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.

2005 Constitution Day Ceremony


MARSHAL: ALL RISE. HEAR YE.HEAR YE.HEAR YE.THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDAIS NOW IN CEREMONIAL SESSION.ALL WHO HAVE CAUSE TO PLEA , DRAW NEAR , GIVE ATTENTION AND YOU SHALL BE HEARD. GOD S AVE T HESE UNITED STATES, THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA AND THIS HONORA BLE COURT. LADIES AND GENTLE MEN , THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FORTHE PLED GE OFALEMANSWER, LED BY JUSTICE CHARLES WELLS AND SOME OF OUR GUESTS.

WOULD EVERYBODY PLEASE REPEAT THE PLEDGE WITH US . I PLE DG E ALLEGIANCE T O THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WH ICH IT STANDS , O NE NATION UN DE R GOD , INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

MARSHAL : LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEAT ED.

CHIEF JUST ICE: WELCOME TO THE CEREMONIAL SE SSION ON THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. I AM CHIEF J U STICE BARBARA PARIENTE, AND WITH US, TODAY , ARE AL L OF OUR JUSTICES ON THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT . ON BEHALF OF M Y FELLOW JUSTICES, IT G IVES U S GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME YO U TO THE COURT AND T O HO NOR , TODAY , THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UN ITED STATES OF AMERICA . WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST TODAY THAT WE WO ULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.WE HAVE , VISITING US , SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS F ROM B OND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND L EON HIGH SC HOOL AND OTHERS. WE, AL SO , HOPE THAT STUDENTS AROUND THE STATE WILL HAVETHE OPPORTUNITY, ALSO, TO SEE THIS CEREMONY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE IR O WN EDUCATIONAL SETTING. I , ALSO , WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME A FE W OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUEST S. WE HAVE H ERE TODAY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR , REPRESENTING AL MOST 80,0 00 LAWYERS AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE ARE , A LS O , V ERY HONOREDTO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LEGISLATURE.WE ALSO HAVE W ITH US TODAYMR. HUN TER , WHO IS WITH THE FLORIDA BAR , AND ONE OF THE JUDGES FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF APP EAL . WE ARE, ALSO, HONORED TO HAVE THE HONOR OF A S ON G LATER ON D URING THE CEREMONY . NOW , I KNOW WE HAVE ONE OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUEST HERE BUT I DON 'T SEE H IM ANYWHERE . DR . FRANKLIN, WH ERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM PHILADELPHIA CITY, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN SIGNING THE CONSTITUTION, AND PROVIDING YOU WITH A REPUBLIC.

CHIEF JUSTICE: NOW , WHAT , A REPUBLIC, WHAT SHOULD WEDO WITH IT?

THE REPUBLIC IS OUR CURRENT AND NEW FO RM OF GOVERNMENT, AND WE HAVE GIVEN YOU A FREE COUNTRY. IT IS NOW YOUR D U TY, TO KEEP IT FREE.

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU , SIR. NOW , HOW D O WE K EEP OUR COUNTRY FREE AND WHAT IS OUR CONSTITUTION, AND HOW IS IT THAT OUR CONSTITUTION HAS BECOME THE O LDEST WRITTEN CONSTITUTION O F ALL THE GOVERNMENTS IN THE WORL D? WHAT IS IT THAT HAS KE PT THE CONSTITUTION GOING FOR 200 , 218 YEARS , AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE IT TODAY? HOPEFULLY AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, YOU WILL SEE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITYTO THINK ABOUT THAT , WHAT OUR CONS TITUTION IS , WHAT RIGHTS ARE GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION , WHAT STRUCTURE OF GO VERNMENT WE HAVE. AND THE RE ASON THAT WE HAVE THIS CEREMONY TODA Y IN SEPTEMBER , I S BE CAUSE IT WAS S IGNED SEPTEMBER 17 , 1787 , OUR CONSTITUTION WAS SIGNED. SO W E CELEBRATE CONSTI TUTION DAY EVERY YEAR-AROUND THIS TIME. THE JUSTICES , ALL THROUGHOUT STATE, IN NOVEMBER W E WILL VISIT THE SCHOOLS , BUT THIS YEAR WE DECIDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION OF COURT, IN LARGE PART BECAU SE OF A LAW THAT PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED LAST YEAR THAT INSTRUCTS ALLOF THE SCHOOLS AROUND THE TO HAVE CONSTITUTION DAY PROGRAMS, SO THAT STUD ENTS WILL HAVE A S PECIAL DAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AND ABOUT THE RIGHTS THATARE GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION . THE , AS AMERICANS , IT I S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION , BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HEAR AMERICANS, EVEN STUDENTS SAY THAT GOVERNMENT AND OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED. I WA NT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT SOMETIMES , AND FOR NOW I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROCLAMATION THAT AP PEARS IN Y OUR PR OGRAM READ FROM THEPODIUM.

PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR C LOSE ATTENTION.WHEREAS THE FO UNDING FATHERSOF THIS GREAT NATION , ON SEPTEMBER 17 , 1787 , SIGNED A CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AME RICA , AND WHEREAS THE 218th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE CONSTITUTION IS SATURDAY, SEP TEMBER 17 , 2 005 , MAKING IT THE OL DEST WRITTEN CONSTITUTION IN THE WORLD , AND WHEREAS PRE SIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH , ON DECEMBER 8 , 20042004, SIGNED A LAW ESTABLISHING -- 20 04 , SIGNED A LAW ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO COMMEMORATE THE CONSTITUTION EACH YEAR , WITH FOCUS ON OUR SCHOOLS, AND WH EREAS THESUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA IS COMMITED TO AS SIST OURSCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN HONORING AND RECOGNIZING THE BLESSING S CONFERRED U PON US BY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND WHEREAS THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA HAS ORGANIZED THE PROGRAM OF OBSERVANCE BEING CONDUCTED HERE, IN THE COURTROOM TODAY, SO THAT IT CAN BE BROADCASTTHROUGHOUT THE STATE , AS AWAY THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OTHERS CAN HONOR CONSTITUTION DAY UNDER FEDERAL LAW. NOW, THEREFORE, THE SU PREME COURT OF FLORIDA HERE BY PROCLAIMS THAT SEPTEMBER 17 , 2005 , IS RECOGNIZED AS CONSTITUTION DAY IN THE STATE COURTS, AND WE ENCOURAGE THE COURTS, THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA, TO COMMEMORATE THE SIGNING OF OUR NATION'S CH ARTER DU RING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER , THE SAME IS HERE BY ORDERED ANDDONE AT TALLAHASSEE ON SEPTEMBER 13 , 2005.

CHIEF JUSTICE: I WILL NOW SIGN THE PROCLAMATION , USING THE TRADITIONAL QUILL PEN , HOPEFULLY NOT SPILLING THE INK AS I SIGN IT! OKAY. WE HAVE THE PROC LAMATION SIGNED. I WOULD , NOW , ASK JUSTICE QUINCE TO APP ROACH THE PODIUM AND LEAD US I N READING THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION, W HICH APPEARS IN OUR PROGRAM.

WOUL D ALL PLEASE STANDAND TURN TO THE BACK OF YOUR PROGRAM AND READ WITH ME , THE PREA MBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. ALL : WE , THE PE OPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER T O F ORM A MORE PERFECT UNION , ESTABLISH JUSTICE , INS URE D OMESTIC TRANQUILITY , PROVIDE FOR THE CO MMON DEFENSE, PRO MOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE , AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LI BERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR PROSPERITY , DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

YOU MAY BE S E ATED . MR. FRED LEE , WOULD YOU P LEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. [FIFE AND DRUMS] 4 OH, BEAUTIFUL FOR HEROE S PROVE IN LIB ERATING STRIFE. 77 WHO MORE THAN F E LT THEIR COUNTRY L OVE AND MERCY FOR THE N IGHT 77 AMERICA 77 AMERICA GOD SHED HIS LIGHT ON THE E 77 YES F ILL US WITH SUCCESS IN NOBLENESS ANDEVERY GAIN RE FINED 77 OX BEAUTIFUL FOR -- OH, BEA UTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES FOR AMBER WAVES O F GRAIN 77 FOR PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY A BOVE THE FR UI T ED PL AINS 77 T ALK ABOUT AMERICA 77 AMERICA 77 MY GOD SHE DID HIS GRACE -- MY GOD SHED HIS GRACE , S HED HIS GRACE ON THEE 77 YESHE DID AND THEN HE CROWNED THY GOOD 77 HE DID IT FOR BROTHERHOOD FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA 77 AMERICA 77 AMERICA COME ON AMERICA 77 GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE 77 YES 77 HE DID AND THEN HE C ROWNED THY GOOD 77 HE DID IT WITH BROTHERHOOD FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA 77 YES HE DID 77 I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU 77 GOD77 [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: WOW ! [APPLAUSE] MR. LEE , THAT IS A HARD ACT TO FOLL OW! WHENEVER I HEAR THAT SONG , IT BRINGS CHILLS TO ME , AND T EARS TO MY E YES, AND IDON'T THINK I HAVE EVER HEARD IT SUNG AS BEA UTIFULLY A S YOU HAVE SU NG IT TODAY , AND I KNOW IT MAKES ALL OF US SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN , AND YOU KN OW, STUDENTS , THAT YOU ALL , NOW , HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND AFTER THE CEREMONY IS CONCLUDED, YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SIGN THE CONSTITUTION , AND ITHINK THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTION. DID YOU ALL GET A POCKET CONSTITUTION YET? ALL RI GHT. WELL, YOU WILL BE GETTING A POCKET CONSTITUTION, AND WE HOPE THAT, B Y THE END OF THE CONSTITUTION WE EK , THAT THIS DOCUMENT, THIS OLDEST WRITTEN CONSTITUTION , WILL BECOME A BESTSELLER IN THIS COUNTRY.THE READING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT IT IS THE BASIS FOR OUR CONSTITUTION , AND YOU KNOW THAT I, AS WELL AS MY FEL LOW JUSTICES , AS WELL AS THE OVER 800 JUDGES IN THE STATE , AND THELEGISLATURE , AND THE GOVERNOR, AND THE CABINET , ALL , TAKE AN O ATH OF OFFICE, AND THAT OATH OF OFFICE SAYS THAT WE SWEAR THAT WE WILL UPHOLD , PROTECT AND DE FEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATEOF FLORIDA. B UT WHAT THE MESSAGE IS THAT WE WANT TO BRING , T ODAY, TO YOU , IS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT CANNOT EXIST , WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE PEOPLE , AND YOU HERE, TODAY , YOU ARE OUR CITIZENS, AND YOU ARE OUR LEADERS OF TO MORROW , SO W E WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE WHAT OUR FO UNDING F ATHERS KN EW AND WHAT HAS KEPT U S STRONG AS A COUNTRY, FOR OVER 200 YEARS . THE BASIC RIGHTS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU , AS AMERICANS , BUT IF YOU TAK E IT FOR GRANTED , OUR DEMOCRACY IS THREATENED, SO THAT IS WHY YOUR PARTICIPATION , HERE ANDAROUND THE STATE, IS SO IMPORTANT , AND WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF THIS CEREMONY IN THE COURTROOM , AND I MIGHT SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW , IF YOU UNDERSTAND BUT WE ARE NOW IN THE SUPREME COURT COURTROOM , WHERE THE COURT HOLDS ITS ORAL ARGUMENTS EVERY MO NTH, AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE T H OSE ARGUMENTS , BOTH IN PERSON, BECAUSE W E ALWAYS WELCOME STUDENTS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE TO COME TO TALLAHASSEE , AND BEING IN TALLAHASSEE, IT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, AS WELL AS WATCH IT ON T V. WE ARE ON THE INTERNET ON YOUR COMPUTER, AND OUR ORAL ARG UMENTS ARE ALWAYS BROADCAST, SO THAT IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND HOPEFULLY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COURTS FIT IN WITH THE CONSTITUTION , BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO HE LP YOU PRO TECT THE RIGH TS THAT ARE GUARANTEED IN THIS CONSTITUTION. WE WILL BE GOING OUT INTO THE ROT UNDA , AND AS I SAID , YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SIGN THE CONSTITUTION, SEE SOME OF THE EXHIBITS THAT OUR STAFF HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PUT TO GETHER. WE HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTIONAL JOUR NAL FROM THE FIRST CONSTITUTION IN FLORIDA , BACK IN THE 1800s , AND YOU CAN SEE THAT , AND IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT, WE, ALSO , HAVE CAKE FOR ALL OF YOU , SO I SEE SOME SMILES THERE. I KNEW THAT WOUL D DO IT.BUT WE HOP E THAT THIS WILL BE MORE THAN JUST HAVING CAKE AND JUST A FUN DAY OUT OF YOUR CLASSROOMS. WE HOPE IT WILL BE AN INSPIRING , EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I WANT TO TAKE THE OP PORTUNITY TO THANK SOME OF THEINDIVIDUALS THAT WERE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN PU TTING THIS TOGETHER, AND I AM SURE THEY ARE OFF-CA MERA, BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY THEY ARE, BUT WE HAVE TR ISH KNOX IN THE CORNER. AND TRI SH KNOX HAS WORKED VERY, VERY HAR D FOR THE PAST MONTH TO BUT THE CEREMONY AND THE EXHIBITS TOGETHER. TRISH, IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN THANKYOU. AND WE, A LSO , HAVE AN NETTE P ITTS IN THE BACK, THE HEAD OF THE LAW-RELATED E D UCATION ASSOCIATION , AND HER ASSOCIATION WORK ED ALL YEAR-AROUND , TO BRING EDUCATIONAL PROG RAMS INTO THE SCHOOLS , BECAUSE WHAT WE ALL BELI EVE IS THAT CIVICS , TEACHING YOU HOW TO BE A GOOD CITI ZEN, IS PART OF AND PARCEL OF YOUR EDU CATION , AND WE HAVE BR ENDA JOHNSON, WHO HEL PED TO BRING THE STUDENTS TOGE THER, AND I THI NK THAT SHE MAY HAVE A DAUGHTER HERE FROM ON E OF THE SCHOOLS. I WON'T EMBARRASS THAT DAUGHTER, SO WE WON'T DO THAT, AND WE HAVE BEN FRANKLIN, AND I WANT TO MAKE S URE THAT BEN FRANKLIN , WHO YOU SAW EARLIER , WILL BE HERE. HIS N AME IS NOT REA LLY BEN FRANKLIN, IF CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, BECA USE BEN FRANKLIN WAS 81 IN 17 87. YOU FIGU RE IT OUT. IT WOULD BE PRETTY HARD FORHIM TO BE AROUND TODAY , BUT HE WILL BE HERE. HE IS LLOYD WHE ELER , AND HE IS HERE COURTESY OF HIST ORY ALIVE PRODUCTION S. AND LAST BUT NOT LE AST , NOT ONLY DO WE THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF AT THE SUPREME COURT, BUT WE THANK BOTH "THE FLORIDA CHANNEL" AND WFSU, WHO WILL BE WORK ING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS BROADCAST LIVE OR DE LAY , I SHOULD SAY , SINCE WE HAVE THE LEGISLATURE GOING , I THINK WE GOT BUMPED ON THE LIVE SLOT, BUT WE WILL BE , HOPEFULLY , BROADCAST ON FRIDAY, WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL CONSTITUTION DAY, SO WITH THAT , I WOULD SAY THAT THE COURT IS IN RE CESS , AND YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO ADJOURN TO THE RO TUNDA T O ENJOY THE EXHI BITS AND CAKE.

MARSHA L: PLEASE RISE . [APPLAUSE]