GOOD AFTERNOON. AND LET ME SAY THAT WE PARTICULARLY ARE, LOOK FORWARD, AS MEMBERS OF THE COURT, TO THIS OCCASION, WHERE THE BEST AND THE VERY BRIGHTEST OF FLORIDA'S LAWYERS DEMONSTRATE HOW THEY HAVE SHINED IN THE COMMUNITY. I CAN TELL YOU, WITHOUT FEAR OF A SINGLE DISSENT, THAT THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE COURT'S YEAR, AND SO I WELCOME YOU ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT. THIS IS IN HONOR OF THE LAWYERS AND ESPECIALLY IN HONOR OF THE PARTICULAR AWARD-WINNER FOR THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD. EACH OF YOU IN EACH CIRCUIT, WHO HAVE BEEN HOD BY RECOGNITN TH THE PRESIDENT'S AWARD, THE LAW FIRM, THE BAR ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE IT IS YOU WHO ARE CARRYING OUT, ON A DAILY BASIS, THE PROMISE THAT EACH OF US WHO ARE LAWYERS, HAVE MADE, AND THAT IS A PROMISE OF JUSTICE FOR ALL. YOU KNOW, AND IN FLORIDA, THESE EFFORTS TAKE FURTHER NOTE IN EXPRESSION, IN THE EXPRESS PROVISION OF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION THAT GUARANTEES ACCESS TO THE COURTS. AND SINCE 1845, THIS COURT, AS REPEATEDLY RECOGNIZED THAT THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A PRIVILEGE THAT CARRIES WITH IT CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS AND EACH ONE OF US TAKING THE OATH OF BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR, SWEARS THAT I WILL NEVER REJECT, FROM ANY CONSIDERATION PERSONAL TO MYSELF THE CAUSE OF THEENSE LESS OR OPPRESSED, AND WE CONVENE HERE, TODAY, IN THIS SESSION, TO RECOGNIZE AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR WHO HONOR THAT COMMITMENTO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO THOSE WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO OUR COURTS. WE WILL PROCEED IN RECOGNITION OF ALL OF THE LAWYERS, BECAUSE TOO OFTEN, WE READ AND HEAR STATEMENTS DISPARAGING OUR LEGAL SYSTEM GENERALLY AND LAWYERS, IN PARTICULAR, YET DESPITE AN ALL-TO-PREVALENT PUBLIC PERCEPTION TO THE CONTRARY, WE KNOW, YOU AND I KNOW THAT OUR PROFESSION GIVES FREELY AND MANY MANY TIMES UNSELFISHLY OF ITS SERVICES. THE LAWYERS OF FLORIDA, IN THE YEAR 2000, FOR INSTANCE, GAVE 1.2 MILLION HOURS OF PRO BONO SERVICE. CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD PRO BONO EFFORTS WERE $1.6 MILLION, AND THIS IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO REPORT IN 1994. OF COURSE WE HAVE DONATED, AS LAWYERS, MANY MILLIONS OF HOURS TO OTHER KINDS OF VOLUNTEERISM, INCLUDING RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE  SERVICES, AND THIS IS WORK WHICH IS DEFINITELY DESERVING OF PUBLIC RECOGNITION, AND THAT IS THE REASON, OF COURSE, WE ARE HERE TODAY. BEFORE RECOGNIZING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS, I THINK IT ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE THAT WE ALL JOIN HANDS, AND WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT GATHERED IN THIS ROOM, TO THE MANY THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR WHO HAVE RECOGNIZED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCHARGED IT WITH SUCH UNSELFISHNESS. [APPLAUSE] THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD THE VERY DIFFICULT TASK OF MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A LONG LIST OF PROPOSED RECIPIENTS, ALL OF WHOM ARE DESERVING OF RECOGNITION. IN THE OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE, THOSE WHO ARE BEING HONORED TODAY ARE SIMPLY THE MOST DESERVING. THOUGH THE COMMITTEE'S TASK WAS NOT AN EASY ONE, I FULLY CONCUR, AFTER HAVING REVIEWED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAVE MADE. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. WHEN I FINISH, I WOULD ASK ALL OF THEM I WOULD ASK ALL OF THEM ASLL T NAME, ND, D THEN ILLREIZE THEM TE. FIRST, OF COURSE, IS THE CHAIR, THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR, HERMAN ROSS MAN-. HERMAN, WE -- HERMAN ROSMANNO. HERMAN, WE MISS YOU UP HERE. WE ARE IN THE LAND OF THE PERPETUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE NEED YOU! [LAUGHTER]

MS. SUSAN FOX, MICHAEL DIAZ, JULIET LRULOCH, DR. VIVIAN HOBBS AMY RHONER AND CRAIG GIBBS. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE, ALSO, PRIVILEGED TO HAVE WITH US SEVERAL FORMER RECIPIENTS OF THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD, AND I WOULD ASK EACH OF YOU TO STAND. THAT IS JERRY CORNRICK. THERE IS GERALD. I SAW HIM OUT JOGGING EARLIER TODAY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW HE GOT IT IN! [LAUGHTER]

DANIEL WILINSKI. RICHARD MILL STEEN, NANCY PALMER STEVEN SELLINGER, AND BILL SHEPPARD. I KNOW BILL IS HERE. THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE, ALSO, PLEASED TO HAVE WITH US, TODAY, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA PRO BONO COORDINATORS ASSOCIATION. WOULD YOU STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THERE THEY ARE. [APPLAUSE] IT IS A HARDWORKING STAFF, AND WE ARE SO PLEASED WITH THEIR WORK. THIS IS ESPECIALLY FITTING, THAT THE PRIMARY AWARD PRESENTED, TODAY, BEARS THE NAME OF TOBIAS SIMON. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US UP HERE WHO ARE GRAY ENOUGH IN THE HEAD THAT WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING TOBY SIMON PERSONALLY. AND HE WAS UNEQUALLED IN HIS DEDICATION OF REPRESENTING THE DISVAJD -- DISADVANTAGED AND DOWNTRODDEN. HE MADE A LIVING PRACTICE ON A DAILY, MONTHLY, AND ANNUAL BASIS OF MAKING MEANINGFUL THE PROMISE OF ACCESSIBLESTICE FOR THOSE WHO HE REPRESENTED. AND HE, ALSO, HELPED TO DEFINE AND PRESERVE CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS FOR ALL OF US, THROUGH THE DILIGENCE WITH WHICH HE PROCEEDED INARISRMS OF LITIGATI. AND WE KNOW THAT THE SPIRIT OF TOBIAS SIMON LIVES ON IN THIS AWARD AND IN THOSE WHO ARE AND HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US, TODAY, HIS WIFE JENNIFER HURST. MS. HURST. [APPLAUSE] ARE THERE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY THAT ARE HERE? THANK YOU. NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF THE FLORIDA LEGAL PROFESSION'S HIGHEST SERVICE HONOR, THE TOBIAS SIMON PRO BONO SERVICE AWARD, WHICH GOES TO MAURICE WAGNER OF VOLUSIA COUNTY  COUNTY. DAYTONA BEACH. [APPLAUSE] SINCE I AM GRAY ENOUGH IN THE HEAD TO HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLY 1960s, PRACTICING LAW IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THE, MAURICE WAGNER HAS BEEN A LEGEND, THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, AND I AM SO PLEASED THAT HE IS BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY. HE, AS YOU HAVE READ, TRIBUTES HIS ZEALOUS WORK, REALLY, BACK TO AN EVENT WHICH OCCURRED IN THE 1950s, IN WHICH HE WAS REPRESENTING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CLIENT IN A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT AND DID SOMETHING THAT THAT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS BREACH AT THAT TIME. HE REFERRED TO HIS CLIENT AS MISSTER, IN OPEN COURT, AS A SIGN OF RESPECT AND DIGNITY, TO WHICH ALL LITIGANTS WERE THEN AND ARE NOW ENTITLED. THAT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE RESPONDED BY HOLDING MAURICE WAGNER IN CONTEMPT. AND TESS TOSSING HIM IN JAIL! -- AND TOSSING HIM IN JAIL! NOW, THIS EXPERIENCE, RATHER THAN DETER MAURICE, LITA FIRE IN HIM, AND THROUGHOUT THE 1950s AND '60s, HE WORKED HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE NAACP IN REPRESENTING MINORITY CLIENTS, MANY OF WHOM WERE JAILED CIVIL RIGHTS PROTESTORS. THE OVERRIDING THEME OF HIS CAREER BECAME THE QUEST FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, AND HE IS STILL WORKNDAY. E WR, IT IS WITH HEARTFELT ADMIRATN THAT I BESTOW UPON YOU, TODAY, THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD, AND IF YOU WILL PLEASE APPROACH THE BENCH AND DO ME THE HONOR OF LETTING ME HAND IT TO YOU BEFORE ADDRESS  ADDRESSING THE COURT AT THE PODIUM. [APPLAUSE] MR. WAGNER, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, IF YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS THAT YOU WOULD ADDRESS TO THE COURT. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN YOU TO BE AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. [LAUGHTER]

I HAVE REALLY NOT PREPARED ANYTHING, CHIEF JUSTICE. I KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A LONG DAY FOR THE SUPREME COURT, AND CONSEQUENTLY, I AM GOING TO LIMIT MY REMARKS TO SIMPLY SAYING THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD COME TO. I SED BAN 1949, AND HERE E ARE ALMOST 52 YEARS LATER, AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE WAS WATCHING. [LAUGHTER]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

I WOULD NOW RECOGNIZE LAST YEAR'S TOBIAS SIMON AWARD, JERRY CORN WRIGHT, FOR A PRESENTATION.

CHIEF JUSTICE. JUSTICES. PRESIDENT RUSSELL. PRESIDENT-ELECT ARONOVITZ, FORMER PRESIDENT MR. ROMANNO. COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, MR. WAGNER, WE WERE LISTENING. LAST YEAR, JUDGE, I STOOD BEFORE THIS COURT, AND BESIDES FOR THE BIRTH OF MY CHILDREN, THIS WAS THE PROUDEST Y OF MY LIFE. I WAS IN AH AT THAT TIME, OF -- I WAS IN AWE AT THAT TIME, OF THE POWER OF THE COURT, THE MAJESTY OF THIS COURTROOM, AND SIMPLY SHARING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH SUCH A GROUP OF INCREDIBLE LAWYERS. THIS YEAR, I HAVE HAD A LITTLE E TO REFLECT. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CEREMONY, YOU COME TO SOME VERY INTERESTING THOUGHTS. OF ALL MY TIMES AS A LAWYER, AND PERHAPS YOU ALL, AS JUDGES, WE GO TO SO MANY EVENTS AND PEOPLE SAY SO MANY THINGS, BUT HOW MANY EVENTS DO WE GO TO, WHERE WE ONLY CELEBRATE DEEDS? PURE, GOOD DEEDS. PURE, UNSELFISH ACTS. AND THAT IS WHAT TODAY'S CEREMONY IS ALL ABOUT. IN THE FIRST THREE ROWS OF THIS COURTROOM SIT SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED, UNSELFISH LAWYERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY REALLY MUST BE COMMENDED, AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] LAST YEAR I PLEDGED TO THE COURT THAT THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD WOULD NOT BE A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR ME. IN FACT, I SAID THAT I WOULD RECOMMIT MY LIFE TO DOING GOOD DEEDS AND HELPING LAWYERS IN THE FUTURE DO THOSE GOOD THINGS THAT THEY CAN STILL DO. TODAY, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT DESERVES A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. MR. WAGNER IS 80 YEARS YOUNG. HE HAS PRACTICED FOR OVER 52 YEARS, LOOKING OUT FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS, AND REPRESENTING THE POOR, PURELY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO THAT. PURELY BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD MAN. AT THIS TIME, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, JUSTICE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. WAGNER TO COME UP. MR. WAGNER. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE TOBIAS SIMON PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU THE VERY BEST. THIS GIFT IS OUR TRADITION. IT IS USUALLY WRAPPED IN A COLORFUL MANNER, AND SO IT IS TODAY, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU SIMPLY ENHANCE THE DIGNITY OF THIS AWARD. YOU ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE. YOU ARE AN IDEAL GOOD LAWYER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

WE ARE, ALSO, HERE, TODAY, TO RECOGNIZE A LAW FIRM FOR DISTINGUISHING PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THIS IS A PARTICULAR HONOR, BECAUSE THIS AWARD IS NOT GIVEN EVERY YEAR, BUT ONLY WHEN A TRULY DESERVING FIRM IS NOMINATED. IS SPEAKING, CALLED YESTERDAY, BY A RER AND ASKED ME ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS AWARD, AND I WAS REFLECTING ON IT AND TALKING WITH THE REPORTER ABOUT IT, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THIS AWARD IS SO IMPORTANT, IS BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT LAW FIRMS, AND THIS PARTICULAR LAW FIRM, HAS COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS PROFESSION AND FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS THATEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES, AND THAT THEY ARE TRULY GOING TO REACH OUT, AND THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER, AS LAWYERS IN THAT LAW FIRM. AND TODAY THIS AWARD GOES TO THE MIAMI FIRM OF MARKOWITZ, DAVIS, RINGLE AND TRUSTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT, IN 2001, THIS FIRM DONATED AND APPROXIMATELY 2200 HOURS TO PRO BONO WORK, WITH EVERY SINGLE ATTORNEY IN THE FIRM PARTICIPATING. THEIRM HAS ACCEPTED MANY,Y PO BONO REFERS FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS. IT HAS A FORMAL RELATIONSHIP, WITH, PUT SOMETHING BACK, A JOINT PRO BONO PROJECT IN THE 11th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND THE DADE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, AND I PERSONALLY, WOULD LIKE TO PAY MY TRIBUTE TO THE SPIRIT THAT UNDER LIES THIS LAW FIRM'S COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO, SO LET ME RECOGNIZE THE FIRM'S CHOSEN REPRESENTATIVE, BY ASKING THEM TO APPROACH THE BENCH, AFTER WHICH ONE OF THEIR PARTNERS, CANDACE TRUSTY, WILL ADDRESS THE COURT. WOULD YOU ALL STEP FORWARD. [APPLAUSE]

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. MY NAME IS CANDACE TRUSTY. CHIEF JUSTICE WELLS, JUSTICES, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO MAY BE HERE, MR. PRESIDENT, HERMAN RUSSOMANNO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU, TOO, AND PRESIDENT-ELECT ARONOVITZ, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU, TOO, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE. ON BEHALF OF THE FIRM, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE AWARD YOU BESTOW ON OUR FIRM TODAY. IT AMAZES ME THAT OUR FIRM OF TWELVE LAWYERS HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE IN THIS SETTING ON THIS OCCASION. HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE GET HERE? THE TWELVE OF US COLLECTIVELY, WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS EVERY YEAR, WILLINGLY AND ENJOYINGLY, AS PART OF OUR LIFE. OUR JURNIGAN HERE TWENTY YEARS AGO, WHEN JERRY MARKVITZ, JOE DAVIS AND TOM RINGLE OPENED THEIR OWN FIRM. A YEAR LATER THEY ENTER SCREWED VOOUD ME AND HIRED ME ON THE SPOT -- THEY INTERVIEWED ME AND HIRED ME ON THE SPOT, ALL THE WHILE LAMENTING THAT THE WIVES ARE GOING TO KILL US. WE HIRED A WOMAN! ALL THE WHILE THINGS CHANGED. THE WIVES DIDN'T KILL THEM AND HERE WE ARE TWENTY YEARS LATER. WORKING IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THOMAS FOUND HIS SWEETHEART IN FLORIDA, SO HE FOLLOWED HIS HEART TO FLORIDA AND CAME TO US. THE FIVE OF US COULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT. WE COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. OHIO, NEW YORK, FLORIDA. WE COME FROM DIFFERENT SOCIO ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. DIFFERENT GENDERS. WE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS, YET DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, WE ARE UNITED BY A COMMON COMMITMENT, A SHARED GOAL TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICE. ALL OF US COME FROM TWO-PARENT FAMILIES, WHICH IS RARE TODAY, AND WE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR PARENTS. ALL OF OUR PARENTS COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO PUBLIC SERVICE. OUR FAMILY'S DEDICATION TO VOLUNTEERISM IS UNDERSCORED TODAY BY THEIR PRESENCE, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HAVE YOU STAND AS I RECOGNIZE YOU. MY PARENTS, ALAN AND BEVERLY DIAMONDSTEIN. IT TOOK THEM TWO DAYS TO GET FROM THEIR LITTLE TOWN IN VIRGINIA TO THIS LITTLE TOWN IN FLORIDA. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BEING HERE FOR US. JERRY MARKOWITZ'S FAMILY IS HERE AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE FIRST OF ALL, HIS GREAT NIECE, A YOUNG 14-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, WHOSE GRANDMOTHER WILL BE SO PROUD OF YOU. SHE IS FOLLOWING IN THE ADINF HER , GRANDPARENTS, MARKOWITZES. BOB AND PAT ARE HER PARENTS, AND WOULD YOU ALL RISE PLEASE. THANK YOU. MY HUSBAND IS ALSO HERE WITH ME TODAY. GUY, WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND THIS IS A FAMILY TRADITION. I WANT YOU TO KNOW ON THE FIRST ROW WE HAVE TRISH RED MONDAY, WHO IS GARROW-TRISH REDMON, WHO IS JERRY MARKOWITZ'S WIFE. JERRY SAYS HE HAS TO DO THIS WORK SOCIALLY, BECAUSE TRISH SPENDS HER TIME OFF DOING PRO BONO WORK. THANK YOU FOR DOING. THAT THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

ANOTHER REASON OUR FIRM IS HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP, WE PUT SOMETHING BACK. THAT IS A MIAMI ORGANIZATION THAT COORDINATES THE PRO BONO SERVICES. SHARON LANGER AND KAREN LATTIS, SPEARHEADED BY JUDGE EUGENE FIERO, ARE IN CHARGE OF THAT PROGRAM. THEIR VISION AND SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY ENABLE US TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LEGAL, FOR LEGAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT. THEY LEAD THE WAY. WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM, TODAY, FOR THEIR HELP IN OUR SERVICES. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHERE KAREN AND SHARON ARE, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. [APPLAUSE] BECAUSE OF OUR FAMILS INFLUENCE, VOLRISMSN INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT OUR FIRM STANDS FOR. TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR OUR PRO BONO EFFORTS TODAY MEANS THAT WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN TOUCHING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR HELP. OUR FIRM WILL CONTINUE TO PUT SOMETHING BACK. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

OUR NEXT RECOGNITION IS A VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATION. THIS RECOGNITION COMES FROM THE OUT STANDING EFFORTS OF OUR VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS FLORIDA, TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO SAY, EXPRESSLY ON THE RECORD THAT, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE FELLOW ON MY RIGHT AND THE FELLOW ON MY LEFT ARE FROM JACKSONVILLE, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS SELECTION. [LAUGHTER] BUT RATHER, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION, WHAA ONG TRADITION DATING BACK TO 1897, AND BOTH OF THESE FELLOWS TELL ME THEY WERE NOT THERE AT THE FOUNDING DINNER, ALTHOUGH I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF MAJOR DIDN'T SPEAK AT IT REALLY. THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN MANY, MANY HOURS AS MEMBERS OF THAT ASSOCIATION, TO HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN NEED, IN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA. THESE INCLUDE WORK WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS, WITH TEEN COURTS, MENTORING PROGRAMS, LAW SCHOOL FOR THE PUBLIC, AND THEY PROVIDED A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ASSOCIATION'S WOR WITH THE HOMELESS SHELTER THAT AVERAGES 278 RESIDENTS ON ANY GIVEN DAY. THEY HAVE DEDICATED, MEMBERS OF THEIR ASSOCIATION HAVE DONATED ALMOST 300 HOURS TO THAT PROGRAM AND HAVE ASSISTED THE RESIDENTS WITH PROBLEMS RANGING FROM CHILD SUPPORT TO THE SEALING OF COURT RECORDS. OUR, ONE EXAMPLE INCLUDED A RESIDENT WHO HAD BEEN WRONGFULLY DENIED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS THAT SHE NEEDED TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY, WHILE LOOKING FOR WORK, ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE BENEFITS AND MOVING HER ONE STEP CLOSER TO SELF-RELIANCE, AND I THINK THAT THEIR DAILY WORK WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE STREETS OF THAT METROPOLITAN AND METROPLEX, IN HELPING THEM WITH THEIR LEGAL SERVICES, ARE THE VERY REASON THAT VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATIONS LED BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION, SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, AND SO I WOULD ASK THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE, OF THAT ASSOCIATION, LED BY PRESIDENT TOM BEVERLY, TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. [APPLAUSE] -.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. IT IS CERTAINLY AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE THIS YEAR ON MY WATCH. BUT THIS PROJECT THAT THE AWARD WAS GIVEN FOR, CERTAINLYPRS ME AS PRESIDENT OF THE JACKSONVILLE BAR. IT WAS GIVEN FOR OUR HOME LESS CLINIC PROJECT, AND I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AWARD IS BECAUSE THIS ROOM IS FULL OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GIVEN GREATLY OF THEMSELVES AND HAVE DONE GOOD WORK, BUT THIS REEMPHASIZES THAT VOLUNTARY BARS ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE LAWYERS IN OUR STATE AND OF THE FLORIDA BAR BECAUSE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT WHEN THE LAWYERS GO DOWN THERE, AND WE HAVE LAWYERS WHOSE SPECIALTY IS IN CRIMINAL LAW, SPECIALTIES IN IMMIGRATION LAW, FAMILY LAW, GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION. NO ONE LAWYER COULD DO THAT. IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF THE VOLUNTARY BAR, ARE WE ABLE TO PERFORM THESE SERVICES, SO IT IS THE GOOD PEOPLE HERE THAT CAME WITH ME TODAY, WHO PUT TOGETHER THIS PROGRAM, AND I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

IT IS MY DISTINCT PRIVILEGE, NOW, TO PRESENT TO YOU THE PERSON WHO IS LEADING US THIS YEAR AND WHO I CAN TELL YOU, WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF EXAGGERATION, THAT I NEVER HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THIS PERSON, THAT HE DOESN'T NT TALK ABOUT PRO BONO -- THAT HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PRO BONO WORK. HE IS LEADING A VERY DEDICATED EFFORT TO TO GET FUNDING IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION, AND HE IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY TIRELESS IN THAT WORK, AS HE HAS BEEN IN ALL OF THE ENDEAVORS THAT HE HAS UNDERTAKEN ON BEHALF OF THE LAWYERS OF FLORIDA. AND SO I CALL NOW, UPON OUR PRESIDENT, MY PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR, TERRY RUSSELL. [APPLAUSE]

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. I MUST COMMENT, YOUR HONOR, BEFORE I GET INTO MY PREPARED REMARKS, THAT THE TWO GENTLEMEN TO YOUR RIGHT ARE FROM JACKSONVILLE AS WELL AS THE ONE FROM THE LEFT, AND SO IS THE PERSON SPEAKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU ARE SURROUNDED.

BUT JUSTICE ANSTEAD IS NOT WITHIN ARM'S REACH.

THAT'S TRUE. CHIEF JUSTICE WELLS. JUSTICES, MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR. FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF OUR DISTINGUISHED HONOREE, FORMER PRESIDENT RUSSOMANO, MY DEAR FRIEND, PRESIDENT-ELECT OVITZ. TODAY IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION. TODAY WE HONOR SPECIAL PEOPLE. WE HONOR LAWYERS WHO CARE, LAWYERS WHO SHARE A PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO ASSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. YOU ARE ROLE MODELS FOR ALL OF US, BECAUSE YOU LEAD BY EXAMPLE. YOU HAVE SEEN THE FACE OF POVERTY, AND IT HAS MOVED YOU TO YOUR FINEST HOUR. ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT-ELECT TODD ARONOVITZ, THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND THE 69937 MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR, WE CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA. THROUGH YOUR OUTSTANDING AND GENEROUS PRO BONO COMMITMENT, AND WE CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALSO THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF A LAW FIRM AND A BAR ASSOCIATION. WE, ALSO, SEEK TO PAUSE AND REFLECT ON THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LAWYERS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE YOU FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, THOSE WHO, LIKE YOU, HAVE ANSWERED THE HIGHEST CALLING OF OUR PROFESSION. TWENTY YEARS AGO, THE TOBIAS SIMON PRO BONO SERVICE AWARD WAS CREATED TO HONOR TOBIAS SIMON OF MIAMI. HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN. TOBY BELIEVED THAT EVERY CLIENT, ESPECIALLY THE UNDERDOG, DESERVED A COMPETENT LAWYER. FOR THIRTY YEARS, THIS CRUSADER DEFENDED THE POOR. WE KNOW THAT TOBY'S SPIRIT LIVES ON IN EACH OF YOU, AND THAT IS WHY WE HONOR YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE LAWYERS WHO HAVE UNSELFISHLY GIVEN OF YOURSELF ANARE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US. WE KNOW IN AMERICA THERE, IS A CRITICAL NEED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THOSE PERSONS AND COMMUNITIES UNABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION. IN RECOGNITION OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY THIS YEAR, THE FLORIDA BAR IS LEADING THE EFFORT TO PASS THE FLORIDA CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACT, TO SUPPLEMENT WITH PUBLIC FUNDS, THE MORE THAN $172 MILLION WORTH OF PRO BONO ASSISTANCE YOU AND OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE STATE PROVIDE THE POOR EVERY YEAR. I AM PROUD TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THE BILL IS GAINING WIDE SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE AND STANDS A GOOD CHANCE OF PASSAGE. YOUR SACRIFICE AND DEDICATION IS HELPING IMMEASURABLY IN THAT EFFORT. ALL FLORIDA LAWYERS TOOK THE OATH OF ADMISSION TO THE FLORIDA BAR. YOU RAISED YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SOLEMNLY SWORE THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT UD STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. YOU, ALSO, SWORE THAT YOU WOULD NEVER REJECT FROM ANY CONSIDERATION, PERSONAL TO YOURSELVES, THE CAUSE OF THE DEFENSELESS OR OPPRESSED. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOU MEANT IT WHEN YOU SAID IT. ST. THOMAS WROTE IN THE 13th CENTURY THAT LAW IS FOR THE COMMON GOOD. THE LEGAL PROFESSION IS THE ONLY PROFESSION THAT HAS SUCH A RICH TRADITION OF FOSTERING AND ENCOURAGING ITS MEMBERS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICE. YOUR DEDICATED PRO BONO PUBLICO COMMITMENT REMINDS ALL OF US WHY WE BECAME LAWYERS AND WHY WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE LAWYERS. THIS IS A DAY OF AN ANNUAL "CALL FOR ACTION" TO FIRMS, INDIVIDUAL LAWYERS AND BAR ASSOCIATIONS, TO PROMISE EQUALITY AND ACCESS TO EQUAL JUSTICE. YOU ARE LAWYERS WITH COURAGE AND COMMITMENT, AND THE FLORIDA BAR PLEDGES TO WORK WITH YOU AND OUR OUTSTANDING FLORIDA BAR FOUND PATION HAD, IN ITS MISSION -- FOUNDATION IN ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR. BY YOUR GOOD DEED, YOU HAVE LIFTED THE SPIRIT OF OUR PROFESSION. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. WE SALUTE YOU. YOU ARE OUR HEROES. [APPLAUSE] AT THIS TIME IT IS MY DISTINCT PRIVILEGE TO AWARD EACH OF YOU THE FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENT'S PRO BONO SERVICE AWARD. FROM THE FIRST CIRCUIT WE HAVE NO RECIPIENT BUT FROM THE SECOND CIRCUIT, I AM PLEASED TO AWARD THE CERTIFICATE AND AWARD TO ALEX LITTLEFIELD JR.. ALEX. FROM THE THIRD CIRCUIT THOMAS E STONE. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE FOURTH CIRCUIT ROBERT L PETERS JR.. FROM THE FIFTH CIRCUIT, JOHN M KELLER. AUSE] FROM THE SIXTH CIRCUIT, JAMES C RUN -- JAMES C RUNION. FROM THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT, MAURICE WAGNER. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT, N ALBERT BACHRACH. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE NINTH CIRCUIT, G CHARLES WOOLEST. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE TENTH CIRCUIT, MARITTE L OLICE. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT, PATRICIA A. REDMON. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE TWELFTH CIRCUIT, RICHARD BARTON RAY. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE THIRTEENTH CIRCUIT, HALA A SANDRICH. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE TH T, Y WGURTY. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE FIFTEENTH CIRCUIT, ROBERT T BERGEN JR. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE SIXTEENTH CIRCUIT, DAVID P KERWIN. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 17th CIRCUIT, MY HOME, JOHN T DAVID. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE EIGHTEENTH CIRCUIT, JAMES JPARTLOW [-- JAMES J PARTLOW. [APPLAUSE]

FROM THE NINETEENTH CIRCUIT, THOMAS RBACHADOL. -- THOMAS R BACHADOL. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 20th CIRCUIT, CECELIA ELLEN PFEIFFICK. FROM OUT-OF-STATE, ACCEPTING FOR LEO G REJESKI, EDDIE WILLIAMS III. MR. CHIEF JUSTICE, OUR RECIPIENTS FOR THE FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR 2002. [APPLAUSE] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

ARE YOU GOING TO PRESENT THE YOUNG LAWYER --

I WAS GOING TO. IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE PRESIDENT WHOM I AM PRIVREGISTERED TO WORK WITH, THE -- THE -- IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE PRESIDENT WITH WHOM I AM PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH, JUSELLA RICE. MAY IT PE TT. CHIEF JUSTICE WELLS, ASSOCIATE JUSTICES, PRESIDENT RUSSELL, PRESIDENT-ELECT ARONOVITZ AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS, THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION HAS RECOGNIZED THE OUTSTANDING LAWYERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THOSE LAWYERS WHO MAKE, ON A DAILY BASIS, FREE,, GIVE OF -- FREELY, GIVE OF THEIR FREE TIME, A SERVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THOSE SERVICES. THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION, LEGAL AID PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD, IS LAWRENCE H COLLIN, AND HE IS A FITTING EXAMPLE OF SUCH AN ATTORNEY. LAWRENCE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE IN 1991 AND RECEIVED HIS LAW DEGREE IN 1994 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. IN HIS SEVEN YEARS OF PRACTICE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, HE HAS DEVOTED OVER 1,000 HOURS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AS A GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY. YOU CAN DO THE MATH. AT HOURLY RATES FOR ASSOCIATES BETWEEN $110 AND $170, HE HAS GIVEN SUCH A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION OF HIS TIME TO HIS COMMUNITY IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. NOW, LAWRENCE'S EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN IN ORANGE COUNTY, WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THIS YEAR, BY A NOMINATION SUBMITTED BY SHEILA LaCROIX, A FOSTER PARENT WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR EIGHT YEARS. SHEILA FIRST MET LAWRENCE IN 1996, IN CONNECTION WITH THE MONTH-OLD INFANT WHO, WHOSE CARE HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HER AND HER HUSBAND, AFTER THE PARENTS HAD DECIDED, AFTER THE PARENTS COULD NO LONGER CARE FOR HER. THE CHILD'S PARENTS, THE CHILD'S FATHER, WAS IN PRISON SERVING A LENGTHY TERM, AND THE CHILD'S MOTHER LITERALLY HAD ABANDONED THIS CHILD. AFTER IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE CHILD'S PARENTS NO LONGER HAD ANY INTEREST IN HER LIFE, LAWRENCE FOR THE VIGOROUSLY, OVER THE STRENUOUS OBJECTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS, SO THAT THIS CHILD COULD BE, SO THE ADOPTION OF THIS CHILD COULD BE FACILITATED AND THE LaCROIXS A COULD ADOPT HER. AFTER FOUR YEARS OF BITTERLY CONTESTED PROCEEDINGS, AND AFTER A TRIAL AND AN APPEAL OF THAT TRIAL COURT'S DECISION, AN AGREEMENT WAS ULTIMATELY REACHED FOR AN OPEN ADOPTION OF THE CHILD AND THE LaCROIXS WERE ABLE TO ADOPT THAT CHILD AND GIVE HER A LOVING AND SAFE HOME. NOW, THROUGH THAT CASE, LAWRENCE ENCOUNTERED TWO JUDGES, FOUR LAWYERS FOR THE PARENTS, FIVE CASE SUPERVISORS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY, AND SEVEN CASEWORKERS, AND THROUGHOUT THIS CASE, LAWRENCE ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE HEARING, HIMSELF, AND VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED THE MANY CONTINUEANCES THAT HAD BEEN SOUGHT BY THE COURT AND BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY. THROUGH THE SIX-MONTH, THE SIX-YEAR ORDEAL, LAWRENCE WAS THE ONE SINGLE CONSTANT FACTOR IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE. NOW, MS. LaCROIX, IN HER NOMINATION LETTER, HAD THESE EXTRAORDINARY WORDS TO SAY ABOUT LAWRENCE. SHE SAID HOW CAN YOU THANK A PERSON FOR GIVING A CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY AT A CHANCE FOR LIFE THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT HIM? A MERE THANK YOU IS NOT SUFFICIENT, NOT ONLY DID MR. COLIN GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HIS PRO BONO REPRESENTATION OF THIS CHILD, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE DOES SO IN ALL THE PRO BONO CASES HE TAKES. THERE IS AN ATTORNEY AROUND EVERY CORNER, BUT TO FIND A REALLY GOOD ONE IS RARE, AND TO FIND ONE THAT WILL EXCEL AND NOT RECEIVE ANY MONETARY COMPENSATION IS IMPOSSIBLE. I WISH I COULD CLONE MR. COLIN FOR ALL THE CHILDREN WHO NEED A VOICE AND WHO ARE LOST IN THE SYSTEM. NOW, THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY CASES THAT LAWRENCE HAS AGREED TO TAKE ON IN HIS RELATIVELY SHORT CAREER, BUT IT IS A FITTING EXAMPLE OF HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LEAST LIKELY TO SEEK OUT REPRESENTATION, LET ALONE PAY FOR SUCH SERVICES. NOW, HIS EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MANY IN HIS LOCAL AREA, AND INDEED, THE LOCAL LEGAL AID SOCIETY HAS SOUGHT HIM OUT IN MANY CASES FOR THEIR MORE CHALLENGING CASES. AND IN FACT, IN 1997, AWARDED HIM WITH A SPECIAL AWARD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING WORK WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN. IN A DAY WHERE WE SEEM TO HEAR MUCH ABOUT GREEDY YOUNG LAWYERS AND WHAT YOUNG LAWYERS CAN DO FOR THEMSELVES, IT IS REFRESHING TO SEE THE DEEDS AND HEAR ABOUT THES OF LAWRENCE, AND ALL THAT HE DOES FOR THE CHILDREN, AND TO KNOW THAT HE IS DEDICATED AND OTHERS LIKE MANY ARE DEDICATED, TO GIVING BACK, AND THAT THE CONCEPT OF SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC IS ALIVE AND IT IS WELL. AND IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR AND PRIDE THAT I NOW PRESENT THE 2002 YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION PUBLIC, LEGAL AID PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD FOR LAWRENCE H COLIN. [APPLAUSE]

JUSTICES, CHIEF JUSTICE, MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, IN CASE I DON'T GET BACK HERE, THIS IS A FABULOUS AWARD. I REALLY CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HUMBLED I AM BY THIS. IT IS SORT OF LIKE MR. WAGNER SAID. YOU KIND OF GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, AND YOU LEARN IN LAW SCHOOL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TRADITION OF THE LAW IS IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND TO GIVE BACK AND YOU FIND YOURSELF DOING THESE THINGS AS A YOUNG LAWYER, AND THEN SUDDENLY YOU GET A WONDERFUL LETTER LIKE THE ONE SHEILAOIXOTE OE BAR ONALF, AND I JUST COULDN'T BE MORE HUMBLED. IT IS REALLY FUNNY. I MEAN, I GUESS THIS STARTED OUT WHEN I WAS SORT OF A BABY LAWYER AND CARRYING AROUND A BAG FOR A PARTNER, AND THEY SAID, HEY, GO COVER THIS GUARDIAN AD LITEM HEARING OR WHATEVER, AND YOU FIND THAT IT WAS A CHANCE TO GET BEFORE THE COURT, AND IT WAS A CHANCE AS A YOUNG LAWYER, TO EXPRESS YOURSELF BEFORE A JUDGE, AND NOT JUST TO SAY YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT SAID, BUT TO LEARN THE FACTS OF THE CASE, TO GO TO THE SHELTER, TO SEE THE CHILD AND TO BECOME INVOLVED, AND YOU GET A LOT OF REWARD FOR THAT. AND BRITTANY, I MET AS A 14-MONTH-OLD BABY IN A SHELTER BEFORE THE LaCROIXS WERE EVER INVOLVED IN HER LIFE AND WATCHED HER PROGRESS INTO A KINDERGARTNER, AND HER BOND WITH THAT FOSTER FAMILY WAS SO DEEP, AND AS MUCH AS WE TRIED TO GET THE REUNIFICATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL FAMILY, JUST WASN'T GOING TO OCCUR, AND I AM HAPPY THAT EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED IN THIS PERSON'S LIFE, AND SHE IS SUCH A CUTE KID THAT IT IS NOT ANY WONDER WHY EVERYBODY WANTED TO HAVE HER AS THEIR OWN, BUT THAT CASE KIND OF BROUGHT ME HERE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY. THEY HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC IN JUST PROVIDING THAT SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. REAL PIONEERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE LAWYERS THAT ARE SERVING AS GUARDIANS AD LITEM VERSUS OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK VERSE ATTORNEYS AD LITEM, BECAUSE THEY VERY MUCH HELPED DURING THE APPEALPRO. IT GAVE ME ANOTHER OBJECTIVE VOICE TO THE COURT, AND WERE VERY HELPFUL, AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE OF ORANGE COUNTY ARE VERY COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE LAWYERS, TOO, AND I WANTED TO, ALSO, RECOGNIZE MY MOM, TODAY, FOR INSTILLING IN ME THE COMMUNITY SERVICE. SHIRLEY COLIN HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. [APPLAUSE] I THINK WITHOUT LOVING PARENTS, YOU DON'T GET THAT BOND TO SHARE WITH THE CHILDREN YOU REPRESENT, SO EVERYBODY KEEP ADVOCATING FOR KIDS. GIVE THEM A VOICE, AND I WILL TRY MY BEST TO BE BACK HERE WHEN I AM MR. WAGNER'S AGE. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

THANK YOU, AND THAT DOES BRING US TO THE END OF THE PROGRAM, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS, IF, ON AN OCCASION LIKE THIS, I FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT, IN OUR AUDIENCE, A PERSON WHO HAS HAD A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO ACTIVITY AND SERVICE AND HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENTT ONLY THE FLORIDA BAR BUT THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND MY ONLY DISAPPOINTMENT, DURING MY PERIOD OF BEING CHIEF, IS HE IS NOT APPEARED HERE, WHERE I CAN HAVE THE RED LIGHT TURNED ON [LAUR] MR. CHIEF JUSTICE

CHESTER FIELD SMITH. [APPLAUSE] AND I, LIKEWISE, WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY LONG TIME GOOD FRIEND, WHO, ALSO, HAS DEMONSTRATED, OVER HIS LEGAL CAREER, DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY AND IN PRO BONO SERVICE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, SANDYCAL EMBERG. -- SANDY D 'ALEMBERG. SO LET US ALL USE THIS OCCASION AND THESE RECOGNITIONS AND THESE UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE SO TIRELESSLY IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, AS AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL OF US TO SET ABOUT UPON A NEW YEAR OF ACTIVITY OF SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF LEGAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA, AND HOPEFULLY AND GOD WILLING, WE WILL GATHER AGAIN NEXT YEAR, TO RECOGNIZE THOSE AMONG US WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR VERY BEST. AT THIS TIME, THIS CEREMONIAL SESSION WILL STAND ADJOURNED. THE MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE.