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

CHIEF JUSTICE: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. TODAY'S CEREMONY IS TRULY AN HISTORIC OCCASION AND PRESENTS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR ONE OF THE WHO ARE OIK FIGURES OF FLORIDA'S JUSTICE SYSTEM -- OF THE WHO ARE-I CAN FIGURES OF FLORIDA POSITION -- TO HONOR ONE OF THE HEROIC FIGURES OF TODAY'S JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FOUNDING FATHERS' PROMISE OF A SOCIETY BUILT ON PRINCIPLE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL, OUR HON REHAS PLAYED A ROLE OF LEADING US OUT OF OWNER AN AND INTO ANOTHER, FROM CIVIC DARKNESS TO RIGHTEOUS LIGHT. THROUGH HIS ADVOCACY, INSPIRATION AND COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE MOVED FROM A TIME WHEN THE VERY RIGHT TO STUDY LAW COULD BE DENIED BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S MERE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE, TO A TIME, TODAY, WHEN THE VERY APPEARANCE OF THIS COURT SYMBOLIZES OUR DEVOTION TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW. HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. IN OUR QUESTIONS FOR THE A JUST SOUTO-IN OUR QWEST FOR A JUST -- HOW FAR WE HAVE COME IN OUR QWEST FOR A JUST SOCIETY. SURELY THE BELLS OF FAIRNESS RING IN THIS COURTROOM TODAY. WHILE THE HONOREES TO THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE, WE OUGHT BENCH HAVE HAD THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE AS HIS COLLEAGUES. HE HAZY ELEVATED US ALL. IT IS THERE FOR UNTIL FITING THAT WE COME TOGETHER DAE, CITIZENS AND PUBLIC SERVE APARTMENTS ALIKE, TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS AMERICAN HERO, OUR BROTHER, LEE SHAW. TO BEGIN OUR TRIBUTE, THE COURT RECOGNIZES TODD ARONOVITZ, PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR. TOD.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. CHIEF JUSTICE ANSTEAD, JUSTICE SHAW, MEMBERS OF THE BENCH, MEMBERS OF THE BAR, PROUD FAMILY MEMBERS AND DEAR FRIENDS OF JUSTICE LEANDER SHAW. JUSTICE SHAW, I AM HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WONDERFUL CEREMONY RECOGNIZING YOU HERE TODAY. THE JUDGES AND LAWYERS OF FLORIDA COMMEND YOU, UPON YOUR NOTEWORTHY LEGAL CAREER AND YOUR NOTEWORTHY JUDICIAL CAREER. YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR LARGE JUDICIAL FAMILY ARE PROUD TO JOIN WITH YOU HERE, TODAY, FOR THIS WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. YOU AND YOURS HAS BEEN A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. DURING YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE STOOD OUT AS AN ATTORNEY, AS AN ADVOCATE, AND AS AN OUTSTANDING JUDGE AND JUSTICE. YOU LEARNED EARLY IN LIFE, TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF, YOUR PRINCIPLES AND YOUR BELIEFS. LEADERSHIP CAME EASY TO YOU. UPON ADMISSION TO THE FLORIDA BAR IN 1960, YOU BECAME ONE OF ABOUT ONLY 25 AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATTORNEYS THEN PRACTICING LAW IN FLORIDA. IN THE EARLY '60s, ADVOCATING CIVIL RIGHTS CASES, WORKING TO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS, AND REPRESENTING MINORITIES WHO WERE ARRESTED FAUX DEMONSTRATING AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, BECAME YOUR LIFE'S WORK. YOUR LEADERSHIP CONTINUED, AS YOU PARTICIPATED IN DESEGREGATING THE THEN-ALL-WHITE JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION. AFTER DISTINGUISHING YOURSELF AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER, IN JACKSONVILLE YOU MOVED ON TO THE STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE IN 1968, AS THE HEAD OF THE CAPITAL CRIMES UNIT. AND I FOUND IT NOTEWORTHY THAT YOU PROSECUTED TO CONVICTION, 41 OF 42 MURDER CASES AND SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED 24 OF 26 RAPE CASES AND, AGAIN, DISTINGUISHED YOURSELF AS A DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL. GOVERNOR BOB GRAHAM OBSERVED YOUR TALENT AND APPOINTED YOU TO THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL AND THEN ELEVATED YOU TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. SERVING AS OUR CHIEF JUSTICE WAS NOT ONLY A PERSONAL MILESTONE FOR YOU BUT, ALSO, IT DISTINGUISHED YOU AS A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. THE ESSENCE OF YOUR JUDGING IS DEJ STRAIGHTED IN -- IS DEMONSTRATED IN A QUOTE FROM YOUR FORMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT JIM ROGERS, AND HE SAID OF YOU, THAT CHIEF JUSTICE SHAW'S GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS FAIRNESS. HE LISTENS TO WHAT IS SAID PRO AND CON. HIS DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE LIGHTLY. THEY ARE THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED. IN HIS ATTEMPT TO BE FAIR, HE IS METICULOUS. THAT DESCRIPTION OF YOUR JUDICIAL TALENT THAT YOU, IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE FAIR, WERE ALWAYS METICULOUS, IS EXEMPLARY. YOUR HONOR, YOUR JUDICIAL COLLEAGUES HAVE DESCRIBED YOU ASPIRINS PELLED, COLLEGIAL, AND -- DESCRIBED YOU AS PRINCIPLEED, COLLEGIAL AND REASONABLE. LAWYERS WHO HAVE APPEARED BEFORE YOU OVER THE YEARS HAVE DESCRIBED YOU AS DEDICATED, COMPASSIONATE AND FAIR. JUSTICE SHAW, AFTER INVESTITURE AND UPON TAKING THE BENCH, MANY TIMSES -- MANY TIMES JUDGES ACCEPT THEIR POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY. THEY DILIGENTLY DELIVER FAIR DECISIONS AND MAKE PERSONAL SACRIFICES. TOO OFTEN THE CALLING OF JUDGES RECEIVES TOO LITTLE PUBLIC ATTENTION. THE FLORIDA BAR TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR DAILY SUCCESSES AND YOUR LIFELONG CONTRIBUTION TO ALL FLORIDIANS. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU, TOD, FOR YOUR ELEGANT REMARKS. AT THIS TIME THE COURT WILL RECOGNIZE HONORABLE JOSEPH HATCH HE WILL, FORMER -- HONORABLE JOSEPH HATCHETT, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE AND JUSTICE OF THIS COURT OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS. JUSTICE HATCHETT.

WHEN I WAS ASKED TO TALK TODAY, THESE WORDS CAME TO ME AND THEY FOLLOW, ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT KINGS AND QUEENS AND COMMON FOLK LIKE YOU AND ME ARE BUILDERS FOR ETERNITY. TO EACH IS GIVEN A BAG OF TOOLS, A SHAPELESS MASS AND A BOOK OF RULES, AND EACH MUST BUILD A LIFE AS FLOWN, A STUMBLING BLOCK OR STEPPING STONE. THOSE WORDS CAME TO MIND AS I REFLECTED ON JUST HOW UNLIKELY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, 40 YEARS AGO, IF I HAD THOUGHT OF BEING IN THIS COURTROOM TODAY FOR A CEREMONY MARKING JUSTICE SHAW'S MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE FLORIDA COURT SYSTEM. SUCH A THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN IRRATIONAL. IN FACT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSURD. MR. JUSTICE SHAW AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR 40 YEARS. OUR LIVES HAVE RUN PARALLEL AND SOMETIMES CRISSCROSSED, BUT WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH THAT ENTIRE PERIOD. TO TALK ABOUT JUSTICE SHAW'S ACHIEVEMENTS WOULD BE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF FLORIDA, THE HISTORY OF RACE RELATIONS IN FLORIDA, IN THE COUNTRY, AND IN THE SOUTH. JUSTICE SHAW WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA, THE SON OF PARENTS WHO WERE EDUCATORS. HE EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE FROM WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE IN 1952 THEN WENT OFF TO THE KOREAN CONFLICT, WHERE HE SERVED AS AN ARTILLERY OFFICER, AND UPON HIS RETURN, ENTERED THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL AT WASHINGTON, D.C.. THAT IS WHERE WE MET, AT HOWARD LAW SCHOOL. HOWARD LAW SCHOOL WAS THEN THE TRAINING GROUND FOR THE SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WHITE, RIGHTS OF WAR, AND THE LAWYERS WHO WERE THE LEADERS IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS EFFORT WERE ALL THERE. FORMER JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHAL OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, WHO WAS THEN COUNSPELL FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, WALKED THE HALLWAYS AND MADE PRACTICE ARGUMENTS, BEFORE MAKING THE REAL ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. ALL OF THE LAWYERS WHO HAD SIGNED ON THE BRIEFS IN THE CASES OF BROWN VERSUS THE BOARD OF TOPEKA WERE ON THE FACULTY, DISCUSSING CONSTITUTIONAL THEORIES FOR FUTURE CASES INVOLVING PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, VOTING RIGHTS, AND HOUSING LITIGATION. ALTHOUGH WE MET IN LAW SCHOOL, WE REALLY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER RIGHT HERE, IN TALLAHASSEE, WHILE MR. JUSTICE SHAW SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW AT THE FIRST FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL. WE DECIDED TO STUD FOY THE BAR TOGETHER, AND SO AFTER TWO WEEKS OF TWELVE-HOUR DAYS, WE DROVE TO MIAMI FOR THE EXAM. WE LIVED IN A BLACK HOTEL, TOOK THE EXAM IN A WHITE HOTEL, BUT COULD NOT BE SERVED IN THE DINING ROOM OF THE WHITE HOTEL. THAT IS THE WAY THE LAW WAS THEN. THAT IS THE WAY LIFE WAS THEN. AFTER THE BAR EXAM, JUSTICE SHAW WENT TO JACKSONVILLE, AND I RETURNED TO DAYTONA BEACH, TO BEGIN THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN SEGREGATED COURT HOUSES. WE MET EARLY AND OFTEN IN THE PRACTICE, AS WE DELVEDED DEMONSTRATORS WHO WERE BEING ARRESTED IN NORTHEAST AND CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR SEEKING TO DESEGREGATE PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS. WE MET, MOST OBVIOUS, IN ST. AUGUSTINE, WHERE BOTH THE CAN YOU INCLUDES CLAN HELD ITS MARCHES -- THE KU KLUX KLAN HELD DEMONSTRATIONS AND THE DEMONSTRATIONS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING SR.. -- DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.. WITH DR. KING CAME PERSONAL MEASURES OF NOTE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE CAME INTO FULL BLOOM IN FLORIDA. IT WAS DURING THAT PERIOD WHEN WE BOTH CAME TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT PRO BONO PRACTICE REALLY MEANT. WE ALSO LEARNED SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS. WE LEARNED THAT, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, BEING RIGHT WAS NOT ENOUGH. EVEN IF A COURT OF LAW. THAT ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHT THING COULD BE DANGEROUS, EVEN IF YOU WERE A LAWYER. ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH, WHEN FORCED OFF THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BETWEEN ST. AUGUSTINE AND JACKSONVILLE, BUT IN SPITE OF THE UNLAWFULNESS, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND THE DANGERS OF THAT PERIOD, I HAVE HEARD THE JUSTICE COMMENT ON MANY OCCASIONS THAT IT WAS ONE OF HIS MOST SATISFYING ENDEAVORS IN HIS CAREER. BY THE LATE 1960s, THE SOUTH WAS BEGINNING TO CHANGE. NEW OPPORTUNITIES WERE PRESENTING THEMSELVES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAWYERS, SO JUSTICE SHAW BECAME AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND I MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE TO SERVE AS AN ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY. NOT LONG THEREAFTER, IN 1968, JUSTICE SHAW BECAME CHIEF ASSISTANT STATES ATTORNEY, IN CHARGE OF THE CAPITAL DIVISION. A FIRST FOR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN LAWYER IN THE SOUTH. THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAR AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN RESEARCHING THE SAME MATERIALS. I KNOW I AM RIGHT OR WRONG BY ONE, BECAUSE HE SAID THAT, WHILE SERVING AS THE CHIEF OF THE STATES ATTORNEYS CAPITAL DIVISION, JUSTICE SHAW EARNED AN OUTSTANDING RECORD. HE SAID, AS I RECALL, HE PROSECUTED 41 MURDER CASES. MY ACCOUNT IS 42 MURDER CASES. BUT WE ARE TOGETHER ON ONE THING. ALL ACCEPT ONE ENDED IN A GUILTY VERDICT. HE ELSE PROSECUTED 26 RAPE CASES, AND WE AGREE ON THAT, AND ALL ACCEPT TWO ENDED IN GUILTY VERDICTS. IN 1972, HE LEFT THE STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO FORM HIS OWN LAW FIRM OF HARRISON FINEGOLD ANSPAUGH. THE -- AND SHAW. THE FIRST INTERRACIAL LAW FIRM IN NORTH FLORIDA. SHORTLY AFTER, HE BEGAN HIS HISTORIC RISE THROUGH THE FLORIDA COURT SYSTEM. I MIGHT ADD THAT I DID SEE EARLIER TODAY, ONE OF THE JUSTICE'S PARTNERS HERE, MR. FINEGOLD. THIS, HIS JURY SHIPS BEGAN IN 1974, WHEN GOVERNOR ASKEW, SITTING HERE ON THE FRONT ROW, APPOINTED HIM TO THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION. IN 1979, GOVERNOR GRAHAM APPOINTED HIM TO THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL. IN 1983, GOVERNOR GRAHAM AGAIN APPOINTED HIM, BUT THIS TIME TO THIS COURT, THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. FROM 1990 THROUGH 1992, MR. JUSTICE SHAW SERVED AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THIS COURT. AS FLORIDA'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHIEF JUSTICE, ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE ENTIRE SOUTH, HE ESTABLISHED A JURY MANAGEMENT PROJECT THAT REDUCED EXPENDITURES FOR JURORS PER DIEM. REDUCED COSTS TO JURORS, AND REDUCED THE STATE'S JURY COSTS BY NEARLY $2.5 MILLION. HE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR REVISION OF CHAPTER 216 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES, TO PROVIDE THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF FLORIDA WITH AUTHORITY OVER THE JUDICIAL BRANCHES -- BRANCH'S BUDGET, EQUAL TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGETARY AUTHORITY. IN OTHER SERVICE TO THIS STATE, JUSTTY SHAW GAVE LEADERSHIP TO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH ON DIVERSITY ISSUES, SERVING AS VICE-CHAIR OF THE SUPREME COURT RACIAL AND ETHNIC STUDY COMMISSION, FROM 1989-THROUGH-1991, THEN HE OVERSAW A 10-YEAR RETROSPECT ON THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC STUDY -- BIAS STUDY COMMISSION IN 1991. IN ADDITION HE ELSE CHAIRED THE SENTENCING COMMISSION FROM 1994-THROUGH-1998, BUT AS THOUGH THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH HE, ALSO, SERVED INTERNATIONALLY AND IN THE NATIONAL SCENE. ON THE NATIONAL SCENE, HE SERVED AS FLORIDA'S LIAISON TO FLORIDA'S NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS FROM 1990-THROUGH-1998, AND IN 1992, CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, APPOINTED JUSTICE SHAW TO THE PROGRAM THAT WORKS ON PROJECT TO THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THROUGHOUT THE NATION. ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHAW MADE A PRESENTATION AT THE CONFERENCE OF ATTORNEYS-GENERAL OF AFRICAN NATION INS NIGERIA -- IN NIGERIA OF SEPTEMBER OF 1991. AMONG THE HONORARY DEGREES THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED ARE THE FOLLOWING, 1986 DOCTOR OF LAWS, WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE, 1990, DOCTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, 1991, DOCTOR OF LAWS NOVA UNIVERSITY, 1991 DOCTOR OF LAWS WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY. JUSTICE SHAW'S MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF SERVICE ON THIS COURT WILL LONG BEEN REMEMBERED BY THE RULES OF LAW THAT HE FASHIONED. MANY OF HIS DECISIONS ARE LANDMARKS. SOME OF HIS DISENTS BECAME BINDING LAW, YEARS AFTER HE WROTE THEM. AMONG SOME OF HIS NOTED CASES ARE THE FOLLOWING. PROVENZANO VERSUS STATE 1999. JUSTICE SHAW DISSENTING, STATING THAT ELECTROCUTION, AS PRACTICED IN FLORIDA, RESULTED IN UNDUE VIOLENCE AND MUTILATION, THERE BY VIOLATING THE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT CLAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THAT DISSENT, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IMPLEMENTED LETHAL INJECTION AS THE OFFICIAL METHOD OF EXECUTION IN FLORIDA. ANOTHER LANDMARK CASE, STATE VERSUS DeGUILIO, 1986. JUSTICE SHAW WROTE FOR THE COURT, SETTING FORTH THE ABIDING STANDARD IN FLORIDA TO DETERMINING THE PARAMETERS OF HARMLESS ERROR IN CRIMINAL TRIALS. HIS OPINION IN DEGHOUL YO IS THE MOST -- THEY DeGUILIO IS HE THE MOST FREQUENTLY CITED CASE IN FLORIDA LAW. THEN IN 1989 IN RE TW. JUSTICE SHAW WRITING FOR THIS COURT, UPHELD, UNDER THE PRIVACY LAWS OF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION, A MINOR FEMALE'S RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE HER PREGNANCY. JUSTTY SHAW HAS BEEN A SUPERB APPELLATE JUDGE AND JUSTICE. HIS OPINIONS ARE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED AND BEAUTIFULLY EXPRESSED. HE WRITES SIMPLY AND CLEARLY. WHEN JUSTICE SHAW WRITES AN OPINION, YOU UNDERSTAND IT COMPLETELY, NOT JUST WORDS BUT THE INTENT AS WELL. HE HE WILL BE REMEMBERED IN THIS COURT AS ONE WHO WROTE CAREFULLY-RESEARCHED AND WELL-CRAFTED OPINIONS. HIS OPINIONS SATISFY THE MOST SCHOLARLY MINDS WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, BEING ENTIRELY ACCESSIBLE TO READERS OF MUCH MORE MODEST EXPERIENCE OR ABILITY. HE CAN EXPRESS A DIFFICULT IDEA OR ANALYSIS IN SUCH AWAY THAT THE READER IS UNAWARE OF HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS, BEFORE HE REDUCED IT TO HIS OWN SIMPLE EXPRESSION. HE HE WILL, ALSO, BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP, HIS GRACE, GENT ILLITY AND WARMTH. HE IS SENSITIVE TO THE HUMAN SIDE OF LITIGATION, EVER AWARE OF ITS HUMAN CONSEQUENCES. IF CALLED UPON TO DESCRIBE IN ONE WORD, JUSTICE SHAW'S CAREER IN THE LAW, THE WORD WOULD BE SERVICE. SERVICE TO HUMANITY, TO THIS STATE, TO THIS COURT, AND TO OUR COUNTRY. HOWEVER, THE WORD SERVICE WOULD NEED TO BE QUALIFIED BY SOME APPROPRIATE AIDE JECKTIVE, SUCH AS UNSELFISH OR DEAD -- ADJECTIVE, SUCH AS UNSELFISH OR DEDICATED. THE SAME QUALITIES ARE WHAT MAKE HIM A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING, AND AMONG THOSE QUALITIES WHAT STANDS OUT IS THE JUSTICE'S UNFAILING COURTESY, COURTESY OF THE HIGHEST SENSE OF THAT WORD. OFF THE BENCH IT SHOWS IN ALL OF HIS ACTIVITIES. ON THE BENCH, IT IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF BEING POLITE TO COUNSEL, IF, OF COURSE, HE ALWAYS IS, BUT HE ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE AN INSTINCT TO ASKING CREATIVE QUESTIONS THAT CUT TO THE HEART OF ISSUES, WITHOUT EMBARRASSING COUNSEL, WITHOUT DENIGRATEING THE CLIENT'S LEGAL POSITIONING OR SIGNALING HIS EARLY CONCLUSIONS. MR. JUSTICE, YOU ARE A HERO. YOU ARE A PIONEER. YOU ARE A GOOD ROLE MODEL, A LIVING SYMBOL OF FAIRNESS AND COURAGE, A JURIST THE PAR EXCELLENCE. YOU HAVE, THROUGH YOUR OPINIONS, GIVEN RELIEF AND HOPE TO THE DISENFRANCHISED AND TO THE OPPRESSED. FORGOTTEN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY, MINORITIES, PRISONERS, WOMEN AND THE MENTALLY ILL REDISCOVER THEIR HUMAN DIGNITY, THROUGH YOUR INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES AND THE COMMON LAW. YOU TOOK THE BAG OF TOOLS AND YOU TOOK YOUR BOOK OF RULES, AND YOU USED THEM TO CREATE STEPPING STONES RATHER THAN STUMBLING BLOCKS. HAVE A GOOD RETIREMENT. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU, JUDGE HATCHETETTE, FOR THAT -- JUDGE HATCHETT, FOR THAT COMPELLING TRIBUTE TO JUSTICE SHAW'S LIFE. THE COURT WILL NOW RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES, JUSTICE MAJOR B. HARDING. JUSTICE HARDING.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER ADDRESSED THIS COURT IN THIS FASHION.

CHIEF JUSTICE: LET'S BE SURE YOU GET IT RIGHT! [LAUGHTER]

AND SO FOR JUST THIS ONCE, MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. [LAUGHTER]

CHIEF JUSTICE: AT THE MAY.

I ASSUME MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, THAT THE SAME RULES PREVAIL THAT IN CEREMONIES LIKE THIS, NO QUESTIONS ARE, FROM THE BENCH ARE ALLOWED. IS THAT CORRECT? MR. CHIEF JUSTICE, MEMBERS OF THE COURT, FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF LEE SHAW, I AM INDEED HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT THIS EVENT, CONCLUDING A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF MY FRIEND, LEANDER SHAW. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT, IN THIS VERY COURTROOM, IN JUNE, A HOT JUNE DAY THEY 1960, WE TOOK THE OATH TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR. AND WHEN, IN 1991, MY WIFE WAS PACKING UP OUR HOME IN JACKSONVILLE TO MOVE HERE TO TALLAHASSEE, SHE FOUND A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE GROUP, TAKEN OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH, THE FRONT STEPS OF THIS BUILDING, THE GROUP THAT WAS SWORN IN THAT DAY, AND WHEN SHE LOOKED TO FIND ME, SHE LOOKED ANSPAUGH SAW LEE -- SHE LOOKED AND SAW LEE SHAW WAS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME. I HAVE FOUND THAT PICTURE NOT ONLY TO BE A REMINDER OF THE WARM FRIENDSHIP THAT WE HAVE SHARED OVER THE YEARS, LEE, BUT THAT PICTURE, ALSO, REMINDS ME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE BAR, IN OUR STATE, AND IN OUR LIVES SINCE THEN, AS WE HAVE HEARD SO ELOQUENTLY RECOUNTED BY THE FORMER SPEAKERS. AFTER THAT CEREMONY, IN 1960, I RETURNED TO FORT BENNING, FOR CONTINUED INFANTRY TRAINING, AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM JUDGE HATCHETT, LEE WENT BACK TO JACKSONVILLE, AND IN 1963, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN WHAT WE KNOW KNOW AS THE GIDEON DECISION, REQUIRING ALL PERSONS CHARGED WITH CRIMES TO BE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS. FLORIDA RESPONDED TO THAT DECISION, BY CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN EACH OF THE CIRCUITS. ED AUSTIN, WHO LATER BECAME THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN JACKSONVILLE, AND LATER MAYOR OF JACKSONVILLE, WAS APPOINTED TO BEGIN THAT OFFICE, AND, LEE, I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM ED AUSTIN. WHEN I TALKED TO HIM RECENTLY ABOUT YOUR TIMES IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND THE STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE, I COULD HEAR HIM SMILE, ALL THE WAY FROM JACKSONVILLE. HIS MEMORIES OF THOSE EARLY YEARS WERE FOND MEMORIES THAT PROMPTED PEELS OF LAUGHTER, AS HE REMINISCED. HE RECALLED AND TOLD ME OF THE HEAVY COUNSEL THAT HE HAD RECEIVED NOT TO APPOINT A BLACK MAN AS AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER. BUT HE ADDED, WITH A SMILE, AND A LAUGH, I WENT AGAINST THAT ADVICE AND FOUND LEE SHAW TO BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN HELPING DEVELOP THAT OFFICE INTO THE BEST IN THE STATE. NOW, LEE, IS IT TRUE THAT, IN THE EARLY DAYS WHEN THE LAWYERS AND THE PUBLIC DEFEND -- WHEN THE LAWYERS IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE WERE TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION THAT, ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES SAID, LOOK, WE ARE FREE, WHITE AND 212 -- AND 21. WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WAENT!

IT'S TRUE.

AND, LEE, IS IT ALSO TRUE THAT YOU RESPONDED "YOU WANT TO RUN THAT BY ONCE AGAIN!" SNECHLT LAUGHTER]

IN 1966, A JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION WAS ENTIRELY WHITE AND ALMOST ALL MALE. THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT BAR WAS CONCERNED THAT THAT SITUATION SHOULD CHANGE. EARL JOHNSON, A BLACK ATTORNEY WHO LATER WAS MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, HAD BEEN PROPOSED FAUX MEMBERSHIP, AND IN AN EFFORT TO -- PROPOSED FOR MEMBERSHIP PARNTION IN AN EFFORT TO -- FOR MEMBERSHIP, AND IN AN EFFORT TO SMOOTH THE PROCESS AND TO QUELL ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOMINATION, THEY DEVISED A PLAN TO ASK YOU TO BE THE FIRST BLACK LAWYER TO ATTEND A MAKING MEG OF THE JACKSONVILLE BAR -- AN OF MEETING OF THE JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION. YOU ATTENDED AND I AM CERTAIN THAT YOU WERE AS TENSE AS THE ONES WHO INVITED YOU, AND YET YOUR PRESENCE AND COMPOSURE AT THAT EVENT PAVED THE WAY FOR EARL JOHNSON'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION, AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN'T EVER REMEMBER WHETHER WE LET YOU IN OR NOT. JUSTICE SHAW: FINALLY! [LAUGHTER]

YOU ALWAYS KNEW THERE WAS A BETTER WAY, AND YOU HAVE THE COURAGE OF THAT CONVICTION NOT TO LET CIRCUMSTANCES DETERMINE YOUR FATE OR CONTROL, BECAUSE YOU CONTROL THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I RECALL ONE TIME THAT, DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION, YOU WERE REQUIRED TO FILE A PLEADING IN THE COURT IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND WHEN YOU WENT TO FILE THAT PLEADING, THE CLERK OF THE COURT REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE PAPER, AND THIS WAS SHORTLY BEFORE A DEADLINE WAS TO BE REACHED. YOU CREATIVELY RECREATED THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BY A PHONE CALL, SO THAT WHEN YOU WENT BACK TO THE COURT, THE PAPERS WERE RECEIVED AND FILED WITHOUT QUESTION. AND I OFTEN WONDER WHAT THAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TOLD THAT CLERK. [LAUGHTER] AND IT SEEMS TO ME ONE TIME IN JACKSONVILLE, YOU RAN FOR CIRCUIT JUDGE, AND I RECALL YOUR OPPONENT, A WHITE MAN, RAN A BIG AD, A BILLBOARD THAT SHOWED HIS PICTURE AND THE WORDS LOOK! LOOKS LIKE A JUDGE! YOU LOSS THAT THE RACE, WELL, MAYBE YOU REALLY WON, BECAUSE THEN YOU WERE AVAILABLE TO CLIMB TO GREATER HEIGHTS IN THE YEARS TO COME, AND I OFTEN WONDER WHAT HE THOUGHT, WHEN YOU BECAME AN APPELLATE JUDGE AND RULED ON HIS CASES. [LAUGHTER] MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE PUT A SIGN UP THAT READ "I LOOK LIKE A CIRCUIT JUDGE. MY OPPONENT LOOKS LIKE AN APPELLATE JUDGE!" YOU HAVE ALWAYS DISTINGUISHED YOURSELF WHEREVER YOU WENT AND WHATEVER YOU DID. YOU HAD THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS AND THE ASSURANCE THAT, WHATEVER YOU DID, IT WAS FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE. IT WAS NOT ONLY, YOU NOT ONLY HAD COURAGE, BUT YOU, ALSO, PROPOSED LIFE -- BUT YOU, ALSO, APPROACHED LIFE WITH A POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY, LIKE THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE CHIEF JUSTICE AND HAD A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND YOU LOOKED DOWN AND REALIZED YOU HAD ON ONE BROWN SHOE AND ONE BLACK SHOE. MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN DISSOLVED INTO STRESS. YOU TOOK THAT IN STRIDE, KNOWING THAT YOU HAD ANOTHER PAIR AT HOME JUST LIKE THEM. [LAUGHTER] LEE, YOUR LONG SERVICE ON THE COURT AND IN THE JUDICIARY HAS MADE YOU A GREAT SOURCE OF INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, AND DURING MY TIME ON THE COURT, YOU WERE THAT SOURCE ON MANY OCCASIONS. I HAVE CALLS LISTENED TO YOUR COUNSEL, AND I HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED WITH YOU, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT WE COULD DISAGREE DEGREEBLY. YOU NEVER ALLOWED ANY DISAGREEMENT ON ISSUES OF LAW TO INTERFERE WITH THE COLLEGIALITY AND CONGENIALITY OF THE COURT, AND FOR THAT LEGACY, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE. NOW, BEFORE I CLOSE, LEE, I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THAT CASE IN WHICH YOU APPEARED BEFORE ME IN 1969 OR '70. NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE NOT HERE AT MY RETIREMENT TO HEAR HIM TELL THE STORY, JUSTICE SHAW RECOUNTED THE STORY OF HAVING APPEARED BEFORE ME IN A CHILD CUSTODY CASE, AND HE CLAIMS THAT I DISAPPEAR EARED AFTER THE, HIS OPPOSING CLIENT PULLED A GUN IN THE COURTROOM. YES, YOU WONDER THAT CASE. YES, YOUR CLIENT WAS CLEARLY THE ONE WHO HAVE CUSTODY OF THAT CHILD. AND, YES, I ANNOUNCED FROM THE BENCH MY DECISION AWARDING THAT CUSTODY TO YOUR CLIENT, AND, YES, THEN, I DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE DOOR BEHIND THE BENCH, WHICH LED INTO MY CHAMBERS. BUT AS I RECALL, I WAS REMOVING MY ROBE, WHEN YOUR CLIENT CAME THROUGH THAT DOOR BEHIND THE BENCH AND INTO MY CHAMBERS, WITH THE CHILD ON HIS, IN HIS ARMS, AND HE SAID SHE PULLED A GUN. MY SECRETARY REPORTED THAT IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A SLOW MOTION MOVIE. SHE SAID I WENT TO THE DOOR AND PUT ONE HAND ON THE DOOR AND ONE HAND ON THE HANDLE. I STOPPED, AND I TURNED AROUND, AND SAID WE BETTER GET A BAILIFF. [LAUGHTER] WELL, WE GOT A BAILIFF, AND I WENT BACK INTO THE COURTROOM WITH YOUR CLIENT AND THAT BABY. THE BAILIFFS WERE THERE. THE WOMAN WAS IN CUSTODY. PEOPLE WERE GETTING UP FROM UNDER THE BENCHES, BUT THERE WAS NO LEANDER SHAW. [LAUGHTER]

CHIEF JUSTICE: YOU WANT ME TO RULE HIM OUT OF ORDER?

NOR WAS YOUR OPPOSING ATTORNEY THERE, GUNNAR MILLER. WHEN I ASKED, I WAS TOLD THAT YOU HAD BOTH BOLTED OUT OF THE COURTROOM, THROUGH THE WAITING ROOM, OUT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE COURT, JUMPED OVER THE FLOWER POTS, IN FRONT OF THE COURT, AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL YOU WERE DOWN IN FROCHBT THE SHIPYARD NEXT DOOR. -- DOWN IN FRONT OF THE SHIPYARD NEXT DOOR. YOU KNOW, IT IS FUNNY THAT YOU REMEMBERED THAT I DISAPPEARED. I REMEMBER THAT YOU DISAPPEARED, AND I GUESS WE BOTH RELY ON EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS, AND WE KNOW HOW UNRELIABLE THEY ARE. [LAUGHTER] BUT MAYBE THE CHUCKLES THAT WE HAVE HAD ABOUT THAT EVENT ARE CHUCKLES OF THANKSGIVING THAT NO ONE WAS HURT AND THAT WE ARE HERE OVER 30 YEARS LATER WITH FAILING MEMORIES, TO TRY TO REMEMBER AND YET CONTINUE TO LAUGH. DURING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AS RETIREMENT BECAME A REALITY FOR BOTH LEE AND ME, WE WOULD OFTEN SMILE AT EACH OTHER AS WE WOULD LEAVE A LONG CONFERENCE, AND WE WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER. AND WHEN I WAS CHIEF JUSTICE, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SITTING NEXT TO LEE, AND HE ALWAYS HAD A NOTE PAD AND PENCIL IN HIS HAND, AND I REALIZED THAT HE WAS A CONS MATT DOODLER, AND HE ON OCCASION GAVE ME ONE OF THOSE -- A CONS YOU MATT DOODLER, AND ON OCCASION -- A CONSUMATE DOODLER, AND ON OCCASION HE GAVE ME ONE OF THOSE DOODLES OR ALL OF THOSE DOODLES, AND I WANT ATTORNEYS WHO APPEARED HERE AND SAW HIM TAKING NOTES, THAT HE WAS LISTENING TO YOU, AND SOME OF THOSE DOODLES QUALIFY AS ART, SORT OF. AND, LEE, I HAVE HAD SOME OF THEM FRAMED. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] TWO OF THEM REFLECT THE IMMINENT FUTURE FOR LEE SHAW. ONE IS A PICTURE I AM SURE, OF LEE SITTING, WHAT HE SEES WHEN HE SITS IN A BOAT IN THE RIVER, FISHING. THE CYPRESS TREES WITH THE KNEES AND PALM TREES AND BIRDS IN THE AIR, AND ANOTHER ONE IS A PICTURE OF LEE SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF A LITTLE COTTAGE, A DOG LYING NEXT TO THE PORCH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE CHICKENS ARE PECKING IN THE YARD. THIS ONE IS ENTITLED A WHEEL WITH A GIZMO. AND IF YOU WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THAT WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REMARKS, WE WOULD ALL APPRECIATE IT. AND THE LAST ONE SAYS MORE OF THE SAME. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ASKED THAT THEY BE PERMITTED TO DISPLAY THIS IN THEIR NEXT EXHIBIT IN THE ROTUNDA. [APPLAUSE] JUSTICE SHAW: MY FINANCIAL FUTURE IS SECURED IN THIS ART!

YOU MAY NOT BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR ART, LEE, BUT YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. MY LIFE HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY OUR FRIENDSHIP AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE HAVE BEEN WELL-SERVED, BECAUSE YOU NEVER LOST SIGHT OF THE PAST AND NEVER GAVE UP HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. WE STARTED OUT IN THIS COURTROOM, AND WHEN I RETURNED FROM THE ARMY, I CROSSED PATHS WITH YOU IN JACKSONVILLE. I RULED ON SOME OF YOUR CASES WHEN YOU WERE A LAWYER, AND YOU RULED ON SOME OF MY CASES WHEN AVIS JUDGE. WE HAVE SHARED A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE LAST 11 AND-A-HALF YEARS, BUT THE PLEASURE OF HAVING YOU AS A COLLEAGUE HAS ALWAYS LIGHTENED THE LOAD, AND I THINK IT IS SOMEWHAT REMARKABLE THAT WE CLOSE OUT OUR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP AS COLLEAGUE INS THIS COURTROOM, WHERE IT ALL -- AS COLLEAGUES IN THIS COURTROOM WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. LEE, I AM HONORED TO BE HERE AND SHARE THESE GOOD TIMES WITH YOU, AND WHILE OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES MAY NOT CROSS IN THE FUTURE, JANE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO TREASURE YOUR FRIENDSHIP FOR YEARS TO COME. MAY GOD BLESS BUT IN EVERY FUTURE ENDEAVOUR. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU, JUSTICE HARDING, FOR THOSE WONDERFUL HUMOROUS AND PERSONAL TOUCHING REMARKS. THE COURT AT THIS TIME HAS THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING THE MEAD PAST PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR, TERRENCE RUSSELL. MR. RUSSELL. MR. RUSSELL: CHIEF JUSTICE ANSTEAD AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT, FORMER JUSTICES, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, GOVERNOR ASKEW, PRESIDENT ARONVITZ, JUSTICE HARD -- ARONVITZ, JUSTICE HARDING, JUDGE HATCHETT, FRIENDS OF JUSTICE SHAW AND PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES. I AM SO PROUD OF MY FRIEND LEANDER SHAW TODAY AND SO FLATTERED THAT HE ASKED ME TO SPEAK ON THIS OCCASION, WHERE WE CELEBRATE HIS REMARKABLE CAREER, REFLECT ON HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND RELUCTANTLY BID HIM A PHONED FAREWELL. WHEN HE LEAVES -- A FOND FAREWELL. WHEN HE LEAVES THE BENCH, THE STATE OF FLORIDA WILL LOSE A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT. WE ARE FOREVER IN HIS DEBT. WHEN JUSTICE SHAW AND I SPOKE RECENTLY, I TOLD HIM THAT MARY KAY AND I WILL BELIEVING SHORTLY AFTER THE CEREMONY TODAY, TO GO TO JACKSONVILLE FOR OUR 40th HIGH SCHOOL CLASS REUNION. AS I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THAT JUNE 1962 EVENT, THAT WE WILL SOON BE RELIVING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES, I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU, YOUR HONOR. YOU WERE THEN ONLY A TWO-YEAR MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR, AND ONE OF FEWER THAN 30 BLACK LAWYERS IN THIS STATE. YOU WERE PRACTICING LAW IN JACKSONVILLE, AS WE HAVE HEARD, WITH EARL JOHNSON, HIMSELF SOON TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK MEMBER OF THE JACKSONVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION BUT ONLY AFTER YOU BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO EVER ATTEND A JACKSONVILLE BAR MEETING. AS MY THOUGHTS REFLECTED BACK TO THAT WARM SUMMER DAY IN 1962, WHERE PROBABLY KNOW MORE THAN A FEW MILES FROM YOU I STOOD READY TO COMMENCE THE ADULT PART OF MY LIFE AS PART AFTER ALL-WHITE CLASS IN AN ALL-WHITE SCHOOL, I LITTLE REALIZED THAT I STOOD ON ONE SIDE AFTER CULTURAL GULF, AN ABYSS OF SEPARATISM SO DEEP THAT IT WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED ME TO EVEN IMAGINE THAT ON A DAY MORE THAN 40 YEARS LATER, ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS OF MY LIFE WOULD BE BESTOWED ON ME BY A REAL AMERICAN HERO, A MAN WHO I AM HONORED TO CALL MY FRIEND, WHO ALSO JUST HAPPENS TO BE BLACK. I REMEMBER SO WELL, THE DAY IN 1984, I MET YOU AND FORMER JUSTICE RAY EHRLICH. AS PRESIDENT OF MY LOCAL BAR, I HAD THE TASK OF SHEPARDING THE TWO OF YOU AROUND BROWARD COUNTY FOY TWO DAYS, AS YOU FACED YOUR FIRST MERIT RETENTION CHALLENGE. I MET THE PRIVATE PLANE YOU WERE USING ON THE APRON ON THE RUNWAY. THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN, AND JUSTICE EHRLICH STEPPED OUT OF THE PLANE, AND THE PLANE LOOKED RATHER LARGE, AND YOU STRUGGLED OUT OF THE SAME DOOR, FIRST YOUR LEGS THEN YOUR TORSO, THEN YOUR ARMS, AND THE PLANE LOOKED VERY SMALL. THE TWO OF YOU STOOD SIDE-BY-SIDE ON THE TARMAC SMILING, TRYING TO LOOK LIKE VETERAN PRETTY COSE. I CHECKED -- VETERAN POLITICOS. I CHECKED MY WATCH AND WONDERED HAD I MET THE RIGHT PLANE. I REMEMBER HOW TOUCHED I WAS WHEN THE TWO OF YOU CALLED ME ON ELECTION NIGHT 1984, TO SHARE YOUR WELL-DESERVED VICTORY, A VICTORY SHARED BY EVERY FLORIDA CITIZEN WHO BELIEVED IN OUR MERIT RESECTION SYSTEM AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY THAT HELPS PROTECT. I KNEW BY THEN I HAD FORMED A LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIP, SO I WASN'T SURPRISED WHEN YOU ASKED ME TOE CHAIR YOUR 1990 MERIT RETENTION CAMPAIGN. I ACCEPTED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN YOU, BUT I NEVER TOLD YOU HOW MUCH I DISAGREED WITH THE COURT'S DECISION IN IN RE TW. YOUR COURAGE IN OFFERING THAT OPINION IN THE FACE OF NEAR CERTAIN OPPOSITION A YEAR LATER, WAS BOTH STUNNING AND REASSURING. AS IMPORTANTLY, THE COURT'S WILLINGNESS TO ISSUE POTENTIALLY UNPOPULAR DECISIONS INTO THE TEETH OF A MERIT RETENTION ELECTION, WAS A TESTAMENT TO THE COURT'S COURAGE, ITS INDEPENDENCE AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO TRUST THE PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE LIKE ME WHO DIDN'T AGREE, TO RECOGNIZE THAT AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY SAFEGUARDS DEMOCRACY, AND WE KNOW, AS EVENTS JUST TWO YEARS AGO EVIDENCE, YOU HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK, AND AS WE JUST LEARNED THIS WEEK, THE SYSTEM WORKED YET AGAIN. ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT THE 1990 RETENTION CAMPAIGN WAS HOW GOOD YOU WERE AT IT. YOU WERE A NATURAL. I RECALL THINKING THAT IT SEEMED OUT OF PLACE THAT A JUDICIAL OFFICER COULD BE THAT GOOD A CAMPAIGNER, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RESTRAINTS YOU WERE SUBJECT TO UNDER THE CANONS, AND WHILE I KNOW THE CAMPAIGN WAS TIRING AND STRESSFUL FOR YOU, I OBSERVED AN IMPORTANT BENEFIT. THE RAPPORT ESTABLISHED WITH THE PEOPLE YOU MET WAS AMAZING, ESPECIALLY AMONGST YOUR NATURAL CONSTITUENCY, AFRICAN-AMERICANS. THEY SURROUNDED YOU WITH LOVE, ADMIRATION AND RESPECT. YOU WERE AND YOU ARE TO THEM, A PERSONIFICATION OF HOPE, AND FOR THEM AND THROUGH ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED, YOU HAVE NARROWED THE DIVIDE AND ELIMINATED THE DARKNESS. YOU ARE THEIR HERO AND ONE OF MINE. BECAUSE YOU SEE, I KNOW LEANDER SHAW. HE IS A FRIEND OF MINE. AND BECAUSE OF HIS DEDICATION, HIS EXAMPLE, AND HIS COMMITMENT TO EQUAL JUSTICE, WHEN I WALK TO THE WATER'S EDGE NOW, 40 YEARS LATER AND LOOK ACROSS THE GULF, I CAN SEE THE OTHER SIDE. LEE, ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT. YOU HAVE TRULY EARNED IT. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS AND THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR LET ME GO SHARE THIS MARVELOUS MOMENT WITH YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: JUSTICE SHAW, AT THIS TIME IT IS MY GREAT HOP OR TO READ TO YOU, A REST -- GREAT HONOR TO READ TO YOU, A RESOLUTION THAT THE COURT HAS ADOPTED IN YOUR HONOR. WHEREAS THE HONORABLE LEANDER SHAW JR. HAS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AS A JUSTICE OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, FROM JANUARY 10, 1983, TO JANUARY 6, 2003, AND AS CHIEF JUSTICE FROM 1990-TO-1992, AND WHEREAS DURING HIS TENURE AS CHIEF JUSTICE, LEANDER J SHAW JR. SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNOR'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE AND AS SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF CHIEF JUSTICES, AND AS FLORIDA'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CONFERENCE OF ATTORNEY GENERALS IN NIGERIA, AND WHEREAS LEANDER J SHAW JR. HAS SERVED AS THE DEAN OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, FROM JANUARY 5, 1999, UNTIL JANUARY 6, 2003, AND WHEREAS LEANDER J SHAW JR. HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA IN NUMEROUS CAPACITIES, INCLUDING HIS SERVICE AS FLORIDA'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS CONFERENCE IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, ADVICE OR TO THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC BIAS STUDY COMMISSION, DESIGNATED DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE FLORIDA SENTENCING GUIDELINES COMMISSION, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION, AND WHEREAS BEFORE HIS TENURE AS A JUSTICE, LEANDER J SHAW JR. SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW AT FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY AND ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER, ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY, ADVICE OR TO THE GRAND JURY -- ADVISOR TO THE GRAND JURY AND HEAD OF THE CAPITAL CRIMES DIVISION IN DUVAL COUNTY, COMMISSION ON THE FLORIDA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION AND JUDGE OF THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, AND WHEREAS LEANDER J SHAW JR.'S ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE WON HIM MANY HONORS, INCLUDING AN APPOINTMENT BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT TO THE JUDICIAL FELLOWS PROGRAM, HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAW DEGREES FROM WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE, NOVA UNIVERSITY, AND WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY, AND HONORARY DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE FROM FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, THE GWENDOLYN SAWYER CHERRY MEMORIAL AWARD, FLAT HUMORIST OF THE YEAR AWARD, THE BEN FRANKLIN AWARD AND THE GERTTRUED E RUSHING. NOW BE IT DECLARED AND FOREVER RESOLVED THAT WE, HIS COLLEAGUES ON THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, DO ORDAIN AND EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE HONORABLE LEANDER J SHAW JR., FOR HIS NEARLY HALF A CENTURY OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND HIS SINGULAR STRENGTH AND COURAGE IN FOSTERING THE BLESSINGS OF JUSTICE FOR OURSELVES AND POSTERITY, AND IN SAFEGUARDING THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS FOR ALL FLORIDIANS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, COLOR, OR ECONOMIC STANDING. DONE IN CHAMBERS THIS 8th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2002, AND SIGNED BY ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE, ON THE BENCH.

JUSTICE SHAW: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: LEE, EVERYTHING IS NOT ON THE PROGRAM, SO THERE IS AT LEAST ONE SURPRISE TODAY, AND FOR THAT SURPRISE I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE LEE'S LONG TIME JUDICIAL ASSISTANT, JEAN HENDRY, TO PRESENT A GIFT ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF OF JUSTICE SHAW. MS. HENDRY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHIEF JUSTICE, JUSTICES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I THANK YOU TO ALLOW ME TO ADDRESS THE COURT ON BEHALF OF JUSTICE SHAW'S PERSONAL STAFF. WE HAVE HEARD THIS AFTERNOON HOW THE CITIZENS AND JUDICIARY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAVE BENEFITED FROM JUSTICE SHAW'S WISDOM, HIS JUDICIAL TEMPERAMENT, AND HIS GUIDANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD HOW HONORED WE ALL ARE TO HAVE SERVED AS HIS PERSONAL STAFF. I HAVE BEEN HIS JUDICIAL ASSISTANT FOR 21 YEARS, AND I AM SURE THAT I HAVE BENEFITED FROM HIS PATIENCE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I AM SURE THAT I HAVE TESTED THESE PATIENTS, EVEN MORE THAN THE LEGAL ISSUES AT HAND. I RECALL THAT, BEFORE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A COMPUTER WITH A SPELL CHECK, THAT JUSTICE JOE BOYD COMMENTED THAT HE COULD ALWAYS RECOGNIZE MY WORK, BECAUSE MY SPELLING REFLECTED MY SOUTHERN ACCENT. [LAUGHTER] I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR OUR ENTIRE GROUP, WHEN I SAY THAT JUSTICE SHAW LEADS BY EXAMPLE, SETTING VERY HIGH STANDARDS FOR EVERYONE THAT HE WORKS WITH. YET HE ALSO HAS COMPLETE FAITH IN US AND UNDERSTANDS THAT WE DO OUR BEST. BECAUSE OF HIS PHENOMENAL TEACHING SKILLS, EACH ONE OF US LEAVE HERE A BETTER AND WISER PERSON. NOW, WITH THE COURT'S INDULGENCE FOR JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE REST OF JUSTICE SHAW'S PERSONAL STAFF TO PLEASE JOIN ME HERE AT THE PODIUM, AND JUSTICE SHAW, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME DOWN AND JOIN US AT THE PODIUM FOR A MOMENT. [APPLAUSE]

JUDGE, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS ROCKING CHAIR, WHICH IS INSCRIBED WITH THE SEAL OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE LEANDER SHAW JR., 1983-TO-2003, CHIEF JUSTICE 1992. NOW, WE HOPE THAT, WHETHER YOU TAKE IT TO THE BEACH HOUSE AND WATCH THE SUNRISE, AND THE TIDES ROLL IN, OR KEEP IT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE, THAT IT WILL BRING FOND MEMORIES OF ALL OF US, SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL STAFF HERE, WE THANK YOU FOR THE RARE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. IT HAS BEEN OUR HONOR TO WORK FOR YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

JUSTICE SHAW: YOU SURE KEEP A SECRET. THANKS!

CHIEF JUSTICE: JUSTICE SHAW LEANED OVER TO ME, RIGHT AFTER JUSTICE HARDING'S REMARKS, AND HE SAID DON'T FORGET, I GET TO SAY SOMETHING AT THE END! [LAUGHTER]

CHIEF JUSTICE: JUSTICE SHAW, IT IS YOUR TIME.

JUSTICE SHAW: NEVER GIVE YOUR FRIEND REBUTTAL TIME. [LAUGHTER] OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE LEARNED TO APPRECIATE AND ENJOY THE CEREMONIAL SESSIONS, WHETHER IT IS THE INSTALLATION OF NEW JUSTICES, THE SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR, OR THE RETIREMENT OF A FELLOW JUSTICE. THESE ARE ALWAYS JOYOUS OCCASIONS. AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE, WHEN YOU ARE THE HON RE. -- WHEN YOU ARE THE HONOREE AND YOUR FRIENDS COME FORWARD AND SAY KIND THINGS ABOUT YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW THAT SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS ARE OVERLY GENEROUS. IT IS STILL NICE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT YOU. YOU JUST HOPE THAT THEY DON'T SHARE TOO MUCH! [LAUGHTER] AND MAJOR, YOU ALMOST SHARED TOO MUCH! MY FRIENDS HAVE BEEN VERY KIND TO ME TODAY, AND VERY GENEROUS. AND I THANK THEM. LAST YEAR, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 APPEALS FILED WITH THE COURT, AND THE JUSTICES HERE AUTHORED OVER 350 OPINIONS. THAT MAKES US ONE OF THE BUSIEST COURTS IN THE NATION. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS WORK IS DONE OUT OF THE PUBLIC'S VIEW AND WITHOUT MUCH FANFARE, NORMALLY GARNERING LITTLE PUBLIC ATTENTION. IN FACT, WE ARE DEFINED NOT SO MUCH BY THE WORK WE DO DAILY BUT BY THE FEW HIGH PROFILE CASES THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DRAW MEDIA ATTENTION. THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE US BY SIGHT CAN LEAD TO SOME RATHER HUMOROUS SITUATIONS SOMETIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, I WAS COMING THROUGH A PUBLIC CHECKOUT LINE, AND THE LADY IN FRONT OF ME KEPT STARING, AND FINALLY SHE COULD CONTAIN HERSELF NO LONGER, SO SHE GOT CLOSER TO ME AND JUST BLURTED OUT "YOU ARE SOMEBODY! WHO ARE YOU!" [LAUGHTER] ON ANOTHER OCCASION, I WAS COMING BACK FROM LUNCH ACROSS THE STREET, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO JOIN A PICKET LINE IN FRONT OF THE COURT. IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY WERE PROTESTING AN OPINION THAT I HAD WRITTEN! [LAUGHTER] SO I PRETTYLY -- SO I POLITELY DECLINED THE INVITE ARTION -- THE INVITATION, BUT NOT A SINGLE PICKET MEMBER RECOGNIZED ME AS A MEMBER OF THE COURT. OF COURSE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN, IS THE 2000 ELECTION, WHEN GORE AND BUSH CAME TO FLORIDA TO DUKE IT OUT, AND SATELLITE CITY GREW UP RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MY WINDOW. THE COURT BECAME A RELUCTANT PARTICIPANT IN THE BATTLE OF THE TITANS, AND OUR PICTURES FLASHED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ALL OVER THE WORLD, REALLY. I RECEIVED CALLS AND LETTERS FROM COUSINS I HAD NEVER HEARD OF, OLD ARMY BUDDIES, HIGH SCHOOL SWEET HEARTS, TOTAL STRANGERS, AND ALL FROM NEAR AND FAR, AND OF COURSE THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE CASE, WHICH I COULDN'T DO, SO THE NET RESULT WAS THAT I MADE MORE ENEMIES THAN FRIENDS, BUT NOTWITHSTANDING THESE PEAKS AND VALLEYS, I CAN SAY WITHOUT HESITATION, THAT I HAVE ENJOYED EVERYDAY THAT I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AS A MEMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT. I CAN THINK OF NO JOB THAT I WOULD RATHER HAVE. I AM UNABLE TO THINK OF A DAY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ANXIOUS US TO ARRIVE AT WORK. -- ANXIOUS TO ARRIVE AT WORK. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT IS AN EASY JOB OR ONE THAT CAN BE TAKEN LIGHTLY: IN POINT OF FACT, IT IS AN EXTREMELY DEMANDING AND, AT TIMES, STRESSFUL JOB. YET I CAN'T THINK OF A JOB MORE PROFESSIONALLY SATISFYING OR REWARDING. I COULD NOT HAVE REMAINED ON THE COURT AS LONG AS I HAVE, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT, LOVE, AND COOPERATION OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE. ALEX HALEY EXPRESSED IT RATHER WELL, WHEN HE SAID "IF YOU EVER SEE A TURTLE SITTING ON A FENCE POST, YOU KNOW HE DIDN'T GET THERE BY HIMSELF." WITH YOUR INDULGENCE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THE DAY POSSIBLE. FIRST, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF MY FAMILY, I WOULD NOT BE HERE. IF THEY WOULD RISE AS I CALL THEIR NAMES AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO MEET THEM. JERRY, MY OLDEST SON AND HIS FAMILY. LEANNE AND PEGGY. SHERRI AND HER FAMILY. DEION AND HER FAMILY. DAWN AND HER FAMILY. THEIR MOTHER, DELORES SHAW, AND, OF COURSE, MY YOUNGEST SON, SEAN, WHO DOESN'T HAVE A FAMILY YET AND IS ENTIRELY TOO HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE WITH THAT STATE OF AFFAIRS! [LAUGHTER] HOWEVER, I SEE THAT HE HAS A LOVELY YOUNG LADY WITH HIM TODAY, SO THERE IS HOPE! THEN THERE IS MY SISTER, JACQUE, WHO HAS COME ALL THE WAY FROM PHILADELPHIA WITH HER SON, MARK, AND HER DAUGHTER, LYNN. THANK YOU ALL [APPLAUSE] I HAVE BEEN UNUSUALLY FORTUNATE IN HAVING A LOYAL AND DEDICATED OFFICE STAFF, TOLOGY DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO GET THE JOB DONE. -- OFFICE STAFF, WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO GET THE JOB DONE, AND THIS OFTEN MEANT WORKING AFTER HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS. IN FACT, IT IS RARE FOR ME TO COME INTO THE OFFICE ON A WEEKEND AND NOT FIND SOMEONE WORKING IN MY SUITE. IF THEY WILL STAND AS I CALL THEIR NAMES. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO MEET MY STAFF. AT THE TOP OF THIS PYRAMID, IS JEAN HENDRY, WHO YOU SAW EARLIER. [APPLAUSE] JEAN IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER. SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME THE 20 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN ON THE BENCH, AND SHE IS THAT SYRUP I SOUTHERN VOICE THAT -- THAT SYRUPY SOUTHERN VOICE THAT YOU HEAR WHEN YOU CALL MY OFFICE. SHE WAS MY JA WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE COURT, AND SHE HAS SOMEHOW TOLERATED ME FOR LO THESE 20 YEARS, BUT I AM AFRAID IT HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON JEAN, BECAUSE SHE IS RETIRING ALONG WITH ME. [APPLAUSE] WE CAME IN TOGETHER, AND WE ARE GOING OUT TOGETHER. THANK YOU, JEAN. THANK YOU. AND, JEAN, IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM NOW, I CAN KEEP A SECRET, ALSO. THERE ARE SOME OTHER FOLKS HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU.

OF COURSE MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. ON BEHALF OF JUSTICE SHAW AND HIS FORMER AND PRESENT STAFF ATTORNEYS, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, JEAN, TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HAVE MEANT TO US OVER THE YEARS. YOU HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A CO-WORKER. AT TIMES YOU HAVE BEEN A MOTHER. YOU HAVE BEEN ALWAYS A FRIEND, AND DEFINITELY A CONFIDANTE. AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU LOVE THE FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES, WE WANT TO GIVE THIS GIFT TO YOU IN HONOR OF YOUR RETIREMENT. [APPLAUSE]

FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL WHO CAN'T SEE IT, IT IS A DIAMOND AND GOLD BRACELET AND EARRINGS WITH GARNET STONES TO MATCH HER GARNET AND GOLD FSU SPIRIT. [APPLAUSE]

JUSTICE SHAW: AND THERE IS JOHN KISER WHO, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT. [APPLAUSE] WHO HAS BEEN WITH ME ALMOST AS LONG AS JEAN. HE HAS BEEN WITH ME 14 YEARS. HE HAS BEEN MY ELBOW AID, MY RIGHT ARM, AN EXCELLENT AIDAN A TRUE FRIEND, AND I AM GOING TO -- AN EXCELLENT AIDE, AND A TRUE FRIEND, AND I AM GOING TO MISS NOT SHARING THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES WITH HIM EVERYDAY. JOHN, THANKS FOR 14 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE AND MOST OF ALL, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU YOU. [APPLAUSE] ROUNDING OUT MY OFFICE STAFF, ARE LILY VAN WHITTLE AND CARLA ELLIS, WHO HAVE NOT BEEN WITH ME QUITE AS LONG BUT WHO ARE JUST AS DEDICATED, JUST AS LOYAL AND JUST AS APPRECIATED. PRESENTLY SERVING AN EX-TERN SHIP AND DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IS TANIKA CUNNINGHAM FROM THE MIAMI UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL. PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] SEVERAL OF MY PAST STAFF ATTORNEYS HAVE HONORED ME TODAY WITH THEIR PRESENCE. I SEE JIM ROGERS, LINDER SMITH, STAND. LET PEOPLE SEE YOU. SUZANNE HOOD, GAIL FERGUSON, VINCENT ATTARI, TONY MORE AND, THANK YOU FOR COMING, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK WE DID TOGETHER. [APPLAUSE] THEN THERE ARE THE EXTERNS THAT HAVE COME INTO THE OFFICE AND HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE IN SOME OF THE LARGER AND MORE PRESTIGIOUS LAW FERPS IN THE STATE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW -- LAW FIRMS IN THE STATE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM, WHEN I SEE THEM COME BACK AS ACCOMPLISHED LAWYERS WHO DO CREDIT TO THEIR CRAFT. IF THEY WOULD STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. [APPLAUSE] THIS IS A LITTLE LONGER SPEECH THAN I INTENDED TO GIVE, BUT THERE ARE JUST SO MANY, MANY PEOPLE THAT I OWE SO MUCH TO, BEGINNING WITH GOVERNOR AS SKEW. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GOVERNOR, STAND. THEY ALL KNOW YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE GOVERNOR BROUGHT ME BACK TO TALLAHASSEE, WITH THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION. GOVERNOR GRAHAM, WHO CAN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT WHO APPOINTED ME TO THE COURT, AND THE MANY FINE JUSTICES WHOM I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE WITH. I SEE MANY OF THEM HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT FAMILY THAT I WORKED WITH ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WHO HAVE MADE MY TENURE WITH THE COURT SUCH A PLEASURE. THANK YOU ALL, FOR SHARING THIS DAY WITH ME. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE ARE ABOUT AT THE END BUT NOT QUITE THERE YET. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE ALL OF THE, WE ARE FORTUNATE TODAY TO HAVE MANY OF THE FORMER JUSTICES OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT HERE INJUSTICE SHAW'S HONOR. WOULD ALL OF YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED BY THIS AUDIENCE, FOR YOUR WONDERFUL SERVICE TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA. [APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, EACH SESSION OF THIS COURT, WHETHER IT IS OFFICIAL BUSINESS OR CEREMONIAL, LIKE TODAY, IS OPEN BY THE MARSHAL, AND HE ALWAYS ASKS GOD TO BLESS THIS COURT, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA. WELL, THIS COURT AND THIS STATE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE SHAW, AND SO TODAY WE CLOSE THIS HISTORIC SESSION BY ASKING GOD TO BLESS OUR COLLEAGUE, LEANDER J SHAW JR.. THIS SESSION IS ADJOURNED. [APPLAUSE]