CHIEF JUSTICE: FIND A MENTOR, TO HELP GUIDE YOU. IT COULD BE ANOTHER LAWYER IN YOUR FIRM. OR A LAWYER WHO YOU RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITY, OR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE IN'S OF COURT. WHATEVER THE ORGANIZATION, NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A PRIVILEGE AND THAT IN GRANTING THIS PRIVILEGE, COMES A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. THE OTHER HALF IS I ASK YOU TO EMBRACE FROM THE START, IS COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO ACTIVITIES. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE NUMBER OF FLORIDA LAWYERS THAT CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH IN TERMS OF HOURS AND DOLLARS LAST YEAR, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT MANY OF THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS COME FROM YOUNG LAWYERS LIKE YOURSELVES, SO NOT ONLY IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS A GOOD HABIT TO GET IN FROM THE START, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THAT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL FIND VERY REWARDING. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, FROM THIS BEGINNING DAY OF YOUR LEGAL CAREERS, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU TO KEEP THESE WORDS IN MIND AS YOU ENTER THE PRACTICE OF LAW. STRIVE FOR THE BEST, AND YOU WILL BE THE BEST. REMEMBER THAT, WITHOUT YOUR WORK, THE NOBLEEST CONCEPTS OF JUSTICE WILL BE MERE AND EXTRACTIONS, UNAVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY WORLD, THE MOST BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OUR DEMOCRACY EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW AND THE RIGHTS GRANTED TO ALL PERSONS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, ARE MEANINGFUL, ONLY INSOFAR AS LAWYERS MAKE THEM REAL, DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE KELLY OVERSTREET JOHNSON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR, TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND MAKE REMARKS.

THANK YOU, CHIEF JUSTICE. CHIEF JUSTICE. MEMBERS OF THE COURT, FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MY NEWEST COLLEAGUES, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STANDING HERE. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR, WHICH NOW NUMBER 76,000, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU OUR CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY. THERE IS A CHINESE PROVERB THAT SAYS, TO KNOW THE ROAD AHEAD, ASK THOSE COMING BACK. SO AS YOU BEGIN YOUR CAREER IN THE LAW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE LAWYERS WHO HAVE PRACTICED FOR QUITE A WHILE. I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO ECOSOME OF THE THINGS THAT CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE HAS SAID, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK IN ADVANCE, SO THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT COULD LEARN FROM LISTENING TO THIS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD SOME WONDERFUL MENTORS DURING MY LEGAL CAREER, AND I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY. I WAS SITTING WHERE YOU ARE, 22 YEARS AGO, NOT QUITE 31 BUT LONG ENOUGH, AND IN MANY WAYS, AS I AM SURE IT IS FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN PRACTICING A WHILE, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN THAT MANY YEARS. IT WILL GO VERY FAST. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THREE VERY BRIEF PIECES OF ADVICE THAT I HOPE YOU WILL FIND USEFUL AS YOU BEGIN YOUR EXCITING CAREER. FIRST, BE PREPARED FOR THE LONG HAUL. PRACTICING LAW OFTENTIMES CAN BE A REAL ENDURANCE CONTEST. DON'T TAKE SHORT CUTS, AND NEVER FORGET THAT, IN EVERY CASE, THERE ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH VERY REAL LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS AT STAKE. SECOND, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT YOU MUST BE GOOD COMMUNICATEORS TO BE GOOD LAWYERS. ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES IS GOING TO BE TO EDUCATE YOUR CLIENTS ABOUT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT. THIS MEANS RETURNING YOUR PHONE CALLS, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS, AND LET ME TELL YOU THERE WILL BE LOTS OF THEM, INCLUDING WHY DO YOU BILL ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU ON THE TELEPHONE. COPY THEM WITH YOUR CORRESPONDENCE AND YOUR MOTIONS, EXPLAIN HOW THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO WORK AND HOW THEY WILL BE BILLED. LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON THEIR CASE AND THAT THEIR CASE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. THE SINGLE BEST THING YOU CAN REMEMBER TODAY FROM MY REMARKS ANYWAY, IS COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS. MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT, TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS, YOU WILL HAVE MORE SATISFIED CLIENTS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL, ALSO, HOPEFULLY BE AMONG THOSE LAWYERS WHO NEVER HAVE A BAR GRIEVANCE FILED AGAINST YOU. LET ME TELL YOU THAT, WHEN YOU LOSE A CASE AND YOU THINK BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOST YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOUR CLIENT, AND YOU ARE GOING TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, THAT IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER. THAT SHOULD BE THE VERY FIRST CALL YOU MAKE. IF YOU HAVE BAD NEWS OR GOOD NEWS, TALK TO YOUR CLIENTS. FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT UNDERLYING EVERYTHING WE DO AS LAWYERS, THERE MUST BE A COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING PROFESSIONALISM AND CIVILITY. THE OATH YOU TAKE TODAY, YOU WILL SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO BE RESPECTFUL, TO BE HONEST AND TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR AND ANYTHING DISHONORABLE. MANY LAWYERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE IN THE LITIGATION SITUATION, FORGET THAT PART OF YOUR OATH. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRY TO REMEMBER IT. IT IS VERY EASY TO GET WRAPPED UP IN YOUR CASE OR IN YOUR CLIENT'S FEELINGS ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE. DON'T BECOME NASTY TO OPPOSING COUNSEL, DON'T MAKE EVERYTHING A WAR. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, AND IN FACT, OFTENTIMES IF YOU DO THAT, YOU ARE DOING YOUR CLIENT A DISSERVICE. OURS IS A HONORABLE PROFESSION, DEVELOPED FROM YEARS OF EFFORTS BY MANY PEOPLE, TO ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW IN OUR SYSTEM. PLEASE CONTINUE THAT TRADITION. BE AN HONORABLE LAWYER. VOW TO ENHANCE PROFESSIONAL VALUES AND INCREASE RESPECT FOR OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE. I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN BAR ACTIVITY, AND I DON'T SAY THAT BECAUSE I AM PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA BAR. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I DID THAT, ACTUALLY MORE THAN 22 YEARS AGO. I DID IT WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL. OF COURSE I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB AT THE TIME, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A GREAT WAY TO MEET OTHER LAWYERS AND TO FIND MENTORS. YOU WILL MEET PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD NEVER MEET, AND YOU ARE CERTAINLY IN A DIFFERENT SETTING, SO IT GIVES YOU A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP OR A FRIENDSHIP. ALSO, IF YOU SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE A CASE WITH THAT LAWYER, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH EASIER THINGS GET ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT PERSON AND YOU HAVE TO, IN FACT, DEVELOP THE RELATIONSHIP. THERE ARE LOTS OF SPECIALTY BARS. THERE ARE CIRCUIT BARS. THERE ARE WOMEN LAWYER BARS. THERE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BARS. THERE ARE HISPANIC BARS. PICK ONE THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN SEVERAL. IT IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU, SOME THOUGHTS ON PROFESSIONISM FROM MY GOOD FRIEND, SENATOR RODNEY SMITH FROM GAINESVILLE. IN ADDITION TO BEING A LEGISLATIVE LEADER IN FLORIDA, RODNEY TEACHES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF LAW. IN FACT, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HAD HIM AS A PROFESSOR. HE IS ALSO A FORMER PROSECUTOR AND HAS HANDLED MANY DIFFICULT CASES, BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL. SPEAKING TO AN AUDIENCE PRIMARILY OF BAR LEADERS AND FLORIDA JUDGES THIS PAST SUMMER, RODNEY SAID THAT OUR PROFESSIONISM SUFFERS FROM A WIN-AT-ALL-COST MENTALITY THAT TOO MANY YOUNG LAWYERS ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT, AND I DARESAY IT IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST YOUNG LAWYERS. WE ALL HAVE THAT ISSUE. HE SAYS THE ROLE OF THE LAWYER IS ADVOCACY AND EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION WITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONISM. IN THE AGE OF FOX NEWS, COURT TV AND TALK RADIO, THERE IS A RISK THAT LAWYERING WILL BE SUBVERTED TO CULT PERSONALITIES RATHER THAN HONORED AND RESPECTED AS PROFESSION. TO BE A PROFILE IN COURAGE, WE MUST SHOW A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT DEFEAT WHILE STRIVING TO SUSTAIN OR EVEN EXPAND JUSTICE. SENATOR SMITH HAD IT RIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY YOU HAVE BECOME LAWYERS. EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS HAPPEN. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF THIS SPECIAL DAY. I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS IN YOUR CAREER. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE YOUR BAR PRESIDENT. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU, MS.^JOHNSON, AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DEAN LeBOEUF OF THE TALLAHASSEE BAR ASSOCIATION.

THANK, MADAM JUSTICE, JUSTICES OF THE COURT AND MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. I AM YOUR IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT FOR THE TALLAHASSEE BAR ASSOCIATION. OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT IS OFF DOING GOOD THING INS PANAMA RIGHT NOW, ON BEHALF OF THE BAR. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ON BEHALF OF HER AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TALLAHASSEE BAR ASSOCIATION, TO THIS PROFESSION. I KNOW IT IS A VERY EXCITING DAY FOR YOU. YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HAPPY YOU ARE HERE. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR YOU TO GET THROUGH LAW SCHOOL, ARE, I AM SURE, VERY HAPPY TODAY. SOME OF YOU MAY BE THINKING ABOUT THE FAMOUS LINE FROM THE MOVIE "JERRY MAGUIRE", YOU KNOW, THE ONE FROM CUBA GOODING JR., "SHOW ME THE MONEY." WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH LAW SCHOOL AND THE BAR EXAM, IF YOU ARE THINKING THAT, YOU HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. IT IS NOT BECAUSE YOU WON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL FINANCIALLY IN THIS CAREER. IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT. YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON A PROFESSION AND A CAREER THAT GIVES YOU UNLIMITED ABILITY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE. IT GIVES YOU A TRUE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE WORLD. IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO FIGHT THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS, AND TO RIGHT THE LARGEST IN JUSTICES. IT IS A OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE, IF YOU ENTER IT WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE. AS I HAVE GIVEN THIS TALK, I REFLECTED UPON WHAT GUIDANCE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. ETHICS, I THINK, ARE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR HEART. WE HAVE IN OUR SOUL. IT IS A MATTER OF DOING WHAT IS RIGHT. SO I AM HIM GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH TWO THINGS THAT I THINK WILL HELP YOU DO THE RIGHT THING. THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER IS, AS YOU ARE FACED WITH THE MANY CHALLENGES OF THIS PROFESSION, AS YOU ARE FACED WITH THE TEMPTATION TO TAKE THE SHORTCUT, AS YOU ARE FACED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND WIN AT ALL COSTS, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE, WHETHER IT BE YOUR MOTHER, YOUR FATHER, YOUR MENTOR, IS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER. AND THEY ARE EVALUATING AND REVIEWING EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING. AND IF YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU MAKE THE MANY DIFFICULT CHOICES YOU WILL MAKE IN THIS PROFESSION, I AM CONVINCED YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. SECOND OF ALL, I WOULD URGE YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER WHAT KELLY HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU, AND THAT IS JOIN A LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION. AS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE TBA, IF YOU STAY HERE OR EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT HERE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS A MEMBER. LAWYERS PROVIDE A TREMENDOUS SERVICE, NOT ONLY TO THE COMMUNITY BUT TO ONE ANOTHER. AND WORKING TOGETHER AND PULLING TOGETHER TO DO THE RIGHT THING, IS VERY IMPORTANT. AS A YOUNG LAWYER, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU WORK WITH AND RECEIVE MENTORING FROM A SENIOR ATTORNEY. THEY CAN HELP YOU THROUGH THE TOUGH SPOTS. THEY MAY BE THAT SURROGATE MOTHER AND FATHER STANDING OVER YOUR SHOULDERS. THEY CAN HELP YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS PROFESSION ON IN THE DIRECTION IT NEEDS TO HEAD, TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS SUMMER, TO HOST SEVERAL LAWYERS FROM RUSSIA. AND THEN I WENT TO RUSSIA THIS SUMMER AND WAS ABLE TO PERSONALLY WITNESS THE STRUGGLE THEY ARE HAVING IN THAT COUNTRY, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IS THEIR INABILITY TO ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN THIS COUNTRY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE. IT TAKES A LIFETIME TO DEVELOP A GOOD REPUTATION AND ONLY A MOMENT TO RUIN IT. SO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND CELEBRATE TODAY, I WOULD URGE YOU ALL AS YOU MAKE THE MANY DECISIONS YOU MAKE AS NEW LAWYERS, THAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND CONSIDER YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER, WATCHING YOUR DECISIONS, AND I AM SURE YOU WILL MAKE THEM PROUD. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: NOW WE HAVE HAD KELLY'S THREE THINGS AND DEAN'S TWO THINGS, SO WE ARE GOING TO BE TESTING YOU AT THE END, ABOUT THE THINGS YOU ARE EXPECTED TO REMEMBER. AND NOW WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE FROM THE JUDGE OF THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, AN OUTSTANDING LAWYER BEFORE HE WENT ON THE BENCH AND NOW AN OUTSTANDING JURIST IN THE STATE, JUDGE EDWARD BROWNING.

MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE, MEMBERS OF THE COURTS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND CANDIDATES. DEAN DIDN'T KNOW IT, BUT HE ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK, WHEN HE HAD HIS OPENING LINE, WHEN HE SAID SOME OF YOU MAY BE TALKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT A MOVIE TODAY. LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT THE CENTRAL PART OF THE TALK THAT I AM GOING TO GIVE, CENTERS AROUND A MOVIE, AND I SAID, IF HE SAYS "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD", I AM GOING OUT THE BACK DOOR. HE DIDN'T, THANK GOODNESS. [LAUGHTER] ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I WAS READING "USA TODAY", AND I NOTED WITH CONSIDERABLE INTEREST, THAT THAT UPN WAS GOING TO CONDUCT A POLL, ON THE MOST HEROIC ROLE EVER DEPICTED IN THE MOVIES. I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN BEFORE TELEVISION. ANY OF YOU CAN'T REALIZE THAT, THE FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE WAS THE THING, SO I IMMEDIATELY BECAME INTERESTED IN THIS AND SAID, WELL, I CAN SURELY CHOOSE THE MOST HEROIC ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOVIES, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MANY OF THEM. GUESS WHAT. I PICKED GARY COOPER IN "HIGH NOON". UNFORTUNATELY AND SOMEWHAT TO MY DISMAY, I WAS WRONG. WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THE WINNER, I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A ROLE PLAYED BY THE GREAT ACTOR GREGORY PECK, IN "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD", WHERE HE PORTRAYED A SMALL TOWN WHITE COUNTRY LAWYER WHO PRACTICED IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA, BY THE NAME OF ATICUS FINCH. ATICUS FINCH. ATICUS FINCH, IN THIS BOOK, WAS CHARGED TO DEFEND A BLACK MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE BY A WHITE WOMAN AND HER FAMILY. HE OBVIOUSLY, AS THE MOVIE UNFOLDED, WAS NOT GUILTY. AND YOU KNOW, AT FIRST GLANCE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE ROLE OF ATICUS FINCH, YOU WONDER WHY IT IS SO HEROIC. HE DIDN'T EVEN WIN THE CASE. HE DIDN'T EVEN GET PAID, OF ALL OF THE HORRORS FOR A LAWYER. BUT WHAT HE DID DO, WAS BY THAT PERFORMANCE, HE PORTRAYED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TOUCHED THEIR SPRINGS OF JUSTICE, WHAT IS ADMIRABLE IN A LAWYER IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WHAT YOU WILL BECOME TODAY. IN MANY WAYS, THAT MOVIE IS INSTRUCTIVE, AND I AM NOT TRYING TO BE A MOVIE CRITIC, BUT THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WILL NOTE, THAT WHEN ATICUS FINCH WAS APPOINTED TO REPRESENT HIS CLIENT, HE NEVER ASKED ABOUT THE FEE. HE SAYS, I ACCEPT THE APPOINTMENT. ATICUS FINCH DID NOT CONSIDER WHAT THE MAJORITY IN HIS COMMUNITY MIGHT THINK AT THAT TIME. I REMEMBER THIS WAS SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA IN 1932. A BLACK CITIZEN'S WORD WAS NOT CONSIDERED WORTHY OF BELIEF IN THE COURTROOM AND CERTAINLY NO WHITE LAWYER WAS GOING TO STAND UP AND ADVOCATE THAT THE WORD AFTER BLACK CITIZEN, WAS AS GOOD AS OR BETTER THAN, DEPENDING ON THE FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, THAN THAT OF A WHITE PERSON. THESE THINGS, PEOPLE SAW AND ADMIRED WHEN THEY SAW THIS MOVIE. BUT IN A LARGER SENSE, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE REALLY SAW AND DEEMED HEROIC, WAS JUST AN ORDINARY LAWYER AT HIS BEST, STANDING UP IN OUR SYSTEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ENTER TODAY, AND ANSWERING THAT GREAT CHALLENGE, TO SEE THAT ALL MEN ARE TREATED EQUAL UNDER THE LAW, AND PROCLAIMING BY HIS ACTIONS, THAT OUR SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE BASED, SHOULD NOT BASE ITS DECISIONS ON RACE, WEALTH, SOCIAL RANK, OR POLITICS. BUT ON THE TRUTH OF THE FACTS OF CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE INDIVIDUAL CASE. YOU HAVE A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE HERE TODAY. YOU ARE ASSIGNED AND WILL ASSUME THE SAME ROLE THAT ATICUS FINCH PLAYED IN A MANNER THAT MOST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TAKE AS THE MOST HEROIC ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CENTURY OF MOVIES. NOW, YOU ARE SAYING DON'T GO OVERBOARD HERE, JUDGE BROWNING. THAT WAS A SIMPLER TIME, WHEN RIGHT AND WRONG WAS CLEARLY DEFINED, AND THERE ARE NO MORE GREAT CHALLENGES, BUT I SUBMIT TO YOU TODAY, THAT THE CHALLENGES ARE JUST AS GREAT AND JUST AS PLAIN AS THEY WERE IN 1932. RACISM STILL EXISTS. PEOPLE ARE MORE HYPOCRITICAL ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS STILL THERE, IN THE GREAT CONCENTRATION OF SPECIAL-INTEREST MONEY, SEEKS TO IMPACT OUR COURTS AND MOLD THEM TO ITS WILL. SOME IN OUR SOCIETY WOULD TURN OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE INTO JUST ANOTHER POLITICAL ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT, DISPENSING RULINGS ON THE BASIS OF POLITICS, RATHER THAN THE FACTS OF THE CASE. SO DO NOT DESPAIR, AS DID ALEXANDER THE GREAT, THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER WORLDS TO CONQUER. THEY ARE THERE. IT IS UP TO YOU, TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE, AND THAT IS THE CHALLENGE I GIVE YOU TO YOU TODAY, THAT YOU BECOME THE ATICUS FINCH OF YOUR DAY. IF YOU DO, I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL BE RICH. THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE HAPPY. OR THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS RECEIVE THE ACCOLADES OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS. CERTAINLY ATICUS'S FAMILY DID NOT. HIS FAMILY SUFFERED SEVERE CRITICISM FOR HIS DEFENSE IN THE CASE, BUT I WILL SUGGEST THAT, IF YOU DO MEET THESE CHALLENGES IN YOUR DAY AS A LAWYER, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A FEELING OF SOLEMN PRIDE THAT WILL GIVE YOU PEACE AND SATISFACTION. THE SAME FEELING THAT I AM SURE THAT ATICUS FINCH MUST HAVE FELT WHEN HE WALKED OUT OF THAT COURTROOM AND HE LOST THAT RAPE CASE, CLIENT FOUND GUILTY, AND YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE COURTROOM CLEARED, AND HE GATHERED HIS BOOKS UP, I AM SURE DESPONDENT BECAUSE HE HAD LOST, AND ALL OF THE BLACK CITIZENS WHO WERE REQUIRED TO SIT UP IN THE BALCONY IN THOSE DAYS, THAT WAS THE CODE OF SEGREGATION, THANK GOODNESS IT IS GONE BUT SOME OF US REMEMBER IT, AND AS HE STARTED SLOWLY OUT OF THE COURTROOM TO LEAVE TO GO HOME, ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ALL OF THE BLACK CITIZENS IN THAT BALCONY, STOOD IN SILENT TRIBUTE TO HIS STERLING CHARACTER AND PROFESSIONISM, AND THEN TO ACCENTUATE THAT GREAT SCENE, THE BLACK MINISTER THERE LOOKED DOWN, AND THERE WAS ATICUS'S DAUGHTER SITTING DOWN, AND HE SAID TO HER, STAND UP, STAND UP. YOUR FATHER IS PASSING. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. I WANT TO LEAVE ONE HOPE WITH YOU. I HOPE THAT, WHEN YOU ASSUME THIS OATH TODAY, THAT YOU WILL FULFILL IT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE AND FEEL AN IMPULSE TO STAND UP AS YOU PASS, BECAUSE OF YOUR PROFESSIONISM AND CHARACTER. GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU, JUDGE BROWNING, FOR THOSE VERY MOVING REMARKS. I AM SURE THAT THOSE IN THIS AUDIENCE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR COMMENTS AND THE PASSION WITH WHICH YOU DELIVERED THEM. SO THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A SPECIAL SPEAKER, BECAUSE SHE WAS CHOSEN AS THE PERSON TO REPRESENT ALL OF YOU, AND THAT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR, AND TODAY THAT PERSON IS DIANA KATHERINE BOLLING, AND SHE WILL MAKE REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE NEWLY-ADMITTED LAWYERS, OR TO-BE-ADMITTED.

THANK YOU, CHIEF JUSTICE. MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR FOR ALL OF US, TO BE HERE TODAY IN THIS HALLOWED INSTITUTION, WHICH REPRESENTS THE VERY HIGHEST IDEALS OF OUR PROFESSION. AS I AM HUMBLED TO BE ASK TO SPEAK OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS FINE GROUP OF INCOMING LAWYERS, AT THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF A LONG AND ARDUOUS JOURNEY, THROUGH YEARS OF STUDY AT LAW SCHOOL, MONTHS OF BAR REVIEW COURSES AND DAYS OF FRANTIC CRAMMING, IN THOSE FINAL MOMENTS IN TAMPA. I, FOR ONE, CANNOT SAY THAT I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO GO BACK INSIDE THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER, WITHOUT EXPERIENCING SOME AMOUNT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA. [LAUGHTER]

IT IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE MADE THIS JOURNEY ALONE. ALL OF US HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO THANK FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY PARENTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, AND MY STUDY PARTNER JOEL SMITH. WITH THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT AND THROUGH OUR OWN HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION, WE HAVE MANAGED TO PASS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AND RIGOROUS TESTS IN THE COUNTRY, AND NOW WE BEGIN A NEW JOURNEY, AND THE MORE REVEALING TEST. WHAT KIND OF LAWYERS WILL WE CHOOSE TO BE. WILL WE DO JUSTICE TO THE OATH WE ARE ALL ABOUT TO TAKE? IT IS SAID THAT TO THOSE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED, AND ON THIS DAY OF DAYS, MUCH IS INDEED GIVEN TO US. TODAY THE POWER INHERENT IN OUR NOBLE PROFESSION, TO USE THE LAWS OF THIS LAND AS THE TOOLS OF OUR TRADE, TOOLS WITH WHICH WE SHAPE AND SCULPT THE CONTOURS OF OUR SOCIETY. THE LAW TOUCHES EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. AND WITH IT, WE HAVE THE POWER TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF THOSE WE SERVE. AND SO AS WE ARE GIVEN THIS INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TODAY, LET US REMEMBER THAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO USE IT FOR GRACE AND GOOD PURPOSES. THAT THE HIGHEST PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEED, TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE, AND TO STRIFE ALWAYS, FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE. TO BE MORE CONCRETE, THE FLORIDA RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, SUGGEST EACH MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR PERFORM 20 HOURS OF PRO BONO WORK EACH YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. SIGNIFICANTLY, THIS PROVISION IS NOT WRITTEN IN MANDATORY LANGUAGE. IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT. THERE ARE NO SANCTIONS FOR FAILING TO FULFILL IT. HOWEVER, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOUND IN THOSE RULES. ONE THAT WILL ENRICH OUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES, IF WE CHOOSE FREELY TO FOLLOW IT. I HOPE THAT WE WILL ALL CHOOSE TO FULFILL AND EXCEED THIS SUGGESTION, BECAUSE SERVING, BECAUSE THOSE LAWYERS SERVING THE PUBLIC SEE THAT IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT. INSTEAD IT IS OUR GREATEST PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THE COURT WILL NOW RECOGNIZE JERRY RIGSBY, ONE OF THE IN INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE, SINCE JERRY RIGSBY IS A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR BOARD OF EXAMINERS, ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT SERVES COUNTLESS HOURS, TO MAKE THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ALL FIT AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, AND SO NOW, MR. RIGSBY, IF YOU WOULD. AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE HARDEST TASK OF GOING THROUGH ALL THESE NAMES.

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 RIGSLY 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 SUBJECT TO SEARCHING CHARACTER AND FITNESS INVESTIGATIONS. 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 FLORIDA BAR. THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU ARE --

CHIEF JUSTICE: AND AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE STAND UP AND REMAIN STANDING. [LAST NAMES OF APPLICANTS WERE READ] WE MOVE THEIR ADMISSION AT THIS TYPE, YOUR HONOR.

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU. THE COURT ACCEPTS YOUR ADMISSION AND IT IS GRANTED. THE MOMENT HAS NOW COME FOR YOUR FINAL MOMENT IN THE STEP OF THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A LAWYER, AND THAT IS YOUR OATH OF ADMISSION. I SEE THAT YOU ARE ALL TURNING TO WHERE IT IS IN YOUR PROGRAM, AND WE DO THAT IN THE REASON, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MOMENT, FIRST OF ALL WE DIDN'T REQUIRE YOU TO MEMORIZE IT. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD TEND TO FORGET, BUT THE OATH IS THERE TO REMIND YOU THAT THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, OF OUR PROFESSION, AND THE OATH THAT YOU ARE TAKING, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL NOT FORGET, AND YOU WILL, EACH OF YOU, BECOME FULL PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF THE BAR, BOTH IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND WITH THAT, I WILL, YOU ARE ALL STANDING, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND 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 CAUSE CONFIDED TO ME, SUCH MEANS ONLY AS ARE CONSISTENT WITH TRUTH AND HONOR. AND I WILL NEVER SEEK TO MISLEAD THE JUDGE OR JURY BY ANY ARTIFICE OR FALSE STATEMENT OF FACTS OR LAW. I WILL MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENCE AND PRESERVE INVIOLATE, THE SECRETS OF MY CLIENTS, AND WILL ACCEPT NO COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR BUSINESS, EXCEPT FROM THEM OR WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL. I WILL ABSTAIN FROM ALL OFFENSIVE PERSONALITY AND ADVANCE NO FACTS, PREJUDICIAL TO THE HONOR OR REPUTATION OF A PARTY OR WITNESS, UNLESS REQUIRED TO DO SO 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 LUCRE OR MALICE. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU. YOU ARE NOW MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR! [APPLAUSE] AND I WOULD LIKE EACH OF YOU TO TURN TO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE NOT STANDING BUT ARE SEATED. WE PRESUME THAT THOSE ARE YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SPOUSES, YOUR LOVED ONES, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS, AND PLEASE TURN TO THEM AND LET'S GIVE THEM A GREAT ROUND OF APPLAUSE, FOR RECOGNIZING THEIR FAITH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND BE SEATED. WE ARE AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY, AND WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE EACH OF YOU, ON THE START OF YOUR NEW CAREERS, WITH ALL OF THE ADVICE THAT WE HAVE HEARD TODAY, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE IT TO HEART AND TAKE IT AS SOMETHING THAT YOU LIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN, AND THERE WILL BE A PHOTOGRAPH IN THE FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE, AT THE FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT, WHERE THE JUSTICES WILL CONVENE, AND WE ASK THAT JUST MEMBERS OR THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR EXIT FIRST. AS YOU ARE EXITING, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK, WHEN YOU TAKE THIS PICTURE AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GO INTO THE LAWYER'S LOUNGE, YOU WILL SEE A PHOTOGRAPH OF A CLASS FROM ABOUT 40-PLUS YEARS AGO, AND THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THAT CLASS, THAT PHOTOGRAPH, IS BECAUSE STANDING NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER ON THE STEPS OF THIS VERY BUILDING, WAS JUSTICE SHAW, JUSTICE HARDING, TWO OF OUR WONDERFULLY FINE JUSTICES THAT SAT ON THIS COURT FOR MANY YEARS AND SAT SIDE-BY-SIDE, SO THINK ABOUT IT AS YOU LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT AND TO YOUR LEFT, NOT TO THINK AS THEY SAY, WHO IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE TOMORROW, BUT WHO NEXT TO YOU, MAY BE WITH YOURSELF ON THIS COURT OR ASPIRING TO SOME GREAT OFFICE. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT TODAY. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AFTER THAT, THE ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED THEIR OATH SHOULD RETURN TO SIGN THEIR OATH, AND IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO. WITH THAT, THE COURT IS IN RECESS.

MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE.