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Ceremony for Induction of Candidates for Admission to The Florida Bar


I MEMBERS OF THE MOST NOBLE PROFESSION. THE LEGAL PROFESSION. LAWYERS, HELP PEOPLE. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD TO BE A LAWYER. TODAY IS, ALSO, A TIME TO REFLECT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSPIRED YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU. YOU KNOW, WE ALL BENEFIT FROM AFFIRMATIVE ACTS OF KINDNESS. TODAY IS A DAY, I CALL IT A HUGS AND KISSES DAY. TO THANK YOUR SPOUSES, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. TODAY IS, ALSO, A TIME TO THANK THOSE ROLE MODELS IN YOUR LIFE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY. IMAGINE IF THEY WERE HERE, TODAY, WITH THEIR BRIGHT SMILES, IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COURTROOM, HOW PROUD THEY WOULD BE OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CHERISH THIS DAY. YOU HAVE EARNED IT. THE GREATEST REWARD FOR BEING A LAWYER IS THE PRIVRELIGIOUS TO -- IS THE PRIVLEMING TO HELP OTHERS, AND SO UNITED STATES JUSTICE BENJAMIN CARDOSO SAID THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS BURDENED WITH CONDITIONS. YOU ARE TRULY UNIQUE, HOWEVER. THIS CLASS HAS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. YOU ARE THE FIRST LAWYERS OF THE NEW CENTURY, THE LEGAL GATE KEEPERS, THE BEDROCK OF THE 21st CENTURY LAWYER. WILL YOU ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE AND BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION? WILL YOU PLANT THE SEEDS OF DIVERSITY, CIVILITY, PROFESSIONALISM, PRO BONO SERVICE IN THIS CENTURY? WILL YOU BE THE PROTECTORS OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE, THE CROWN JEWELS OF OUR NATION, AND WILL YOU VIGOROUSLY DEFEND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE BAR AND THE JUDICIARY, BECAUSE AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY TRULY ENRICHES DEMOCRACY, AND AS YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND IN A FEW MOMENTS AND YOU ARE ADMINISTERED THE SOLEMN OATH BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, LET THOSE 258 WORDS THAT YOU WILL HEAR AND REPEAT INSPIRE YOU, FOR YOU ARE, MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS OF THE BAR, AND THIS OATH IS WHAT SETS US APART FROM ALL OTHER PROFESSIONS. YOU ARE OFFICERS OF THE COURT. PRACTICE LAW AS IF YOUR RIGHT HAND IS PERMANENTLY RAISED, THROUGHOUT YOUR LEGAL CAREER. MY MESSAGE IS ABOUT CORE VALUES. BE A PROFESSIONAL LAWYER. SHOW THE UTMOST RESPECT TO THE JUDICIARY, TO YOUR COLLEAGUES, AND TO YOUR CLIENTS. SOME OF YOUR CLIENTS WILL END UP BEING YOUR PERSONAL HEROES. YOU WILL BE AMAZED BY THEIR COURAGE AND CONVICTION. AND REMEMBER CIVILITY. RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. CIVILITY IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS. IT IS A BADGE OF HONOR. AND REMEMBER THE CREED OF PROFESSIONALISM. REVERE THE LAW,ED JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LAST FIVE WORDS. MY WORD IS MY BOND. IN YOUR FIRST SIX MONTHS OF PRACTICE, I AM ASKING YOU ALL, AS A PERSONAL FAVOR, ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTANA THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH, TO READ THE OATH OF ADMISSION TO THE BAR AND THE CREED FOR PROFESSIONALISM. YOUR REPUTATION IS YOUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET. IT CAN BE LOST IN A SPLIT SECOND. GUARD IT. PROTECT IT. HONOR IT. REMEMBER PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES, TO HELP THE POOR. THERE IS AN ATTORNEY BY THE NAME, HE HAS PASSED AWAY, OF TOBIAS SIMON, WHO IS HONORED IN THIS COURTROOM EACH YEAR, FOR HIS LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR. BELIEVE IN THAT, FOR YOUR FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE, AND REMEMBER TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY. SEIZE THE FUTURE AND FEEL THE POWER OF INCLUSION. 100 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NO MINORITIES IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN FLORIDA AND THERE WERE TWO WOMEN, AND LOOK HOW WE ARE TODAY. WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS, AND WE NEED TO, STILL, TRAVEL ALONG THOSE LINES, BUT TO HAVE PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, YOU MUST HAVE A PROFESSION AND A JUDICIARY THAT REFLECTS THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE. IN CLOSING, I ASK THAT YOU WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS. WRITE THEM DOWN THIS WEEK! WHAT YOU EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW, AND PLACE THE WRITTEN COPY OF THESE GOALS BEHIND THE CERTIFICATE YOU WILL RECEIVE FROM THE SUPREME COURT, WITH THE BEAUTIFUL GOLD SEAL, AND KEEP THEM THERE, AND LET'S MAKE A DATE, TOGETHER, PLEASE DIARY IT IN YOUR CALENDAR AND I WILL, IN MINE, FOR OCTOBER 2, 2025. WE WILL BE HERE, IN THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING. I HOPE TO BE IN THE TWILIGHT OF MY CAREER, AND FOR YOU, YOU ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE 21st CENTURY, WHO HAD PRACTICED LAW FOR 25 YEARS. WILL WE CELEBRATE, TOGETHER, YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS? WILL WE CELEBRATE IF YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION, TO YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FAITH, AND YOUR COMMUNITY? SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE CHILDREN WHO WOULD HAVE GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL, PASSED THE EXAM, AND BE IN THIS VERY COURTROOM, AS NEW LAWYERS. WILL THEY LOOK TO YOU AS ROLE MODELS? WE MAY PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR ROLE. ONE DAY ONE OF YOU MAY BE ACHIEVE JUSTICE OF THIS SUPREME COURT, A JUDGE ON THE SUPREME COURT, A JUDGE ON THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, A PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, THE RECIPIENT OF THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD, A GOVERNOR, A LEGISLATOR, OR AN ATTORNEY WHO HAS FOUGHT TO PROTECT THE INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY, AND WHEN WE ALL REACH THAT DAY OF FINAL JUDGMENT, THE REAL QUESTION WILL BE ASKED, HAVE YOU BEEN A LAWYER WITH A BIG HEART, WHO GAVE THIS PROFESSION A GOOD NAME? AS YOU LEAVE THIS COURT TODAY, GET FIRED UP ABOUT BEING A LAWYER. BE A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR TO YOUR PROFESSION. BE PROUD TO BE A LAWYER. LET'S WALK HAND-IN-HAND, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, AND TOGETHER WE CAN CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN, HAVING LIFTED THE SPIRIT OF THE PROFESSION, PLANTED THE SEEDS OF CIVILITY, PROFESSIONALISM, PRO BONO SERVICES, DIVERSITY AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE. MAY GOD ALWAYS BLESS YOU WITH GOOD HEALTH FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING CAREER IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE SF. [

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS, MR. ROSSMANO. NOW I CALL UPON ONE OF THE NEW ADMITESE, WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED CONFIDENCE, AND WHO WE HAVE ASKED TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM, AMANDA HUNTER. MS. HUNTER.

> MR. CHIEF JUSTICE, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COURT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I AM PRIVILEGED TO COME BEFORE YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN TO BE ADMITTED TO THE FLORIDA BAR TODAY. I HAVE STUDIED, DEBATED, AND, AT TIMES, COMIES RATED WITH MANY OF THEM. SOME HAVE BECOME THE KIND OF FRIENDS THAT CAN ONLY BE MADE WHILE STRUGGLING THROUGH SOME CHARACTER-BUILDING JOURNEY. THEIR INTELLIGENCE, THEY ARE DEDICATED, AND THEY ARE CREATIVE, AND I AM PROUD TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. OF COURSE THIS MAY BE MY ONLY CHANCE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, SO I AM, ALSO, TERRIFIED TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. TODAY WE TRANSITION FROM CLASSMATES TO COLLEAGUES. FROM STUDENTS OF THE LAW TO PRACTITIONERS OF IT. AND WE MUST THANK OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS JOURNEY WITH US. THANK YOU. THE JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN, AND SO IS OUR EDUCATION. UNTIL NOW, IT WAS ALL IN THE AND -- IN THE ABSTRACT, HYPOTHETICALS ON EXAMINATION, PEOPLE WHO MEANT NOTHING MORE THAN JUST CASE NAMES. FROM THIS POINT, FORWARD, WE BECOME A PART OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, A PART THAT, FOR MANY, WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME OF THEIR LIVES. WE RECOGNIZE THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT ATTORNEYS PLAY IN OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. THEY FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE COURTS THAT PROVIDE A FORUM FOR YOUR GRIEVANCES. THEY CHALLENGE THOSE THAT APPEAR UNTOUCHABLE AND ALLOW JURIES TO REGULATE, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT. THEY ARE OFTEN THE CATALYST THE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. WE PROMISE THAT WE DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY, THE RESPONSIBILITY WITH WHICH YOU HAVE GRANTED US. WE PROMISE TO RETAIN THE INQUISITIVENESS OF A STUDENT, WHILE WE DEVELOP THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE INTEGRITY OF A PRACTITIONER. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. [APPLAUSE]

VERY WELL SAID, MS. HUNTER, AND THANK YOU. I WOULD, NOW, CALL UPON OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE CHARLES CONN. JUDGE CONN: MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, INDUCTEES, FAMILIES, YOUR FRIENDS, PRESIDENT HERMAN, WHO IS SUCH A STAUNCH AND VALUABLE FRIEND OF AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY, AND ALTHOUGH THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA MAY NOT APPRECIATE IT ON A DAILY BASIS, A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE LIFE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS GREAT STATE AND THIS GREAT COUNTRY, AND AMANDA, FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS THAT YOU JUST SHARED WITH US. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS INSTITUTION OF WHICH YOU, EACH, BECOME OFFICERS HERE, TODAY, IS FOUNDED UPON THE SIMPLE PROPOSITION THAT SERIOUS DISPUTES, WHETHER INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, OR GOVERNMENT, MUST HAVE A FAIR AND INDEPENDENT FORUM FOR REST RESTLUTION -- FOR RESOLUTION. IT IS WITHIN THIS FORUM, EMBODIED BY COURTROOMS, SUCH AS THIS BEAUTIFUL SUPREME COURT ROOM, IN WHICH WE ALL GATHER TODAY, THAT THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE MAY PROPERLY CARRY ON. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE FLORIDA BAR, IT IS NOT OUR WAY, AS LAWYERS, TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES THROUGH DECEPTION OR ART FIST, AND -- ARTIFICE AND, CERTAINLY, NEVER THROUGH FORCE, THREAT OR INTIMIDATION. THOSE VOCAL FEW WHO ARE CONVINCED THAT ALMOST ANYTHING WOULD BE BETTER THAN OUR AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, HAVE SIMPLY FAILED TO CONSIDER WHAT I, NOW, POSE TO YOU AS THE TRUTH, THEANT THEY SEE OF THE RULES OF LAW -- OF THE ANTITHESIS IS NOT CHAOS. THE FRUIT OF DEMOCRACY AND THE FAME OF ONE OF THE FOUNDERS, IS RELATIVE TRUTH THAT WE AMERICANS ENJOY, MORE THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD, A CIVIL AND PEACEFUL SOCIETY, FOSTERED, IN TURN, BY A SYSTEM FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION, ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL CIVIL LIBERTY WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, DEMANDING INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. OUR CONSTITUTIONS, STATUTES, AND COMMON LAW TRADITIONS ARE THE ONLY WEAPONS YOU NEED TO ABLY REPRESENT YOUR CLIENTS, AND THESE TOOLS WILL BE HUSBANDED BY YOUR HARD WORK AND BY YOUR ENDLESS PREPARATION. REMEMBER THAT WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE YOU -- REMEMBER WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE YOU, IN MAPPING THIS INCREDIBLE LEGAL LANDSCAPE THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS THE HANDIWORK OF CENTURIES. IT IS NOT PERFECT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO TAKE A WRONG TURN, NOW AND THEN, AND ON OCCASION, TO HAVE ESPOUSED AND DEFENDED THE WRONG IDEA AND EVEN THE WRONG CHAMPION, BUT THIS RULE OF LAW HAS A SELF-CONTAINED TOOL KIT. WE CALL THESE TOOLS DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW, AND EACH OF YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE, NOW, APPRENTICES IN THEIR USE. I URGE YOU TO REFLECT, HERE, ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR UNDERTAKING. YOU CAME HERE A COMPETENT, WELL-EDUCATED LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE. YOU LEAVE, AS OFFICERS OF THE COURT, POSSESSED OF POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE EVEN FULLY CONSIDERED. WITH A STROKE OF YOUR PEN, YOU CAN SIGN A CIVIL COMPLAINT, INITIATING A LAWSUIT, AND YOU CAN BE VERY SR THAT THAT LAWSUIT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THOSE SUIT PAPERS. YOU HAVE, AT YOUR DISPOSAL, THE POWER OF SUBPOENA, BY WHICH YOU CAN COMPEL, AT COURT PROCEEDINGS, THE ATTENDANCE OF UNWILLING WITNESSES. SEVERAL OF YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SERVE AS STATE OR FEDERAL PROSECUTORS. BY INITIATING FORMAL CHARGES, EITHER BY AN INFORMATION OR A GRAND JURY, YOU MAY BRING TO BEAR ALL THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST A FELLOW CITIZEN ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING. THOSE OF YOU WHO CHOOSE BUSINESS REAL ESTATE OR PROBATE, WILL, BY YOUR MERE WORD OF ADVICE, INFLUENCE THE COURSE OF YOUR CLIENT'S FUTURE, OF YOUR CLIENT'S SUCCESS. YOU WILL BE LOOKED TO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. YOU WILL BE RELIED UPON, MAKE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND YOU MUST, ALWAYS, BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS AS A LAWYER. PEOPLE WILL JUDGE OUR SYSTEM BY YOUR ENDEAVORS. PLEASE DON'T TREAT THE COURTS AS A MERE BACKDROP AGAINST WHICH YOU EARN YOUR LIVING. REMEMBER, INSTEAD, THAT IT IS THE RULE OF LAW, THAT RULE THAT AFFORDS SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND AFFORDS PROTECTION NOT ONLY TO THE ACCUSED BUT TO PEACEFUL SOCIETY AT LARGE THAT HAS ALLOWED US, EACH OF US, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I THERE FOR CHARGE YOU, TODAY, TO BE CIVIL, TO BE DILIGENT, ALWAYS BE SCRUPULOUSLY HONEST. YOU HAVE NOT ONLY THE PREROGATIVE BUT THE OBLIGATION TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THOSE MANY MOMENTS AND SITUATIONS, WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS MONITORING YOUR BEHAVIOR. YOU HAVE NOW JOINED A TRADITION THAT TRACES ITS ROOTS BACK, LITERALLY, TO BIBLICAL TIMES, SO I WOULD SAY TO YOU LET YOUR PROFESSIONAL DECISIONS AND YOUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ACTIONS BE WORTHY OF THIS ANCIENT AND VALUABLE TRADITION. CONGRATULATIONS. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU. [APPLAUSE]

NOW, I KNOW THAT, FOR YOU, THE FIRST OFFICIAL CONTACT WITH THE FLORIDA BAR HAS BEEN THROUGH FLORIDA BAR EXAMINERS, AND WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THAT BOARD, WHO WORKED SO HARD AND SO DILIGENTLY IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING ADMISSION AND IN BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC OF FLORIDA, TO COME AND PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION, AND I WOULD CALL UPON MISS MARY HARRIS MOORE FOR THAT PURPOSE. MS. MOORE. MS. MOORE: MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. 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 AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE STANDARDS AND IDEALS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION. IN ADDITION, THEIR BACKGROUNDS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SEARCH IN CHARACTER AND TO FITNESS INVESTIGATION. 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 OF FLORIDA. THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU AT THIS TIME ARE, AND PLEASE -- MR> CHIEF JUSTICE: IF YOU WOULD STAND, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE. MS. MOORE: JOAN HUMPHREY ANDERSON, MONICA GEORGE AND AN ARMSTER, MARY FRANCIS AMSTER, GINGER LYNN BERRY, EDWARD THOMAS BOWER, FLORIDA RENAULT, ROCHELLE BIRNBAUM, BARKER I CAN BRENT, ANTHONY MICHAEL CARDOLA, LINDA H PARSONS, HUNTER WYMAN CAROL, JOREZ CAMIZO, JOHN JAMES DEANGELO, MAMIE L DAVIS, KIRA ROSE FRENTIZ, CHRISTINA DEL ROSE, DESMOND, CHRISTINA F DUVAL, EMILY FISH DIAZ, BRANDIS DAVIDSON DIXON, ANDREW ALEXANDER DUCSEY, BRENDA B EZELLE. CARLTON FAGAN JR.. JO ANN MARIE FACTORY, DIE AND DFARB, JODIE LAMAR BRINKLER, JOSEPH DON LORI, ASHLEY DAWN FOSTER, PHILLIP AUSTIN FOWLER, JOSHUA EDWARD GARDENER, SEAN PATRICK GOLETZ, THOMAS RHODES GOULD, JAMES GRAMES, THOMAS GRASHEI, JAMES ALLEN HARRISON, HEATHER LYNN PATCH, ERIC A HERNANDEZ, CRAIG BYRON HEWITT, II, JASON ROBERT HULL, AMANDA HUNTER, MILEGROS ESCINAR, BARRICADE HOFFMAN, MICHAEL DAVID KENDALL, FLOREN, YAS MIGHT NOT C -- YASMINE HOLEVA, JAMES E LANGFORD, LEAH NICOLE MUSTANG, STEVEN CURTIS LAWSON, JENNIFER F LEVINE, MARCH A LEAF I, ERIC -- MARA LEVI, ERIC BRADFORD LLOYD, CHRISTOPHER LION, JOHN JOSEPH MACALUSCH, FRANCIS HOVIS MERIT, ANTHONY RENAURD MILLER, MICHAEL ANTHONY MILLS, DEION JAMES MONITZ, JOHN CHARLES MORE AND, JAMES B MORRISON, JASON -- JOHN CHARLES MORAN, JAMES B MORRISON, JASON LIENED, JAMES NICHOLS, JAMES RODANO, JR., REBECCA LYNN O'NEAL, PAUL EDWARD OLAF, JR., TAM ARE A -- TAMARA SOMALE, STEVEN IS, MICHAEL JOSEPH PATRICK, STEVEN POPE, CONTINUE A BLALOCK POPE -- TINA BLALOCK POPE, KENNETH DUANE PALP, AMY PASS EVENINGER, HARLAN DAVID SASSER, CARLOS P SANCHEZ, JEFFREY MICHAEL SCHUMANN, JASON MICHAEL SHERMAN, RICHARD JEROME SCHUPP, KATHERINE JULIA RASMANCUSY RASMANCUSY-CHARUPE -- I HOPE I GOT THAT RIGHT -- TINA SMITH, P STEVEN GRANT SPAIN, BARBARA RENE STALLINS, SARAH MARGARET STEELA, JONATHAN IS ALL, LOIS STEEL, THOMAS PETER THOMPSON, III, ALBERT JOSEPH TCO, JR., JEFFREY SCOTT TRANSPELL, TIRINE ASHLEY VAUGHAN, MICHAEL WARD, CHRISTOPHER JASON WHITE, KIMBERLY RENE WILCOX, PATRICIA ANN WORRELL AND ASHLEY REYNOLDS GRANT. THANK YOU. MR> CHIEF JUSTICE: IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ADMITESE THAT DID NOT MAKE THE PROGRAM HERE. IF THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE NAME, WHO HAVE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THEY ARE TO BE ADMITTED, WHO ARE NOT ON THIS LIST THAT WAS JUST OFFICIALLY READ, IF YOU WOULD, ALSO, PLEASE STAND. OKAY. NOW, IF YOU WOULD RAISE YOUR RIGHT HANDS AND REPEAT AFTER ME. 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 ME, 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 ANY FACTOR LAW. I WILL MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENCE AND PRESERVE, IN VIOLET, THE SECRETS OF MY CLIENTS, AND WILL ACCEPT NO COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR BUSINESSES 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 LUKOR OR MALICE. SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD. MR> CHIEF JUSTICE: IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOUR SPOUSES, YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR FRIENDS AND TO THE PUBLIC OF FLORIDA, THOSE WHO, NOW, CAN BE CALLED COUNSELORS AT LAW AND MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR. WE CONGRATULATE YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND, NOW, FOR WHAT I KNOW IS VERY DESERVING THANKS AND THAT I HAVE A SON WHO HAS JUST BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND A DAUGHTER WHO IS IN LAW SCHOOL, I WANT YOU TO TURN AROUND AND CONGRATULATE THOSE WHO ARE HERE ON YOUR BEHALF, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SPOUSES, YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, YOUR BROTHERS, YOUR SISTERS, AND YOUR FRIENDS. IF YOU WOULD, TURN AROUND. [APPLAUSE] YOU MAY BE SEATED. I HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH, AS TO HOW WE ARE IN NEED OF PROCEEDING HERE. WE ASK THAT ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE JUST BEEN ADMITTED GO TO THE FRONT STEPS OF THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT WILL JOIN YOU THERE, FOR A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH. THEN, AFTER THE PHOTOGRAPH HATS -- HAS BEEN COMPLETED, YOU SHOULD RETURN TO SIGN YOUR OATHS, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, AND I BELIEVE MARSHAL, THAT THAT WILL BE TAKEN DOWN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. SO AT THIS TIME, THE COURT WILL BE IN RECESS. THE MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE.