELECTION WERE 2 MILLION! AND THEY WERE ALL OUT THEREIN FRONT OF THE BUILDING! [LAUGHTER] AND SO WE HAD AN ENORMOUS SECURITY PRO BLEM HERE , AND I REMEMBER ONE EVENT WAS THAT WE HAD MADE A DECISION AND WILSON AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT IT , THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO LET ANYBODY MAKE ANY TALKS FROM THE S T EPS OF THE BUILDING, BEC AUSE WE F ELT LI KE IT HAD TO BE PRESERVED A S A NONPOLITICAL SPACE , THE EN TIRE P A RT OF THE BUILDING, AND THEN THAT SOUNDED GOOD IN THEOR Y . [LAUGHTER] WE GOT WORD WILSON CAME IN AND SA ID, YOU KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE A MARCH FROM DOWN AT FLOR IDA A &M , AND IT IS GOING TO BE LED BY REVEREND JESSE JA CKSON AND THE RE VEREND AL SHARPTON, AND THEY WANT TO COM E UP HERE AND GIVE A TALK. AND SO I SAID, WELL , WILSON, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MADE THIS DECISION. WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET ANYBODY BE ON THE STE PS. HE SAID I WILL HANDLE IT, AND YOU KNOW , HE DID. HE TALK ED TO THEM , AND THE THING THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE DURING THAT WHOLE PE RIOD OF THE 36 DAYS THAT JU DG E CLARKJUST MENTIONED , WAS THAT I DIDN'T RE CEIVE ONE S INGLE COMPLAINT FROM OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING , ABOUT ANYBODY BEING DISCOURTEOUS ON OUR SECURITY FORCE. THERE WEREN'T ANY INCIDENTS OF UN REST THAT WEREN'T KEPT IN BOUNDS, AND THAT WAS , REALLY , THE WORK OF WILSON BARNES. AND HIS TRAINED STA FF , BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY T URNED INTO A VERY DIFFICULT SI TUATION TO HANDLE . SO WE MADE IT ON THROUGH THERE AND WE WENT INTO A R ATHER RAUCOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION , NOT THAT THEY ARE ALL NOT RAUCOUS , BUT THAT ONE WAS PARTICULARLY RAUCOUS THAT SPRING , AND BY GOLLY , WE GOT OVER TO SEPTEMBER 2001, AND WE HAD 9/ 11 , AND THAT PR ESENTED ENORMOUS PROBLEMS FOR SECURITY ANDALL OF THE FO CUS AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN TALLAHASSEE , AND THEN WE HAD THE ANTH RAX SC ARES , BUT, ANDWILTS ONE HAD A TREMENDOUS AND WILSON HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE DID, IN TRYING TO KEEP THE COURTHOUSES AROUND THE STATE O PEN , AND IT WAS ALL SOMETHING THAT I KN EW AND THAT WILSON DEVELOPED AS SAYING, AND HE WOULD COME INTO ME EVERY MORNING AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT WHAT WASGOING ON, AND HE WOULD SAY , YOU KNOW , TODAY PRE SENTS JUST AN OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL. AND WE HAD A LOT O F THEM. [LAUGHTER] BUT HAVING GOTTEN ALL THROUGH THAT, WILSON AND I , CERTAINLY BECAME CLOSE , AND NOW HE IS RETIRING , AND SO WILSON , W OULD YOU COME OVER, YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING WHAT COULD I D O FOR WILSON, WHAT COULD I GIVE HI M. I WOULD GIVE HIM ANY THING, BECAUSE OF ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME , AND THIS COURT , AND I THOUGHT , YOU KNOW , I CAN'T GIVE HIM LINDA OR OUR CHILDREN. [LAUGHTER] THEY ARE FAR TOO EXPENSIVE FOR UP KEE P! [LAUGHTER] I KNOW THAT FOR A FA CT! AND SO I DECIDED, YOU KNOW , THAT BY THE GR ACE OF GOD , I WAS BORN A DE BATE OR . [LAUGHTER] AND SO WHAT I WOULD DO WOULD BE , I WOULD MAKE WILSON BARNES AN HONOR ARY GATOR! [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] AND I WOULD GIVE WILSON , GODBLESS YOU AS WE GO FORWARD HERE , YOU CAN AND I CA N PROVE TO GETHER , WE HAVE GOTSTRENGTH OF CHARACTER. MAYBE EM PTY HEADS BUTSTRENGTH OF CHARACTER! [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: JUSTICE WELLS ALWAYS SURPRISES US,DOESN'T HE . [LAUGHTER] I WAS REALLY WORRIED WHAT WAS IN THAT BAG. I FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER NOW.AND YOU KNOW , IT JUST BR INGS UP , I AM GOING TO GIVE THE PROGRAM OVER TO JUSTICE ANSTEAD, BUT CRAIG WATERS , WHO , OF COURSE , THE PROGRAM IS SO , SO MA NY PE OPLE WANTED TO SPEAK, BUT I WAS AS KING CRAIG ABOUT SOME ELECTION STORIES, AND HE TELLS ME , I GUESS THIS IS ANOTHER SIDE OF BOTH JUSTICE WELLS AND MARSHAL BARNES, THAT THEY , AT THE POINT THAT THE P RESS WAS IN A FRENSY , DETERMINATION WAS MADE THATTHE BUILDING HAD TO BE LOCKED, AND SO THERE WAS ALL THE PRESS OUT THERE , AND N O WAY TO GET IN, AND APPARENTLY CHIEF JUSTICE WELLS SAID , WELL , CRAIG , YOU GO OUT , AND SO CRAIG WATERS BECAME THE, PART OF THE FACE OF THE SUPREME COURT DURING THAT TIME. I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY NICE OF BOT H OF YOU , TO LET CRAIG TAKE ON THAT SPOT . [LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE TO, NOW, TU RNTHE PROGRAM OVER TO JUSTICE ANSTEAD FOR SOME REMARKS .

JUSTICE AN STEAD : ALL RIGHT.AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE BY JUSTICE WELLS , I AM NOT GOING TO GO NEAR THAT PODIUM . I AM AF RAID IT WOULD BE TOOHOT TO TOUCH. YOU KNOW, I WI SH YOU ALL WOULD TAKE A DEEP BREATH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE IN STRONGLY , IS THAT IT IS CEREMONIES LIKE THESE THAT ARE GREAT L E ARNING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYBODYOUT THERE , EVERYBODY THAT IS WATCHING, HOPE FULLY ON TELEVISION, AND EVERYBODY THAT IS IN THIS AUDIENCE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ETHICS AND PROFESSIONISM AND PATRIOTISM AND BEING A GOOD CITIZEN AND A GOOD F R IEND AND A GOOD COLLEAGUE , THIS IS, REALLY , THE WA Y THAT WE LEARN , AND THAT IS BY EXAMINING THE LI VES OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE SUCH ENORMOUS RESPECT FOR. AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TODAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A LITTLE CAP ON IT, I F I COULD , IN MY OWN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH WILSON BARNES, I WANT TO PAYTRIBUTE TO WILSON AS A COLLEAGUE , AS A FR IEND AND A B ROTHER, AND AS A PATRIOT . FIRST OF ALL , AS A COLLEAGUE , I AM A JUSTICE OF THE STATE'S HIGH EST COURT, AND I RECOGNIZE WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HONOR I T IS TO BE AD DRESS ED AS JUSTICE . IMAGINE THAT WORD BEING APPLIED TO A H UMAN BEING ANDWHAT THAT CHARGE IS TO THAT H UMAN BEING , T O SOCIETY . WELL, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT, AS A COLL EAGUE , WILSON BARNES HAS A PASSION FOR JUSTICE , THAT EQUALS THE PASSION OF ANY JUSTICE ON THIS COURT . AND THAT PASSION COMES FROM HIS OWN LIFE . WILSON BARNES WAS BORN INTO AN UNJUST SOC IETY , BUT UNLIKE A LOT THAT MIGHT REACT TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES BY BEING BI TTER, AND THAT NOT BEING A CONSTRUCTIVE EXPERIENCE, THAT EX PERIENCE HAS CA USED WILSON TO F IGHT IN JUSTICE , WHE REVER H E SEES IT. HIS W H OLE LIFE IS DEDICATED AND HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO FIGHTING IN JUSTICE. HE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND R OLL MO DEL FOR THE JUSTICES OF THIS COURT AND ANYONE THAT SERV ES IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM . WHETHER IT IS FI GHTING FOR THE INEQUITIES AND THE PAYOF THE PEO PLE THAT SERVE ON HIS STAFF OR WHETHER IT IS FIGHTING FOR THE INE QUITY THAT IS DEMONSTRATED BY THE SCHOOLS FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THIS TO WN , WILSON BARNES IS A FIG HTER FOR JUSTICE , AND A FIGHTER AGAINST I N JUSTICE . AND WE GREATLY RESPECT AND PAY TRIBUTE TO YOU , MARSHALBARNES, FOR FIGHTING , AND I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE IN THAT VE NUE . AS A FRIEND AND AS A BROTHER TO ME , WILSON WAS , REALLY , PROBABLY THE FIRST C LOSE F RIEND THAT I MADE WHEN I CAME T O TALLAHASSEE. MY CHILDR EN, SOME OF THEM WERE STILL IN SCHOOL, AND SO THE FIRST YEAR THAT I SERVED ON THIS COURT, I HAD TO LIVE ALONE , AND WILSON EMBRACED ME , AND WE BECAME DEAR , DEAR , CLOSE PERS ONAL FRIE NDS . THERE IS A CHARACTER-BUILDINGEXPERIENCE IN MY YOUTH THAT I DIRE CTLY RE LATE TO WILSON AND HIM BECOMING A BROTHER OF MINE . WILSON AND I ARE , BOTH , CHILDREN OF THE SO UTH . WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER, I WORKED AT MANY JOBS, JUST AS WILSON DID , AND ONE OF THEJOBS I HA D AS A YOUNG TEENAGER , WAS WORKING AS A LABORER FOR A MO VING COMPANY , ON A MOVING V AN. THERE WERE T WO OF US TEENAGER LABORERS THAT WORKED IN THE BACK OF THEVAN , AND TH EN THERE WAS A DRIVER , AND A SUPERVISOR THAT SAT IN THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. AND WE WOULD WORK FROM SU NUP UNTIL SUNDOWN . AND THE BIG EVENT OF THE DAY IN THAT JOB AND DURING THAT SUMMER , WAS GOING TO L UNCH , AND I CAN STILL CALL UP INTO MY VIEW SCREEN AND STILLFEEL THE EMOTIONS , WHEN WE FIRST WENT TO LU NCH AS ACCRUE , AND MY FRIEND AND MY COLLEAGUE THAT WORKED WITH ME IN THE BACK OF THE VAN , WASN'T ALL OWED INTO THE RESTAURANT . I SPENT THE REST O F THE SUMMER GOING INTO THE RESTAURANTS AND GETTINGLUNCH FOR THE TWO OF US OR GOING TO FLORIDA'S AND THE SOUTH'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE MODERN MOVEMENT OF DRIVE-THROUGH WIND OWS AND SECURING LUNCH FOR US THAT THAT WHOLE SUMMER.THAT DID NOT LEAVE ME B ITTER.IT SIMPLY T AUGHT ME CHA RACTER, AND WHAT WE FACED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR SOCIETY . I L OST TOUCH AFTER THAT SUMMER, WITH MY DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE ON THAT MOVING VAN, AND YEARS LATER , W HEN I CAME TO TALLAHASSEE AND BECAME CL OSE FRIENDS WITH WILSON BARNES , AND AS WE EXCHANGED STORIES ABOUT OUR LIVES , BECAUSE WE ARE VIRTUALLY THE SA ME AGE EXCEPT THAT WILSON IS SEVERAL MONTHS O LDER THAN I AM [LAUGHTER] I HOPE FULLY SEE IN WILSON BARNES , THE FRIEND THAT I S HARED THAT JOB WITH AND THOSE LUNC HES WITH THAT SUMMER. IT CAN ONLY BE MY PRAYER AND MY HOPE THAT THAT FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE DID AS W ELL AS WILSON BARNES , BUT HE HAS BECOME MY BROTHER HE RE AT THIS COURT. LASTLY, I WANT TO PAYTRIBUTE TO WILSON BARNES AS A PATRIOT. I SEARCHED ARO UND FOR MORE ELOQUENT WOR DS THAN I COULD THINK O F , AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO FIND AN E ARLY TALK ON THE M E ANING O F PATRIOTISM IN AM ERICA , ANDIT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST MA JO R ADDRESS GIVEN ON A JULY 4 CELEBRATION, BY A WO MAN IN THE UN ITED STATES IN OUR CAPITAL , AND IT WAS GIVEN ON JULY 4 , 1828. AND THE TITLE OF HER ADDRESS WAS CALLED , "THE M E ETING O F PATRIOTISM "THE MEANINGOF PATR IOTISM IN AMERICA." I WANT TO READ HER WORDS , BECAUSE SHE TRIED TO DESCRIBE WHAT PATRIOTISM MEANT TO PEOPLE IN AMERICA , AND WHAT A PATRIOT SH OULD B E . THE TERM PATRIOT SHOULD BE EMPLOYED TO SIGNIFY A LOVER OF HUMAN LIBERTY AND HUMAN IMPROVEMENT , RATHER THAN A MERE LO VER OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HE LIVES OR THE TRIBETO WHIC H HE BE LONGS . USED IN THIS SE NSE , PATRIOTISM IS A VI RTUE, AND A PATRIOT A VIRTUES MAN , ANDWITH SUCH AN INTERPRETATION , A PATRIOT IS AN US EFUL MEMBER OF SOCI ETY , CAPABLE OF ENLARGING ALL MINDS AND BERING ALL HEARTS WITH WHICH HE COMES IN CONT ACT. AN USEFUL ME MBER OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, CAP ABLE OF ESTABLISHING FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND MERGING HIS OWN INTERESTS , THOSE OF HIS ASSOCIATES AND THOSE OF HIS N ATION IN THE INTERE ST OF THE HUMAN RACE. IT IS FOR AMER ICAN PATRIOTS ESPECIALLY, TO KNOW WHY THEY L OVE THEIR COUNTRY. AND TO FEEL THAT THEY LOVE IT, NOT BECAUS E IT IS THEIR COUNTRY BUT BECAUSE IT IS THE PALLAD IUM O F HUMAN LIBERTY , THE FAVORED SCENEOF HUMAN IMPROVEMENT . IT IS FOR THEM , MORE ESPECIALLY , TO EX AMINE THEIR INSTITUTIONS AND TO FEEL THAT THEY HONOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED ON JUST PRINCIPLES. IT IS FOR THEM TO HONOR PRINCIPLES RATHER THAN MEN , TO COMMEMORATE EVENTS RATHER THAN DAYS , WHEN THEY REJOICE TO KNOW FOR WHAT THEY REJOICE AND TO REJOICE ONLY FOR WHAT HAS BRO UGHT AND WHAT BR INGS PE ACE AND HAPPINESS TO MEN . THE EVENT WE COMMEMORATE THIS DAY , HAS PRO CURED MUCH OF BOTH , AND SHALL PRO CURE IN THE ONWARD COURSE OF HUMAN IMPROVEMENT , MORE THAN WE CAN NOW CONCEIVE OF . WILSON BARNES , THANK YOU SO MUCH , FOR WHAT YOU HAVE G IVEN AND CONT INUE TO GIVE TO ALL OF US . THANK YOU . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE:. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH , BECAUSE THE MARSHAL IS GET TING TE ARY .

MARSHAL : NO, MA 'A M , I AM NOT A WI MP.

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE ARE TRY TO WORK HA RDER ON T WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY WITH D E XTER DOUGLASS PRESENTING.

MR . DOU GLAS : MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE, JUSTICES , FRIENDS , I A M HONO RED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE SOCIETY.WE DO A LOT OF THINGS , BUTONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS SPONSOR THE DO CENTS , AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAD GREAT INFLUENCE ON THAT, MAKING IT A GOOD PROGRAM OVER THEYEARS , SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE. I G UESS JU DGE CL ARK LEFT BECAUSE SHE HEARS ME IN COURT A LO T. [LAUGHTER] AND WHEN I CAN GET A HEARING , OF COURSE . BUT IN ANY EVENT , I DON'T HAVE MU CH TO ADD TO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID , EXCEPT THAT I SECOND EVERY MOTION THAT HAS BEEN MADE , INCLUDING YOUR BEING , BECOMING A G ATOR. YOU ARE NOW IN A GREAT FRATERNITY OF MISFITS . [LAUGHTER] PUT IT B ACK ON . IN ANY EVENT , I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETYCAME, TODAY, TO HONOR YOU , WHO IS ALSO A PAST PRESIDENT, AND THAT IS R OBERT IRVIN OF TALLAHASSEE. HE HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY OF THIS ORGANIZATION , AN D IKNOW YOU HAVE WORKED WITH HIM AND WE ARE GLAD THAT BOBCOULD GET HERE.HE IS A COLONEL, TO O. YOU KNOW, HE WAS IN THE K ITTY CO RPS CALL ED THE M ARINES . WE AR MY PEOPLE STICK TOGETHER . [LAUGHTER] SOCIETY, THOUGH, IS HONORED TO GIVE AWE TO KE N O F THESOCIETY FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE COURT AND THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE , AND FOR THAT , WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT YOU THE FIRST VOLUME O F THESUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA AND ITS PREDECESSOR COURTS , AND THAT IS THE ONE FROM 18 21 TO 1917 , AND IT IS A GREAT HISTORY THAT EVERYB ODY SHOULD READ , THAT IS CONNECTED WITH THE LA W, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE, AND THIS IS AN UNVARNISHED HISTORY. M OST HISTORY WE GET IS VARNISHED. THEY DON'T TE LL YOU THE SETTING THAT THESE THINGS OCCURRED, THE TIME THAT THEY OCCURRED. THIS BO OK GIVE S YOU A GREAT HISTORY OF FLORIDA, AND IT SHOWS HOW FA R WE HAVE COME AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE GROWN , AND 18 38 , W HEN WE ADOPTED THE FIRST CONSTITUTION , BEFORE WE WERE A STATE , AT PORT ST. JOE , THE ONE THINGI REMEMBER ABOUT IT THE MOST WAS THE PROV ISION IN IT THAT S AID , I BELIEVE I T IS SOMETHING LI KE THIS , THAT , MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL OR RELIGION AND BANKERS CANNOT H OLD OFFICES IN THE EXECUTIVE OR LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT ! SO YOU SEE , LAW YERS WERE MUCH MORE RESPECTED IN THOSE DAYS! [LAUGHTER] AND NOW WE STILL ARE , THOUGH WE TEND TO THINK WE ARE N'T, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HEAR THAT SAY THINGS ABOUT LAWYERS THAT BRAG THAT THEIR SON OR D A UGHTER HAS JUST BECOME A LAW YER! WE ARE STILL HONORED, EVEN THOUGH WE PUT OURSELVES DOWN A LOT AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THOSE, AND I T IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO ARE NOT LAWYERS THAT WORK WITH US , THAT MAKE US HONORED, AND YOU HONOR US, AND IT IS M Y PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS BOOK TO YOU , AND YOU WILL GET THE NEXT EDITION WHICH IS COMING OUT RIGHT AWAY , WHICH IS FROM 1 917 TO 1972 , AS WELL , AND WE THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIETY AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERE STED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COURT,FOR YOUR SERVICE , WHICH HAS BEEN HONORABLE AND GREAT , AS IT WAS IN THE MILITARY. I LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: MARSHAL , FOR THIS NEXT PART , I WOULDLIKE YOU TO COME AND SIT AT COUNSEL'S TABLE SO YOU CANHAVE A VI EW .

MARSHAL : YES, MA'AM . MAY I BRING MY GA TOR WITH ME? CHIEF HT ABSOLUTELY AND YOUR LITTLE PUPPET THERE. [LAUGHTER]

CHIEF JUSTICE: JUSTICEBELL, YOU MAY HAVE TO MOVE YOUR CHAIR. YOU CAN BE THE MARSHAL RIGHTNOW.ALL RIGHT . READY TO GO. READY TO ROLL .

MARSHAL : HEAR YE.HEAR YE.HEAR YE.THE SUPREME COURT OF THEGREAT STATE OF FLORIDA IS NOW IN SESSION. ALL WHO HAVE CAUSE TO PLEA , DRAW NEAR , AND GIVE ATTENTION . YOU SHALL BE HEARD. GOD SAVE THESE UN ITED STATES , THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDAAND THIS HONORABLE COURT ." [ DRUM CADENCE] 77 A HERO PROVES CAN LI BERATE SOCIETY 77 WHO MORE THAN SHARES THEIR COUNTRY'S LOVE AND MERCY MORE THAN HIGH 77 AMERICA 77 AMERICA MAY GODLOOK OVER YOU 77 HOLD SU CCESS HE NUMEROUS AND EVERYTHING DESIGNED 77 AND YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS IN SC HOOL WE COULD SING IT LIKE THIS LI STEN HERE 77 O H, BEAUTIFUL SPACIOUS SKIES FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN 77 FOR PU RPLE MOUNTAINS I M AGES C ITY MAJESTY 77 ABOVE THE FR UIT ED P LAINS 77 WAIT A MINUTE AMERICA 77 S WEET AMERICA YOU KNOW GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE 77 AND CROWN THY GOOD WITH BROTHERHOOD 77 FROM SEA TO SH INING SEA 77 [ SUNG BY RAY CHARLES] 77 AMERICA 77 AMERICA GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE 77 AND C ROWN THY GOOD IN BROTHERHOOD HE TOLD ME HE WOULD 77 FROM SEA TO SHININGSEA 77 [SUNG BY RAY CHARLES] OX LORD THANK YOU LORD 77 SHINING SEA 77 [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: NOW , I F YOU WOULD COME UP HERE, WE HAVE JUST A FEW SPECIAL OTHER PRESENTA TIONS. L EAVE YOUR GATOR HAT. THAT'S RIGHT. LEAVE IT. LEAVE IT DOWN THERE . [LAUGHTER] COME UP. PLEASE .

CHIEF JUSTICE: ALL RIG HT. WE HAVE FOR YOU , FIRST OF ALL, A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE COURT, SI GNED BY US THAT WE , FOR AR MY COLONELS, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THINGS ON WA LLS, WE ARE TOLD.WE HAVE THAT FOR YOU , AND SO THE CA MERA SHOWS IT .

MARSHAL : THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CHIEF JUSTICE: ALL RIGHT. THEN WHAT WE HAVE , AND I AM ONLY GOING TO READ PART OF IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARD SO MUCH, BUT I T IS A RESOLUTION, AND I AM GOING TO READ JUST V ERY END OF IT , SO THAT , BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL CAPTURE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID TO DAY . "WHEREAS AS MARSHAL , WILSON BARNES HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO SAY THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE , BY MAINTAINING A SAFE , HEALTHY , ACCEPTABLE AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL COURT INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS , THE ATTORNEYS , THE JUDGES, AND THE COURT STAFF , AND PRESERVING THE INTE GRITY OF THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING, WHICH SITS ON ONE AC RE OF PROPERTY IN THE CAP ITOL COMPLEX, AND CONT AINS SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES THAT MAKE IT A FLORIDA TREA SURE . WHEREAS WILSON E. BARNES HAS ALWAYS COND UCTED HIMSELF IN A MANNER THAT REFLECT REFLECTED CREDIT TO THECOURT , PERFORMED HIS D UTIES IN A MOST DISTINGUISHED MANNER , EARNED THE ESTEEM AND RESPECT OF JURISTS AT ALL LEVELS 6 OUR COURT SYSTEM OF OUR COURT SYSTEM AND EXHIBITEDLEADERSHIP ON COURT SECURITY , EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ANDOTHER MA TTERS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE FLORIDA JUDICIAL BR ANCH, WHEREAS WILSON BARNES HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETI REMENT I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU ARE DOING THIS TO US" EFFECTIVE JUNE 1 , 2005, AFTER NEARL Y 15 YEARS OF DEDI CATED AND LO YAL SERVICE TO THE SUPREME COURTOF FLORIDA, NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA HERE BY EXPRESSES ITS HEARTFELT THANKS TO WILSONE. BARNES , FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE AND COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS INSTITUTION AND WI SHES FOR HIM , A LO NG, HEALTHY , AND A CTIVE RETIREMENT IN WHI CHHE IS ABLE TO CONTINUE HIS LONG STAN DING AND ADMIRABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIC AND HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS ." IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COURT .

MARSHAL : THANK YOU, MA'AM.

CHIEF JUSTICE: LASTLY, WE WERE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TOLD THAT ACTUALLY THE REPORTER F ROM "THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT" LAST WE EK , SAID WHAT WERE WE GOING TO BE G IVING YOU, WHEN YOU RETIRED. WAS THERE GOING TO BE A SILVER GAVEL , AND I REALI ZED THAT WE DON'T DO. THAT WE DON'T DO WATCHES. WE DON'T DO M E DALS , BU T I THOUGHT THEREFORE , THAT WE WOULD PRESENT YOU WITH A GOLD GAVEL . [APPLAUSE] IN RECOGN ITION O F 15 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS MARSHAL OF THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT . IT IS PRESENTED TO YOU WITH MY THANKS AND A H U G. MARSHAL : THANK YOU , MA'AM , VERY MUCH.

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE ALSO HAVE THE D VD, NOW AVAI LABLE FOR SALE OUT IN THE FRONT . DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID? HE HAS TO GET A COMPUTER NOW.WE WILL GET YOU, WE WILL WORK ON THAT FOR YOU. ANYWAY, IT IS WITH OUR PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE THAT WE GIVE THIS TO YOU, AND WE NOW ASK YOU TO RESPOND IF YOU LIKE AND IF YOU DON'T NEED T O .

MARSHAL BARNES : YES,MA'AM.I MUST RESP OND . THERE ARE A LO T OF, THERE ARE A LOT OF , I SHOULD USE THE MICROPHO NE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOINGTO HA PPEN TO ME AS I START RESPONDING HERE. I MAY TURN INTO THAT W IMP THAT I SAID I WASN'T . MAY IT PLEASE THIS HONORABLE COURT , DISTINGUISHED G UEST S , FRIENDS , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , THIS CEREMONY TODAY REPRESENTS A MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN MY LIFE . IT REPRES ENTS THE END OF AN ALMOST 45-YEAR CA REER THAT HAS SPA NNED NOT ONE BUT TWO G REAT INSTIT UTIONS , THEUNITED STATES ARMY , WHICH IS MY FIRST LOVE , AND THEFLORIDA SUPREME COURT . THIS E RA HAS , FOR ME , REPRESENTED A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO THE SECURITY AND DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA , AS SMARL OF THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT. AS MARSHAL O F THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT. TODAY I HAVE A N IM MENSE SENSE OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION , AS MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER SERVICE COMES TO AN END . TODAY IS, BOTH , A HAP PY T IME AND A SAD TI ME FOR ME . SAD, BECAUSE I WILL MISS MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND MANY OF THE VERY GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND IN OTHER PLACES . AND THOUGH I HAVE TR IE D NOTTO GET EMOTIONAL , GIVEN MY EMOTIONAL STATE , I SUPPOSE I SHOULD TAKE THE SUGGESTION OF THE CH IEF JUSTICE, DESCRIBE MY THREE MOST IMPORTANT THOUGHTS, WHICH ARE THANK YOU , I WILL MISS YOU , AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. AND THEN SIT DOWN . HOWEVER , IN A WAY , THE WAY I LOOK AT IT , THAT WILL ANDCOLLEGE WAY OUT. AND I KNOW AT LE AST ONE OF MY FRIENDS HERE WHO WOULD AGREE WITH ME. I WON'T SAY WHO THAT IS. SO I AM GOING TO TRY M I GHTLY , TO EXPRESS SOME IMPORTANT THO UGHTS , BUT I DO NEED INDULGENCE AND PATIENCE OF THIS GREAT COURT , OURDISTINGUISHED GU ESTS , AND ALL OF MY GOOD FRIENDS , TO GET THESE THOU GHTS OUT AGAIN.I AM A FEELING PERSON , GIVENTHE FEELINGS THAT ARE BULB LICK UP THROUGH ME NOW. BUBBLING UP THROUGH ME NOW. THE THOUGHTS I WA NT TO EXPRESS ARE VERY RELEVANT TO EVERYONE HERE. I BELI EVE, AND I KNOW THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO WILSON BARNES . THESE THOUGH TS ARE IMPORTANTTO MY IDENTITY. THESE THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT TO MY STRENGTH , AND THESETHOUGHTS ARE IMPORT ANT TO MY PURPOSE IN LIFE . AND THE FIRST THOUGHT I WANT TO MAKE OR EXPR ESS , IS THAT EVERYTHING POSITIVE THAT WILSON BARNES HAS EVER ACCOMPLISHED IN LIFE , HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED ON THE SHOULDERS O F AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OT HERS . I AM NOTHING , WITHOUT THE MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION OF MY FAMILY AND MY ANCESTORY AND THE ASSISTANCE OF GOOD FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS SUCH AS ALL O F THOSE WHO ARE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY . AND EVERYT HING GOOD SAID A BOUT WILSON BARNES OR WHAT WILSON BARNES ACCOMPLISHED , SHOULD, ALSO , BE DIRECTED AT O THERS , BECAUSE TRUST ME,TRUST ME , T RUST ME , WILSON DIDN'T DO IT AL ONE . TODAY THE SPEAKERS HAVE MADE WILSON BARNES SEEM LIKE HE CAN LEAP OVER TALL BUILDINGS AND NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT MY WE IGHT AND FAT , BUT LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE NOW THAT WILSON BARNES CAN ONLY RUN INTO BUILDINGS! [LAUGHTER] AND AFTER RU NNING INTO BUILDINGS AR OUND THEM WITHOUT THE HE LP OF GREAT PEOPLE . I WANT TO TA KE JUST A FEW MINUTES , TO TALK ABOUT SOME PEOPLE WHO MUST SHARE THIS RECOGNITION WITH ME TODAY . AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOT HERE TODAY . THEY ARE IN HEA VEN . OR OTHER PL ACES. BUT BELIEVE ME, THEY ARE HERE WITH ME IN SP IRIT AND THEY LIVE WITH M E CONTINUOUSLY AND FOR EVER . AND FIRST AND FORE MOST , I WANT TO THANK THE WHOLLY SPIRIT OF J ESUS - - THE HOLY SPIRIT OF JE SUS CH RIST MY LORD AND SA VIOR , FOREVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE IN MY LIFE AND CONTINUES TO DO IN MY LIFE . WITHOUT AM I HIM NOTHING, AND WITH HIM , EVERYTHING IN MY WITHOUT AM I HIM DOING WITHOUT HIM, I AM NOTHING, AND WITH HIM, EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE IS POSSIBLE.IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FAUX ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANT FOR ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BROAD SHOULDERS THAT I STAND ON TODAY , AND THOSE WOULD BE THE SHOULDER S OF MY FAMILY AND MY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE, A HER ITAGE THAT HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT OVERCOMING ADVER SITY AND O DDS , HURDLES THAT HAVE TAUGHT ME S O MUCH ABOUT HARD WORK AND SO MUCH ABOUT HO PEAND FA ITH. THE FIRST PA RT OF THAT HERITAGE IS MY IMM EDIATE F AMILY , AND THERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THIS IMME DIATE FAMILY ON DISPLAY OUTSIDE. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TAKE THEM OUT , SOME OF THE OLDER ONES, BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SEE THEM , I GET A LITTLE DEEPER MO OD , ESPECIALLY ON OCCASIONS LIKE NOW . MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY, FIRSTOF ALL , THERE ARE TWO GR OWN DAUGHTERS , KAY AND KIM. THEY ARE BOTH GROWN. UP IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA, MAKING PLE NTY OF MO NEY AND SPENDING IT ALL . [LAUGHTER] I HAVE FOUR BR OTHERS , ALL THREE IN RICH MOND , LINDBROOK, OF COUR SE, IS RUNNING AROUND DOWN IN BRAZIL, A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, RUNS AROUND DOWN THERE. I HOPE AL DIED A DO ESN'T CATCH HIM I HOPE THAT AL-QAEDA DOESN'T CA TCH HIM DOWN THERE . TWO SISTERS , ONE THE APPLE OF MY E YE, YOU MENTIONED HIM ALREADY , NICHOLAS HENDERSON, W HO IS FINISHING UP HIS FIRST YEAR OF ME DICAL S CHOOL , FIVE NI ECES , THREE UNCLES , FOUR AUNTS AND TWO COU SINS IN THE WO RLD , ONE OF THEM THE MERE TUESDAY OF THE NEMESIS OF GA TORS , TU BY SMITH. WE ARE A C LOSE KNIT GROUP , AND I RECEIVED MUCH SUPPORT AND INSP IRATION AND LOVE FROM ALL OF THEM. I , ALSO , HAD THE RARE HONORAND BLES SING OF HAVING KNOWN BOTH MY MATERNAL AND PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS . MY MAT ERNAL GREAT-GRANDMOTHER , P INEDA WILLIAMS WAS BO RN IN THE E AST NO RTH RU RAL TOBACCO COMPANY INTO SLAVERY. OF COURSE SHE WAS FR EED EARLY ON I N HER LIFE. SHE DIED AT THE AGE O F 1 6, AND SHE COULDN'T READ ANDWRITE BUT WAS A WONDERFULLY WEISS , RELIGIOUS WONDERFULLY WISE , RELIGIOUS AND GOOD WOMAN. SHE WAS THE HARRIET TUB MAN IN MY LIFE. THE TIMES THAT I SAW HER AS A TO THE , I HAVE SOME RECOLLECTION S AS A TOTH , I HAVE SOME RECOLLECTION S AS A TOT , I HAVE SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF HER HUGGING ME AND TE LLING ME TO DO GOOD AND BE HAVE MYSELF AND DO GOOD IN SCHOOL.I DO NOT HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER. IT SEEMS THAT HE WAS A SUPER ENERGETIC BUCK, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM UP TO THIS POINT . HOPEFULLY I WILL GO UP TO NORTH CAROLINA AND DO RESEARCH AND FILL THAT BRING BLANK IN . AND FILL THAT BLANK IN. I ALSO REMEMBER MY PATERNAL GREAT-GRANDFATHER AND MOTHER , THE HAROLD. THEY WERE BORN AND REARED ON A PLANTATION AND LATER IN A SHARE CO PPER AREA, IN THE VICINITY OF COLUMBIA , S OUTH CAROLINA. I NEVER HEARD THEM TALK OF S LAVERY, BUT THEY DID TALK FREQUENTLY OF THE RACIAL IN JUSTICES THAT WERE OCCURRING A T THE TIME , AND THEY WERE ALWAYS STRESSING TO US HARD WORK, EBBS LENS AND LOVE IS A WAY TO COMBAT RACIAL IN JUSTICE. NEITHER COUL D READ OR WRITE , BUT THEY WERE WIS E AND GOOD PEOPLE BE YOND ANY IMAGINATION . TODAY THEIR OLD HOMESTEAD IS ON THE SITE OF FORT JACKSON , SOUTH CAROLINA . AS A MATTER OF FACT A CEMETERY IS MAINTAINED AT FORT JA CKSON THAT CONT AINS THE REMAINS OF SOME OF MY ANCESTORS. I REME MBER PO LYAND HENRY HAROLD AS TWO EXTRAORDINARILY HARDWORKING AND LOVING AND RELIGIOUS INDIVIDUALS. MY PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS WERE WILSON AND L E WIS INDA BARNES. AND WLCHLT UCINDA AND LUCINDA BARNES, AND OBVIOUSLY I WAS N AMED AFTER WILSON BARNES. AND MY PA RENTS , AND I REMEMBER THEM LIVING ONLY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN , THROUGH EDUCATION AND HARD WORK. MY PARENTS WERE ORA AND HE LIES BARNES OF RICHMOND AND HE LIAS BARNES OF RICHMOND , VIRG, MARRIED WHEN MY FATHER WAS 16 AND TIMESWERE HARSH, AND MY FATHER HAD TO STRUGGLE EXTRA HARD TO BE SURE THAT WE HAD FO OD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER. NEITHER OF MY PARE NTS HAD AHIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. MY FATHER WAS A LABORER IN A PAPER BAG FAC TORY , AND MY M OTHER ASS ORTED TOBACCO LEAVES IN A LO CAL PHILIP MORRIS TOBACCO PLANT. BOTH PARENTS AL WAYS STRESSED THE NE ED AND THE HOPE FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND I , TO HAVE A BE TTER LIFE THAN THEY HAD HAD THROUGH THE UPLIFT OF EDU CATION AND HARD WORK . THE PROU DEST MOMENTS IN MY MOTHER AND FATHER'S LIVES WAS WHEN I MADE THE VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL T EAM AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE U .S. ARMY , AFTER GRADUATING FROM VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE , WHICH IT WAS CA LLED IN THOSEDAYS, WITH A DE GREE IN BIOLOGY . THEY FELT THAT THEIR LIVES HAD BEEN TOTALLY FULFILLED BY THESE TWO ACHIEVEMENTS OF THEIR OLDEST SO N AND THEIR O LDEST CHILD . NOW , I KNOW THERE AREPROBABLY SOME F O LKS HERE MENTIONING, WHY DO HE MENTION HIS PARENT S AND FAMILY AND HIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE THREE GENERATIONS BACK ? I M E NTIONED THEM , BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR LOVE , THEIR FAITH , THEIR HOPE , THEIR PROTECTION , THEIR SUPPORT , THEIR COURAGE , THEIR SURVIVAL SKILLS, THEIR HARD WORK, THEIR MOTIVATION AND THEIR INSPIRATION TO ME , I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE HERE TODAY , BEING RECOGNIZED IN THE MAIN COURTROOM OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT . I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THATI WOULD B E DE AD OR MAYBE I WOULD BE A STAT ISTIC IN A VIRGINIA STATE PR ISON SYSTEM . I KNOW TODAY THAT MY ANCESTORS ARE UP THERE IN HEAVEN , AND THEY ARE VERY PROUD AND LOOKING DOWN , TODAY, SMILING AND SAYING THEY WOULD CALL ME , THAT IS THE WAY THEY WOULD AD DRESS ME , "BOY, YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. YOU HAVE MADE SOME THING OF YOURSELF." I , ALSO , TODAY , MUST MENTION ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING THAT IS VERY DE EP SEATED TO ME , AND I HAVE STARTED OUT B Y SAYING MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM A VERY PROUD ME MBER OF THE ARMED FORCES , THE U .S. ARMY AND ALSO A V E TERAN OF THE VIETNAM WA R. MY VIE TNAM BR OTHERS ARE ALW AYS THERE IN MY HEART , AND ON OCCASI ONS LIKE THIS O NE TODAY, ESPECIALLY THEY ARE IN MY HEART . ESPECIALLY THOS E THAT WERE KILLED AND NEVER CAME BACK AND MOST ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO I KNOW , W HO I KN EW , I SHOULD SAY. IN ADD ITION TO THE F I FTH 8,000 WHO NEVER CAME BACK , IT IS ESTIMATED BY THEIR 250,000 THAT CAME BACK, NOT ESTIMATED , PRE TTY C LOSE TO 250,000 THAT CAME BACK WITH SEVERE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND DO UBLE AMP TEES , TRIPLE AMP YOU TEES , SOME AMPUTEES. SOME LEFT THEIR MINDS A VIETNAM AND NEVER CAME BACK AND WERE NEVER PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AG AIN. SOME HAVE SCARS , AND I A M PROUD TO ADMIT THAT I HAVE S CARS BUT I AM STILL VERY PRODUCTIVE AND DO GET EMOTIONAL AT TIMES, BUT I HAD A BROTHER , BENJAMIN BARNES, WHO DIED ABOUT TWOYEARS AG O. HE WAS A ME DIC , P FC BENJAMIN BARNES IN THE 25th INFANTRY DIVISION, IN VIETNAM THE SAME TIME I WAS , AND AFTERHE CAME BACK, HE NEVER WAS THE SA ME. HE COULDN'T HOLD A JOB. HE COULDN'T GET ALONG WITH FOLKS . I MEAN , H E WAS JUST VERY , VERY UNPRODUCTIVE AS A CITIZEN.WEL L , THE LORD RELI EVED HIM OF HIS MYSTERIES ABOUT TWO Y EARS AG O F HIS M ISSER I A BOUT TWO YEARS OF HIS M ISERY ABOUT TWO YE ARS AGO, AND FOR ALL O F THOSE A T THE FIFTH 8,000 THAT WE LEFT OVER THERE , AND M Y BROT HERS , THESE INDIVIDUALS CON TINUE TO INSPIRES AND MOTI VATE ME TO ACHIEVE FOR MY FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS , SO I SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THAT TODAY IS ABOUT MY LIFE LONG COM MITMENT NOT TO EVER GET MY BROTHERS , THE FA LLEN AND DISABLED HERO ES OF THE VIETNAM WAR , ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO I KNEW PERSONALLY , BROTHERS, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN , AND I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO SAY TODAY , SAYING WILSON , WE ARE PROUD O F YOU . I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN M Y COMMENTS MORE DIRECTLY ON THE PAST APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS OF MY LIFE AND CAR EER. MY SERVICE IN THIS GREAT INSTITUTION , THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT . MY THANKS , FIRST OF ALL , TO THIS COURT, FOR HAVING THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE , 1 5 YEARS AGO , TO S ELECT M E A S YOUR MARSHAL , THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MARSHAL IN THE HISTORY OF THE COURT . AT THE TIME I WAS SELECTED, THE COURT CONSISTS ED OF C HIEF JUSTICE EHRLICH , JUSTICE BEN OVER TON , JUSTICE PARKER LEE MacDONALD , JUSTICE LEANDER S H AW , JUSTICE ROSEMARY BAR KETT , JUSTICE GR IMES AND JUSTICE JUSTICE STEPHEN GRIMES AND JUSTICE G E RALD KOGAN . I HAVE SERVED A TOTAL OF 15 JUSTICES , AS HAS AL READY B EEN MENT IONED, AND EIGHTCHIEF JUSTICES I N THIS GREAT INSTITUTION OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, WITH A GREAT SE NSE OF UNFALTERING PRIDE, AND I F EEL BOTH PRIVILEGED AND H ONOR ED BY THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED ME . TO THE CURRENT COURT , THANK YOU , THAN K YOU , AND THANK YOU AGAIN , FOR YOUR CONTINUED FAITH, CONFIDENCE AND TR UST , IN M Y ABILITIESTO BE YOUR MARSHAL . YOUR EXCE LLENT SUPPORT OF M E AND TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED . I , A LSO , MUST THANK YOU , MUST ESPE CIALLY THANK YOU FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY RECOGNITION AND THIS CEREMONIAL SE SSION TODAY . THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED , UNPRECEDENTED , UNPRECEDENTED D URING MY TE NURE OF 15 YEARS. I DON'T EVER RECALL A CEREMONIAL SESSION IN THOSE YEARS, FOR A N YTHING ON RETIREMENT, ANYTHING OTHER THAN A JUSTICE . AND I WA NT YOU TO KNOW THAT I FEEL BLESSED . I A M HONORED . AND MY FAMILY AND ALL O F MY FRIENDS ARE HONORED . THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET . BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF IDIDN'T, ALSO , THANK THE COURT STAFF , PE OPLE LIKE M ARIA BARKER , BJ VEHICLERS , CRAIG WHAT THE EARTHS , THE C RAIG WA TERS, THE LIBRARY S TAFF , DEBORAH HAR OLD , I K NOW HOW HARD YOU ALL WO RKED, BECAUSE I SAW YOU SCURRYING ABO UT THE LAST COUPLE OF D AYS TO MAKE THIS TREMENDOUS PROGRAM POSSIBLE. I WA NT YOU TO KNOW THAT ITHANK YOU SO VERY , VERY MUCH,FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU TO EACH OF THE SPEAKERS, EACH OF YOU A SPECIAL FRIEND WHOM IRESPECT AND ADMIRE TREMENDOUSLY. YOUR REMARKS WERE OV ERLY GENEROUS AND K IND TO ME. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH . THE HIGHLI GHT OF MY EXPERIENCE AS MARSHAL OF THEFLORIDA SUPREME COURT , HAS BEEN THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF LEADING N THE ARMY WE WOULD CALL IT COM MANDING , THE STAFF OF OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFI CE. THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HAD AND FAITH AS A TEAM OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS HAVE BEEN ENORMOUS. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN INSURMOUNTABLE FOR A LE SSER GROUP OF CITIZEN S. THE EVER INCREASING REQUIREMENTS, SPECIALSECURITY REQUIREMENTS , AND THE INCREASED COMPLEXITY OF THE SECU RITY REQUIREMENTS . THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES THAT HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED SUCCESSFULLY. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT TODAY , TO THE STAFF THAT THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HAS COM PLETED ALL MISSIONS AND FULFILLED ALL REQUIREMENTS WITH HIGH DISTINCTION . ALL THE ME MBERS OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE WHO ARE HERE, PL EASE ACCEPT MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE . I WOULD NEVER FOR GET YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT AND EFFORTS. THE RECOGNITION THAT I A M RECEIVING TODAY , CERTAINLY YOU MUST SHARE EQUALLY IN IT . THANKS TO THE C LERK OF THE COURT , TOM HALL AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF. DURING MY E NTIRE TENURE HERE AS MARSHAL , THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THE C L ERKS OFFICE , HAVE FORMED A SEAMLESS TEAM. OUR JOB IN THE MARSHALLS OFFICE IS TO SUPPORT ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CLERK'SOFFICE, WITH SEC URITY , FACILITIES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERV ICES . THE CLERKS OFFICE AND THE MARSHALS OFFICE HAVE ALWAYS OPERATED IN A COOPERATIVE , FRIENDLY AND PRO DUCTIVE WAY, AND I DO HAVE TO TAKE THE LIBERTY , AGAIN , TO MENTION AN UN SUNG HER O ON THE STAFF OF THIS COURT, AND I AM NOT SURE THAT , I AM SURE THAT JUSTICE GRIMES, JUSTICE SHAW , JUSTICE HARDING, JUSTICE WELLS REMEMBERS HIM, AND THE HERO IS MR . ROBERT SCOTT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MA NY FO LKS KNOW MR . ROB ERT SC OTT , BUT I MET MR. R OBERT SCOTT WHEN IFIRST CAME HERE , AND HE WASN'T A HERO IN THAT HE GOT ONE OF THE HIGH PAY GRA DES. AS I RECALL , HE PROBABLY HA D THE LO WEST PAY GRADE, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN DI GNITY AND HUMILITY AND COMM ITMENT AND HONOR AND LOYALTY AND LOVE TO THIS GREAT INSTITUTION , MR. ROBERT SCOTT WAS SUPER GRADE . AND I WILL NEVER FORG ET THE WAY HE INSPIRED ME AS A MARSHAL COMING IN , JUST SEE ING HOW HE NEVER SAID ANYT HING NEGATIVE. HE WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE , AND HOW HE LOVED THIS COURT , INSPIRED ME GREATLY. AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I D ON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WERE HERE DURING MR . SCOTT'S TENURE OR NOT , TOM . THANKS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, LISA GOO DNER. DEBBIE HOWLS, SUE - - DEBBIE HOWELL , SUE BR UC E AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL STAFF THERE, FOR OUTS TAND ING FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT AND COOPERATION. I ALSO MUST EXTEND SPECIAL THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE D AVID PEPPER , DEL SLOWS , MIKE LOVE , La VI TAE STANFORD LA VITA STA NFORD , AND DOROTHY BURKE. I WOR KED REAL CLOSELY IN THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE WITH THESE FOLKS ON BUDGET , TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T OVERSPEND OR SPEND THE M O NEY ILLEGALLY D OWN THERE AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR FRIENDSHIP ANDALL THE OUTSTANDING SUPPORT. WITHOUT THEIR OUTSTA NDING SUPPORT , THIS RECO GNITION TODAY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. THIS IS JUST NOT ABOUT WILSON BARNES . THANKS TO ALL JU DICIAL ASSISTANTS , ALL LAW CLERKS , CENTRAL STAFF , AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE OLD-TIMERS , JOHN KI SER , DEBORAH MYERS , C RAIG WA TERS , AND PAT MATTING , FOR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AND OUTSTANDING FRIENDSHIP, AND THANKS TO JOAN CANON AND THE LIBRARY STAFF FOR THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT . ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DI DN'T THANK THEM , AFTER A 15-YEAR CAREER HERE AS MARSHAL , THEY ARE PART OF THE SUPREME COURT F A MILY BUT THEY ARE NOT COURT EMPLOYEES . AND I SPEAK OF THE SP OUSE S, THE DO CENT S , ANNETTE P ITTS , PARK TRAM MELL AND THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCI ETY AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS , FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND COOP ERATION THAT THEY HAVE GI VEN ME OVER THE YEARS . NOW , ANY GOOD WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DURING THE P AST 15 YEARS , MUST , A LSO , RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTION OF OT HERS WHOCOME FROM ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT . I SAT HERE AND LI STEN ED TO FOLKS SAY THAT MARSHAL WAS LEAPING OVER TALL BUILDINGS DURING HIS TENURE . NOT TRUE . I WANT TO DISMISS THAT RIGHT NOW . S OME OF THIS LEA PING OVER TALL BUILDINGS WAS AS ARESULT OF SOME GREAT SUPPORTFROM PEOPLE WHO A L SO CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE COURT. AND FIRST IN THAT CATEGORY, WOULD BE THE OFFICE OF THE SENATE AND HOUS E OF REPRESENTATIVES , SERGEANT AT ARMS. I AM NOT SURE THAT THEY AREHERE TODAY , BUT I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE EARNEST SUMNER AND DON SEVERINSON FOR THE OUT STANDING SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE G IVEN ME OVER THE YEARS . MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT SECURITY, SECURITY OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT , FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS , HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS AND COMPLEX BU SINESS. IT IS THE ONE AS PECT OF THE MARSHAL 'S RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS A 24-HOUR DAY , 7- DAY-A-WEEK, 36- DAY-A-YEAR RESPONSIBILITY. 365- DAY-A-YEARRESPONSIBILITY. AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, I T HAS NOT ALWA YS BEEN A SUPER SERIOUS BUSINESS , BUTBEGINNING IN 1993 W ITH THE BOMBING OF THE WORLD TRADECENTER AND IN 1994 THE BOMBING OF THE OKLAHOMA C ITY FEDERAL BUILDING, SECURITY STA RTED BECOMING MUCH MORE SERIOUS FOR MORE PEOPLE. AFTER THE 2000 PRESIDENTAL ELECTION DECI SIONS AND THE 9/11 AIR LINER ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER , SECURITY INTERESTS INTENSIFIED TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH AND CONTINUESTO GROW TODAY. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. I WANT TO , FOR THE RECO RD, PUBLICLY SAY THAT, WITH OUT THE OUTSTANDING SUPPORT AND COOPERATION OF OUR BROTHERS AND SIST ERS IN OUR LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES , WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR COURT SECURITY COMMISSION. AND I MUST ADD , WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, SO SUCCESSFUL THROUGH SOME R ATHER CHALLENGING TIMES , A GAIN , ESPECIALLY DURING THE PRESIDENTAL ELEC TIONS . O NE OF THE AGENCIES, ONE OF THESE AGENCIES THAT I CERTAINLY FEE L LIKE WE ARE GREATLY INDEBTED TO, IS THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CAPITOL POLICE. THE F DL E AND ALL MY BROTHERS , MANY OF MY BROTHERS ANDSISTERS FROM THE FDLE AND CAPITOL POLICE ARE HERE TODAY, HAVE PROVIDED INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION , PHYSICAL SECURITY BACK UP , TRAINING ASSISTANCE , AND SCREEN ING THAT MAIL WH ICH I DIDN'T, W HEN WE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH AND FLAGS, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW WITH ANTHRAX , I DID N'T KNOW HOWWE WERE GOING TO GET IT DONE , ALL OF THAT WE CAN ATTRIBUTETO THE OUTSTANDING SUPPORT OF THE FDLE AND THE CAP ITOL POLICE, AND I AM GLAD THAT DEPUTY COMMIS SIONER SCOTTY SANDERSON COULD BE HERE TODAY . MARK ZADRA, WHO TAUGHT US ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THE INTELLIGENCE BUSI NESS. I BELI EVE HE IS HERE TODAY. THE CAPITOL POLICE DIRECTOR DON LA DNER IS HERE. AND THE CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF , TW SMART. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND FDLE AND THE CAPITOL POLICE, SO VERY , VERY MUCH. FOR ALL OF THE COUNTING SUPPORT AND ON-CALL SUPPORTYOU GAVE TO WILSON BARNES AND THIS GREAT COURT. THE FLORIDA HIGH WAY PATROL, OVER MY EN TIRE 15- YEAR TENURE AT THE COURT , HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US T O PROVIDE BACK UP SECURITY , SECURITY SUPPORT ON CALL ALLOVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA , TRAINING ASSISTANCE , PHYSICAL SECURITY AND EXECUTIVE PROTE CTION ON A CONTINGENCY BASIS. THANKS TO ALL OF THE COMMANDERS AND TROOPERS FOR THEIR EXTRAORDIN ARY , OUTSTANDING SUPPORT D URING MY TENURE . THANKS TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL L ARRY AUS TIN, WHO IS HERE TODAY , LIEUTENANT BAGNOTTI AND MA JOR MARK TRAMMELL , COMMANDER , THANK YOU VERY MUCH . TALLAHASSEE POLICEDEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE IT WAS JUSTICEWELLS WHO TALKED ABOUT T URNING J ESSE AND THE CREW ARNOT FRONT STEPS. BACK IN 2 0 00. THE RE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY . THAT E VENING WHEN WE GOT THE INTELLIGENCE, I WENT TO THE TALLAHASSEE POLICEDEP ARTMENT , WHERE A MAJ OR, WHERE C H IEF McNEIL WAS HAVING A STRATE GY S E SSION WITH HIS GREAT T PD STAFF, AND I TOLD HIM THAT M Y COURT SAID DON'T LET JESSE UP ON THE S T EPS . [LAUGHTER] AND CHIEF MacNEIL , BEING A WISE MAN IN THESE MA TTERS , SAID WILSON , WE ARE WITH YOU 100 PERC ENT OF THE WAY , BUT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN S KIN THIS CA T A LI TTLE DIFFERENTLY. AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND DECIDED WE WOULD LET THEM DO THEIR SPEECHES ON OUR GRASS. THAT WAS BE FORE 9//11 , SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE STA NDOFF DISTANCE PROBLEM AND IT WORKED OUT FINE , BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW , SI R,THAT IT WAS THE WISDOM OF THE CHIE F OF THE TALLAHASSEEPOLICE DE PARTMENT THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THOSE CREATIVE IDEAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THROUGH THAT ONE SA FELY . BUT WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO ALL SUPPORT , CHIEF MacNEIL , T HAT TPD HAS ALWAYS GIVEN , TO ME DURING MY TENURE AND THIS GREAT COURT, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU , CAPTAIN GILMORE , AND SERGEANT RAY CREW, FOR COMING TODAY. L EON COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS ANOTHER AGENCY I MUST MENTION . THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR US. S HERIFF LARRY CAMPBELL, CAPTAIN RAY WOODS , AND MAJOR MORGAN . THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES , THEY DO SO MUCH FOR US AND HAVE DUR ING MY TENURE, F ROM HELPING US SPEND BIG MO NEY WHEN WE HAD BIG MONEY A FEW YEARS, WE DIDN'T HAVE BIG MONEY MANY YEARS.WE ARE GO ING TO HAVE BIG MONEY THIS YEAR , THOUGH , BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGE MENTSERVICES, THEY HELP US WITH BILLING SKILLS THAT WE DON'THAVE ON STAFF AND WOULDN'T BE AB LE TO O PERATE THIS BUILDING WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE . I NOW MUST MENTION VERY RAPIDLY, BECAUS E I HAVE GONE ON MUCH TOO LONG AND THE CHIEF IS GOING TO P ULL THE LIGHT ON ME HERE IN A M INUTE . I MUST MENTION WHAT I CALL MY COMMUNITY PARTNERS . AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO AREOUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY , FIGHTING FOR H UMAN BE INGS , FOR CIVIL R IGHTS , INDIGENT HEALTH CARE , PRESCHOOL REA DINESS, JUVENILE JUSTICEPROGRAM , COMMUNITY FAMILY SERVICES AND CARE OF THE ELDERLY . I AM EXT REMELY PROUD OF MY BROTHERS AND SI STERS WHO AREHERE TODAY , AND I SEE QUITE A FEW OF THEM FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS. BECAUSE THEY SH ARE , YO U ALL SHARE THE SPOT LIGHT WITH WILSON BA RNES TODAY. AND I AM TALKING ABOUT THE NAACP . I SEE DR . CHARLES EV ANS OUR GREAT PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR COMING. SALVATION ARMY , CAP TAIN RICHMOND , WHO HIT THIS TOWN WITH SO MUCH ENERGY AND DOING SO MUCH IN THE SALVATION ARMY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING . THE B ON D COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, JR RICHARDS, I SEE HIM SITTING IN THE BACK. BOND COMMUNITY HEALTH C ENTER . A T THE TIME O F JR'S ARRIVAL WAS IN THE RED , AND IT IS IN THE BLACK TODAY , WITH THEVISION OF GETTING A COMPREHENSIVE C L INIC FOR FEMALE S AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH SER VICES, FOR THOSEPEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND BE LIEVE ME IT IS SOUTHEASTERLY NE EDED IN THIS COMMUNITY IT IS SORRYLY NEEDED IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE TALLAHASSEE MARINE INSTITUTE IS A NOTHER ONE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THEM, BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FROM THOSE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS FOR COMING HERE TODAY ANDSHARING THIS SPECIAL MOMENT WITH ME . WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WO RK TO DO . I SEE MAGGIE LEWIS. WE HAVE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT SCHOOLS. I DON'T SEE DEL MONTRY. HE SA ID HE WAS COMING. MS. LEWIS IS OUR GREAT DISTRICT ONE S C HOOL COMMISSIONER. SHE IS GOING TO BE A GREATERDISTRICT ONE SCHOOL COMMI SSIONER, WHEN WE G ET A NEW HIGH SCHO OL ON THE SOUTH S IDE. JOE HENDERSON . JOE BEHIND ARE SON IS A LONG JOE HENDERSON A L ONG TIME FRIEND AND ALSO RETIRED FOR M HE IS G OING TO TEACH ME HO W TO LI VE A GOOD RETIREMENT LIFE. AND BEFORE I GET IN TROUBLE , AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST , I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION AND RECOGNIZE DR . MOORE , WHO IS A VERY , VERY DEAR AND GOOD FRIEND, AND A VERY DEAR AND GOOD COMPANION FOR ME , AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. I DON'T KNOW WH AT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HER. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH . [APPLAUSE] I FOOLED YOU. I AM LONG WI NDED AND I DIDN'T BREAKDOWN TO TALLY . I AM GOIN G TO CLOSE. TODAY AND THIS WONDERFUL CEREMONY , WILL REPRESENT ONEOF THE HIGH PO INT IN M Y LONG PROFESSIONAL LIFE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THIS WONDERFUL CEREMONY.YOU HAVE HO NOR ED MY FAM ILY , YOU HAVE HONOR ED MY HERITAGE , AND ALL OF MY WOND ERFUL FRIENDS . AND TO ALL OF YOU AND ESPECIALLY TO THE COURT , YOU HAVE HONORED ME BY JUDGING ME IN ACCORD WITH THE MO DEL OF THE FAM OUS 92d INFANTRY DIVISION, AND HERB PAR KER , I KNOW THE HAIR WILL STAND UP ON HIS HEAD BECAUSE I KNOW HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE 92d INFANTRY DR ITION DIVISION, AND THE 92d INFANTRY DIVISION WAS THE FAMOUS ALL BLACK WORLD WAR II INFA NTRY DIVISION. I TS MODEL WAS YOU SHALL B E JUDGED BY DE EDS NOT WORDS . TODAY I AM TOT ALLY FULFILLED AND SATIS FIED, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS FROM TODAY'S CER EMONY THAT YOU HAVE JUDGED ME ON MY DEEDS . MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE , SUBJECT TO OTHER INSTRUCTIONS , I WILL NOW LEAVE THE PO DIUM . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE WILL END OUR IS HE NOT MORN MOAN I WITH THE WE WILL END OUR CEREMONY WITH THE BENEDICTION AND THE RECEPTION IN THE ROTUNDA . REVEREND JO HN FRANK GREEN , I F YOU WILL GIVE US THE BENEDICTION .

RE VEREND GREEN : TO THE COURT AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , LET US NOWRECEIVE THE BENEDICTION . NOW , GOD , AS WE VOICE THE SENTIMENT OF THIS COURT ANDTHIS COMMUNITY , IN G IVING THANKS TO YOU FOR THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RENDERED BY WILSON BAR NES TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT , HE HAS BEEN A ST ERLING EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DU TIES AS MARSHAL . NOW , AS HE HAS COME TO THE C LOSE OF HIS TENURE AND HAS E ARNED A WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT FROM HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES AND HAS EARNED THE RESPECT OF THIS COURT AND COMMUNITY , W E PRAY FOR HIS CONTINUED STRENGTH IN THEE AND PRAY THAT HIS SERV ICE TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT SHALL LI NGER LONG IN THE MEMORIES AND THE HIS TORY OF THIS COURT. FOR THIS AND MORE , WE BID WILSON A BLESSED RETI REMENT , AND IN THY N AM E WE PRAY , AMEN.

CHIEF JUSTICE: THE COURT WILL BE IN RECESS .

MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE .