LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , T HE FLO RIDA S UP REME COU RT .

PLE AS E REM AI N STA ND ING FOR THE PLE DG E O F A LLEG IA NCE .

ALL : I P LEDG E A LLEG IA NC E T O THE F LAG OF T HE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR W HICH I T S TA NDS, ONE NATION , U ND ER G OD , IND IVIS IBLE , W IT H L IB ERTY A ND J USTI CE F OR ALL. >> NOW Y OU M AY S IT .

PLEASE B E SEAT ED .

I W OULD F IRST L IK E T O C AL L U PO N THE R EV EREN D D r. TOM P RI CE T O GIVE T HE I NVOCAT ION.

LE T US PR AY . O H , GOD A S O F OL D AND T HROUGH T HE Y EA RS Y OU 'V E A N NOI NTED L EADE RS , JU DG ES AND P ROPHET S T O GUI DE THE PEO PLE FOR THEIR WELL- BE ING. SO NOW W E B ESEC H YO U T O L AY YOU R G UI DI NG H AND FO R THO SE TO SET A PART IN P LACE S I N G REAT RES PO NSIBIL ITY. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL EXA MPLE S O F G OO D , FA IR , H ONEST GOV ER NMENT. AND ON THIS DAY W E E SPECIALL Y I NV OK E YOUR B LESS IN G O N T HOSE C HA RGED WITH INTER PRETING THE LAW AND ITS MYR IA D A ND OFT EN C OMPLEX MANIF ESTA TION S. W E PRA Y FOR T HI S H ONOR ABLE COU RT A ND T HE C ARRY IN G O UT O F I TS DUT IE S . M AY I T BE AT ALL T IMES W HATE VE R PRE SSURES M IGHT B E E XERTED ON I T A B AST O NO F I NTEGRITY AND I NCORRUPT IBIL ITY A ND COMPASSION. C OMPOSE D O F PEO PLE LO VE YOUR PEOPLE AND CAN WAL K W IT H THEM , W HO E MPAT HI ZE W ITH T HEIR SUFFERING AND S HARE THE IR J OY, WH O D REAM T HEIR DRE AMS AND SEEK T HEIR W ELFA RE . E MBOL DE N T HEM TO STA ND F AS T WHEN P OLIT IC AL P ARTI SA N SH IP W OULD D IL UTE TH E EXP RE SSIO N O F TRU E JU STICE. G IVE THE M D ISCE RNIN G MI ND S , P HYSICA L ENERG Y , BRO AD P ERSPECTIVE , L OFTY E THIC S , A ND DAU NTLE SS C OU RAGE I N THE P URSUIT OF WHAT I S BE ST A ND R IGHT AND HONORAB LE. M AY THE Y B E A ST UT E BUT NOT A RROG AN T ; S ELF- EF FACE !!ING, BUT N OT SUB SERV IE NT ; PAT IENT B UT N OT HOC H Y; STE AD FAST BUT N OT S TOJY ; U PRIG HT BUT NOT U PT IGHT I N THE IR D ELIBER ATION. WE THANK YOU FOR THE IR I NDEP EN DENCE A ND PLE DG E A S A P EOPL E T O D EFEN D T HA T P RINCIPLE . G RANT THEM TH E F REED OM THA T ONLY A COMMITMENT TO A H IGHER A UTHO RITY CAN BES TO W. A ND GIV E THEM THE S ATIS FACTION O F K NOWI NG THAT WHAT THEY D O I S I MP ORTA NT . A ND N OW U PO N H IM W HO HAS B EEN CHO SE N TO P RESI DE OVE R T HIS CO URT I N THE C OMIN G D AYS , WE IMP LORE THE G RANTING O F W IS E L EADE RS HI P Q UALITIES . M AY H E BE FI LLED W IT H DIS CRET ION , SEN SI TIVI TY , O PENNES S , F LEXI BI LITY W HEN IT I S CALL ED F OR, A ND F IR MNES S W HE N THA T IS IN O RDER . A STRON G S EN SE OF DU TY A ND T HE A BIDI NG JOY THA T C OMES F RO M D EV OTED S ER VICE . GRA NT H IM , WE PRA Y, HIS P ROTECTIO N I N Y OUR ST EAD. THE SE THINGS W E P RA Y WIT H H UMBL E T HA NK , AMEN.

AMEN.

I W AN T TO SAY J US T A LITTLE BIT MOR E, I F I MAY, B EFOR E I YIE LD T HI S P RE S S TEJ IOUS POE D - - PRE STIG IOUS P ODIUM . F RED SAI D I COU LD IF I D ID W ITH I T A LACRIT Y. I PRO MISE N OT T O TAK E TOO L ONG AND P RO MISE NOT TO TA KE U P A C OLLE CT IO N, B OT H O F WHI CH P RACTIC ES ARE C OM MONL Y A TTRIBU TED T O M ET HODI ST P REACHERS , OF TEN WIT H CA USE. I T MA Y B E THAT I 'V E KNO WN F RED AND J UD Y L EWIS A S L ONG OR AS LONG A S A NYBO DY H ERE. FIR ST MEE TING THE M WH EN THE Y W ERE UND ER GRAD UATE S TUDE NT S I N L AK ELAND. F RED C AME DOWN F RO M THE H ILLS OF WEST VIR GI NI A TO P LAY B AS KETB AL L A ND T O STU DY AND JUDY WAS A SLO W -E YE D D ARK-HAIR ED S OU TH FLO RI DA B EAUT Y, S TILL IS. AS YOU K NO W. F RED STA RR ED O N T HE B ASKETBALL C OURT , W AS C APTAIN O F T HE TEA M , H IG H S CORER, A ND A S A R ESULT OF BOTH HIS A THLE TI C AND HIS A CADEMI C P RO WE SS W AS N AMED T HE YEA R 'S H ONOR R OL L. Y OU CAN SEE HIS NAM E IN STONE I F Y OU V ISIT . HE DOE SN 'T KNO W THI S , I D ON'T THINK , BUT H E W AS T ALKED ABO UT I N F ACUL TY M EETING S I N D EFER ENTI AL T ONES . SOME OTHER STU DENT S W ER E A LSO T ALKED ABOUT BUT THEY WERE IN A D IF FERE NT CAT EG OR Y O F NOT ORIE TY . W E ALL K NE W FRE D WAS GOI NG P LACES, BUT M OST OF U S T HOUGHT H IS NEX T S POT WO ULD BE O N AN N BA B ENCH , N OT A J UD ICIA L O NE . I H AD THE G RE AT P RI VILE GE O F M ARRYIN G FRED A ND JUD Y I N M IAMI A FTER THE Y G RADU ATED A ND L ATER B APTIZE !!ING ELL E A ND L INDSEY. I GOT TO PARTICI PATE I N E LLE' S W ED DI NG A C OUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BOY, THE TIM E F LIES W HE N Y OU'R E H AV IN G F UN. I FEEL L IK E I KNO W THI S F AMIL Y. I 'VE BEEN TOU CH ED BY THE IR C LOSE M UTUA L S UPPO RT O F EACH O THER , SOMET IMES THR OUGH D IFFI CULT CIR CUMSTANCES. J UDY IS AN ANG EL . A ND FRE D , WHI LE PER HA PS L ES S A NGELIC I N THE T RADI TION AL S ENSE , HAS AS WE KNE W H E W OULD , R ISEN S TE ADIL Y IN T HE F IELD OF LA W T O B EC OM E A J URIST O F P RO MINE NT D IS TINCTION. I'M NOT QUA LIFI ED T O S PEAK O F HIS PRO FE SSIO NA L C E D ENTIAL S , BU T I K NO W F RE D - - CREDE NTIA LS , BU T I K NO W F RED L EWIS , TH E M AN, THE P ER SON, THE H UM AN B EI NG. IN THE WORDS THAT K EE P J UMPING OUT A T M E ARE , I NTEGRITY , P ASSI ON , STE ADIN ES S , D EVOT IO N , U NP RETE NTIOUSNESS , DISCIP LINE , THE COM MO N TOU CH , AND EDUCA TI ONAL Z EA L , SENS E O F F AI RNES S A RES PECT FOR T HE LAW , A COM MI T MON TH THE U NDERDOG. H IS LIFE IS F ILLE D WIT H WO RK , S TUDY, W IDE-RA NG IN G I NTER ESTS , P ER SEV ER ENCE , L OYALTY , L AUGH TE R , LOVE . T HESE A RE N OBLE Q UALI TIES . Q UALI TIES S OR EL Y NEE DE D I N O UR SOC IE TY TOD AY . H E MAY NOT B E Q UITE A RIZO NA SLE EK A BOD Y A S HE W AS A FEW Y EARS BAC K , B UT THE N YOU P ROBABL Y ARE N' T E ITHE R . [ LAUG HTER ]

I 'M D ELIG HTED T HA T FRE D LEW IS HAS B EE N SEL EC TE D T O A SSUME T HI S IMP OR TANT R ESPO NSIB ILITY. I'M H AP PY F OR H IM. I 'M HAP PY FOR H IS F AM ILY. A ND I GUESS M OS T OF ALL , I'M H APPY FOR THE P EOPL E O F F LORIDA . T HIS IS A GOO D DAY , GOD BLE SS YOU. WE KNOW WE' RE I N GOO D HANDS . [APPLAUSE]

D r. PRI CE , THA T WAS NOT I N M Y SC RIPT . AND I'LL F ORGI VE YOU F OR N OT A SK ING , MA Y I T PLE AS E T HE C OURT. NOW M Y S CR IP T DOE S SAY THA T I B EGIN T HI S C EREM ON IA L S ESSION WIT H A B ANG. T HE C ER EMON IA L SES SION OF THE SUPREME COU RT OF F LO RIDA IS N OW OFF IC IA L LY I N SES SION . AND FOR THE NEXT FEW M IN UTES I S TILL A M CHI EF JUS TI CE P ARIENTE P RESI DING , I T I S M Y P LEASUR E TO W ELCOME ALL O F Y OU T HI S AFT ER NOON . A S I S AI D T WO Y EARS A GO , I T IS N O H AP PENS TANC E THA T THE S UPRE ME COURT WOULD PIC K ON E OF THE HOT TE ST DAY S O F T HE Y EAR T O H AV E ITS CHA NG IN G O F T HE GAV EL - - PAS SING O F T HE G AVEL . AND T ODAY IS NO E XCEP TION . A ND S O WE TH AN K Y OU FOR C OMING I NT O OUR C OURT ROOM . I WIL L B E R ECOG NIZING S EVERAL P EOPLE W HO S PEAK , T O M AKE R EM ARKS W HA T I WOU LD F IRST L IK E TO D O , T HO UGH, I S REC OGNIZE T HE F ORME R J USTICE S OF T HIS C OURT T HA T A RE PRE SENT T ODAY . J USTICE SHAW , I SEE , JUS TICE M cDONAL D, I F Y OU'D A LL S TAND. IF THERE ARE ANY J USTI CE S. [ APPL AUSE] J USTICE ENG LA ND. A NY OTHER F ORME R J USTI CE S H IDING U ND ER E VE RYON ES O R W OU LD LIKE T O B E REC OGNI ZE D. A ND I KNOW THA T W E H AV E A A PPOINT ED E LE CTED O FFIC IALS , I SEE S ECRE TARY McD ONOU GH A ND T HE G OV ERNO R'S C OU NS EL , R OCKY ROD RI GUEZ, W E W ELCO ME Y OU . ARE T HERE ANY OTHER M EM BERS OF THE E XECU TIVE B RA NCH HER E T ODAY THA T W OU LD L IKE T O B E A CKNO WL EDGE D A ND R ECOG NIZE D? W ELL , WE W ELCO ME Y OU O N B EHALF O F T HE EXE CUTI VE B RANCH. AND HOW A BOUT ANY O F OUR B RETHRE N I N T HE L EGIS LA TIVE S ECTION OF THE C OURT - - O F T HE STA TE ? ALL RIG HT , WEL L , THE N IT I S O PEN SE AS ON, WE C AN SAY W HATEVER W E WAN T TODA Y. [ LAUGHT ER] THI S I S MY L AS T OPP OR TUNI TY T O S PE AK T O YOU AS C HIEF J USTICE BEFOR E I P AS S T HE M ANTEL OF R ESPONS IB IL IT Y A S HEAD OF F LO RIDA 'S J USTI CE S YSTE M T O M Y C OL LEAG UE A ND M Y F RIEN D FRE D L EW IS . A S I SAI D T WO YEA RS A GO W HE N I ACC EPTE D THE G AVEL F RO M C HIEF J USTI CE A NSTE AD , T HI S C EREMON Y AND T HI S P OS IT ION I S N OT A BOUT ANY ONE I NDIVID UAL , IT IS AB OU T THE I MPORTA NC E OF THE O FF IC E O F C HIEF JUSTI CE . AND IT WAS A DECADE AGO THA T J USTICE K OG AN DEC ID ED THA T T HE C OURT S HO UL D M AK E P UB LI C T HE P AS SING O F T HE G AV EL FROM ONE C HIEF J USTI CE T O A NOTHER. AND SO UNDER THIS C OURT 'S TRA DITI ON O F E LE VATI NG THE S ENIOR JUST ICE WHO HAS N OT YET SERVED I N TH E P OS T OF CHI EF , T OD AY MAR KS THE SIX TH P ASSING O F THE GAV EL C EREMON Y S IN CE 1 996. B EFORE 1926 AND I T H AS B EE N A T RADI TI ON THA T THE J USTICE S E LECT THE CHIEF J USTICE I N THIS STA TE . B EFORE TH AT IT WAS B Y LU CK . A ND W E ARE A S A C OURT D EDICAT ED T O WHA T W E SEE A S A DEM OC RATI C W AY O F S HARI NG RES PONSIB ILIT Y I N T HI S A WSOM E POSITION AS HEAD OF THE JUD IC IAL B RANC H. I H AVE T O SAY , I 'V E S AI D IT T O MAN Y OF Y OU, I T HAS REA LL Y BEEN A P LE ASUR E FOR ME T O SERVE A S CHI EF JUS TICE. AND I TODAY WAN T TO E SPECIA LLY THA NK ALL O F M Y C OLLEAG UE S FO R THE IR UNWAI VERING SUP PORT T HESE L AST T WO Y EARS I N E VERY E NDEA VO R T HAT I H AV E U NDER TAKEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR W HAT YOU HAV E DONE FOR M E AN D FO R T HE COURT S YS TE M . [ APPLAUSE ]

THERE I S O NL Y ONE O TH ER PER SON I 'M GOI NG T O A CKNO WL EDGE, IT IS M Y H USBA ND J UDGE F RE D A ZURI W HO H AS BEE N M Y M EN TO R AND C OLLEAG UE. BUT H E TOL D ME I HAD T HANKED H IM ENO UGH PUB LICL Y AND T HERE WAS N O NEED TO C ONTI NUE T O D O T HAT AS L ON G AS I A CKNO WLED GE T HE SIG NIFICANCE O F 2 006 WHEN T HE GAT OR S W ON T HE N CA A A ND T HE H EA T BEC AM E T HE N ATIO NA L C HAMPIONS O F THE NAT ION. [ APPLAU SE ] I L OO K ED BAC K L AS T N IG HT AT TH E VID EO TAPE OF M Y PAS S THE G AVEL CER EMON Y A ND T HERE W AS A D ISTI NC T D IF FERE NC E I N MY L OOK F OR THO SE O F YO U T HA T W ER E H ERE. MY HAI R W AS Q UI TE S HO RT . A ND A LOT O F YOU L IKED I T T HAT WAY A ND A S MOS T O F YO U K NO W , IT WAS NOT R EA LL Y A M ATTER O F ST YL E , BU T A M ATTER O F NEC ES SI TY B EC AUSE I HAD J US T FIN ISHE D MY B AT TL E W ITH BR EAST CAN CE R A ND CHE MOTH ER APY. A ND I N MAN Y W AY S IT WAS A J OURN EY T HA T I C ER TAIN LY WOU LD N' T HAV E A SKED T O U NDERTAKE , B UT I 'M GLA D IT W AS C OM PLET ED BEF OR E I A SSUMED T HE P OS IT IO N OF C HIEF JUS TI CE . AND IT LED T HE WAY TO T HI S I NCRE DI BLE J OURN EY IN THES E L AST TWO YEARS W HERE T RAVELING AROUN D THE STA TE A ND V ISIT IN G SO M AN Y O F THE C OURT HOUSES , SO M AN Y O F THE J UDGES AND SEE IN G W HA T O UR JUD GES I N T HIS S TATE D O , OUR TRI AL AND OUR JUDGE S A FFECTI NG C OU NT LESS LIV ES , E SPECIALL Y OUR MOS T V ULNERABL E, OUR C HILD RE N DA Y I N A ND D AY O UT . A ND IT HAS B EE N A T WO-Y EA R P ERIOD W HERE W E WEA TH ERED E IGHT HUR RICANES AND I P ERSONA LLY O BS ER VE D J UD GE S F ROM A ROUN D THE S TATE P ERFORMIN G HER OI CALL Y UND ER Q UITE DEV ASTA TING C ONDI TI ON S F ROM P ENSA COLA T O BRO WA RD C OUNTY. A ND K NOWING T HA T E AC H D AY T HE T HI RD BRA NC H O F GOVE RNMENT I N THE HALLS O F JUS TICE THR OUGH OU T THE STATE PERFORM ITS VIT AL M IS SI ON P ROVIDI NG FOR THE P EACE FU L RES OLUTIO N O F D ISPU TES, P ROTECT ING CON ST ITUT IO NAL RIGHTS AND UPH OL DI NG THE R ULE OF LA W. W E ARE NOW ALM OS T H ALFWAY T HROUGH THE FIR ST DEC AD E O F T HE 2 1s t C ENTU RY . A ND I B ELIE VE T HA T W E W IL L L OOK B ACK O N THI S 1 0-YE AR P ERIOD BEG INNI NG WIT H J USTI CE W ELLS T EN UR E A S C HIEF J USTICE AND CONTINUING W ITH CHI EF J USTI CE A NS TEAD A S DEF ININ G MOM EN T FOR F LORIDA'S J UDIC IAL SY ST EM, A TIME THAT W E I N OUR STA TE C OURT S T HI NK I N T ER MS O F W HAT I S BE ST F OR T HE W HOLE S YSTEM O F J USTI CE RAT HE R T HAN MER EL Y FOR O UR I NDIVIDUA L C IR CUIT S , CO UN TI ES AND D IS TRIC TS . AND I SEE SEV ER AL O F OUR J UDGES, O UR TRI AL J UD GE S AND APP ELLATE J UD GE S HERE TODAY AND I ASK T HA T THE Y P LE AS E STA ND S O WE CAN G IV E T HEM APP LAUSE AND G IVE O UR THANK S TO THEM. [ APPLAU SE ] A ND L ASTL Y M Y H OPE IS THA T IN T HIS DEC AD E WE WIL L B E R EMEMBERED N OT FOR J US T HOW F ACED T HE CHA LLEN GE S OF T HE S O CALLE D H IGH- PR OFIL E CA SE S FROM THE PRESIDE NTIA L E LECTIO N S S CHOO L V OU CHER S , BU T HOW W E T REAT ED THE L EA ST AMO NG US, O UR CHI LDRE N W HO BEC AME ENT ANGL ED I N TH E J UDIC IA L S YSTE M AND W HOSE NEEDS MUST B E ADD RE SSED A ND W HOSE VOICE S M US T B E H EARD . THAT IS W HY I H AV E B EE N A N A RDENT P ROPO NENT O F THE UNI FIED F AM ILY COUR T AND W ILL CONTINUE TO D O E VERYTHING IN M Y P OWER T O SEE THA T TH E COURT 'S U NANIMOUS END ORSE ME NT O F T HE U NIFI ED F AM IL Y COURT S TATE WI DE CONTINUES TO B E I MPLEMENTED . AND I H AV E AS I HAV E S AID SO M AN Y T IM ES , AM S O PRO UD O F T HE J UD GE S , M AGIS TRAT ES , CAS E MAN AGER S A ND COU RT A DMINIS TRATORS THAT H AV E D EVOT ED G REAT T IM E AND ENE RG Y T O M AK E THI S HAP PEN. F INALLY , MY THAN KS T O O NE A ND ALL F OR ALL OF Y OU R S UPPO RT T HE SE P AS T TWO Y EARS AND F OR D EV OTIN G Y OU R E NERGIE S T O D OING T HE VER Y B EST EA CH AND EVERY DAY TO E NSURE J USTI CE FOR ALL F LORIDIANS. A S I N OW P RE PARE T O M OV E BAC K DOW N THE B ENCH AND A S J USTICE W ELLS POI NT ED O UT , I F IT I S P OS SIBL E , T O J USTICE WELL S RIG HT . [LAUGH TER]

MAY NOT B E P OS SI BL E C ONSIDERING WHO IS MOVING. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING P ART O F CHI EF J USTI CE L EWIS ' V ISIO N O F JUS TI CE, TH ANK YO U VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> IT I S NOW MY PLE AS UR E T O R ECOGNIZE OUR N EW LY E LECTED P RESIDENT O F T HE FLO RI DA B AR , H ANK C OX E T O S HARE SOM E RE MARKS.

MAY IT PLEA SE THE COU RT , C HIEF JUSTI CE P ARIENT E , J USTICE LEWIS , MEM BERS OF THE C OURT, M EM BERS O F T HI S G REAT P ROFESSION A ND D ISTINGUISHED GUE ST S. I W AS NOT A NTIC IPAT IN G TH E H UMOR W OULD BE A P AR T O F THE SE P ROCE EDIN GS SO I W ASN'T P RE PARE D. I W ILL S AY T HA T T HI S IS CONS IDERED TO THE F LORI DA B AR A S MOM EN TU S A N EVE NT A S W HEN MAJOR H AR DING GOT HIS A V R ATIN G. N OW IT IS A N H ONOR AND A P RIVILEGE T O A PP EA R ON BEHA LF O F OVE R 7 8, 00 0 M EMBERS OF THE F LO RIDA BAR A ND CHIEF J USTI CE PAR IENT E , Y OU HAV E HAD A CHA LLEN GING A ND S UCCESS FU L TERM A S CHIEF J USTI CE AND T HIS P RO FESS ION THANKS YOU F OR THE O PPORTU NITY NOT ONLY TO WORK WITH YOU IN THI S COU RT , BU T Y OU R SUPPORT OF THE JUD IC IA L S YSTEM AND T HE RUL E O F L AW. YOU R LE ADER SHIP HAS B EE N I NVAL UA BLE. AND J USTICE LEW IS , W E L OO K !!!!!!!! L OOK FORWARD E AG ERLY T O Y OU R T ERM A S CHI EF JUSTI CE , WE H AVE SPO KE N A BO UT I T AND T OGETHE R W E W IL L A CCOM PL ISH T HOSE GOA LS . S INCE I W AS A DMIT TE D TO TH E F LORIDA BAR THERE HAV E B EE N 15 C HI EF JUS TICE S OF T HE C OU RT . AND THE CHA NGE FRO M ONE O FTO TH E NEX T H AS B EE N J US T A S I T S AID IN THE P ROGRAM , T HE S EA MLES S AND P EA CEFU L T RANSIT ION O F TH E C HIEF JUSTICE.M Y T ENUR E ON THE F LORI DA B AR HAS PRO VI DE D M E T HE OPP ORTUNITY TO INT ERAC T WIT H M ANY OTH ER S TA TE BAR ASS OCIATIONS T HROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. A ND WIT H RESPECT TO T HE RELAT IONSHIP BETWEEN THIS PROFESSION AND OUR SUP RE ME COURT, WE ARE THE E NI I H AVE OF THE REST OF T HE NATION. MY PRIVILEG E TO HAV E ATT ENDE D THIS Y EA R'S N ATIONA L C ONFERENCE OF CHI EF J USTICES A ND A T C HI EF J USTICE'S INV IT ATIO N AFF IRMS T HE S TATE S UPRE ME COU RT S E NVY THE R EL ATIONSHIP B ETWEEN THI S PROF ES SION AND OUR L AWYERS I N TH IS COURT. J USTICE L EW IS , I C AN NO T P REDICT WHAT IS ON THE HOR IZON. WE ALL KNOW THE ISS UE S A RI SE A ND THE O NE S W E M US T C ONFR ON T A RISE DAI LY . I C AN ASS UR E Y OU J US TICE L EWIS A ND A SS UR E THE P EO PL E O F THE C OU RT A ND THE PEO PL E O F THIS STA TE T O PRO TE CT T HE I NDEP ENDENCE OF O UR JUD ICIA LA RY W ILL N EVER W AIVER , NO R WIL L T HE COM MITMENT T O PRO TECT THE I NDEPENDENC E O F L AWYE RS . AND T HE LATTER I S 1 00% DE PENDENT UPON THE F ORME R. T HE FLORI DA B AR THA NK S Y OU F OR THE P RIVI LEGE AND OPPORTUNITY T O PARTICIPATE IN THIS CEREM ON Y , WE 'RE E XCITED , W E L OO K FOR WARD T O IT AND EXT EN DS Y OU B ES T W ISHES A S THE C HIEF JUS TICE OF THE FLORIDA SUP RE ME COURT.THANK YOU.[AP PLAUSE]

THA T W AS V ERY, V ER Y GOO D O F YOU T O L IM IT T HE H UM OR S O Y OU D IDN' T MAKE T HE RES T O F U S L OO K BAD . B UT I F I H AVEN 'T SAI D IT , WHIC H I HAV EN 'T, TODA Y I S O NE O F O UR H APPY OCC AS IONS A ND SO W E D O E XP EC T LAU GHTE R AT LEA ST A T THE R IGHT PLA CE S A ND PHO TOGR AP HS A RE C ER TAIN LY W ELCOME . IT IS NOW , AGAI N, A P RIVILEGE TO R ECOG NI ZE A NOTHER D ISTI NG UISH ED I NDIVID UAL AND T HA T I S H .T . S MITH W HO I S P AST PRESID ENT OF THE NAT IO NAL B AR A SSOCIATI ON A ND T RU STEE O F TH E UNI VERSITY O F M IAMI FOR S OME R EMARKS.

THAN K YOU , JUST IC E U FT S P ARIENT E A ND T O ALL O F THE D ISTI NG UISHED JUS TICES O F T HE F LORI DA SUP REME C OURT . T HROUGH THE F IN E M EM BERS O F T HE BENCH W HO A RE P RESE NT A ND TO M Y C OM MITT ED C OLLEAGUE S AT T HE BAR A ND, OF C OURS E , T O T HE FAM IL Y AND F RIENDS O F J US TICE L EWIS , IT IS IND EE D A D EL ICIO US D ELIGHT F OR M E T O HAVE THE HON OR T O PAR TI CIPA TE I N THI S G AVEL P ASSING C EREM ONY. I H AV E A V ER Y SPE CI AL I NTERES T B EC AUSE I HAV E A LWAY S A DMIR ED J US TICE P ARIENT E F RO M A FA R A ND J USTICE LEWIS WAS M Y LAW SCHOO L MA TE A S WE LL A S M Y L AW S CHOO L BAS KE TB AL L T EA M MA TE. F OR THE R EC OR D , I MUS T ADMI T T HAT HE WAS A B ETTE R STU DENT A ND A BET TE R BAS KETB AL L P LAYER.

YOU KNOW, T HIS IS BEING R ECORDE D , ARE YOU SUR E Y OU W ANTED TO ADMI T THA T? >> I WAS HOP IN G AT LEAST JUS TICE CON VINC E WOU LD NOT -- JUS TI CE Q UI NCE WOUL D NOT H EAR THA T PA RT . I JUSTI CE L EWIS GAV E TO THE P EOPLE OF THE STA TE OF FLORIDA A JUDICIAL DIA MOND , A D IA MO ND W IT H VIB RANT C OLOR , P URE COLLA RITY , QUA LI TY C UT A ND - - CLA RITY , QUA LITY CUT A ND LOT S AND L OT S O F CARAT , A T THA T TIM E AS A AS YO U K NOW IT WAS H IS FIR ST J UD ICIAL SERVICE. I DES CRIBED THA T J UD ICIA L D IAMOND AT THA T T IM E A S A DIA MOND IN THE ROU GH . N OW SEV EN Y EARS LATER I T HINK I CAN SAY W ITHOUT HES ITATIO N T HA T THI S D IAMO ND I S N OW CUT AND P OL IS HE D AND S HINES B RIGH TL Y LIK E THE N ORTH STA R I N O UR LEG AL A FFIRMMENT. JUSTICE L EWIS TAKES THE G AVEL O F LE ADER SH IP A ND MOVES F ORWARD ASKING US, YES , W E T HE P EOPL E T O S HARE H IS V ISION O F JUS TICE AND T O J OI N THE J OURN EY T HA T WAS SO P ASSIONAT E LY R EMAR KE D U PO N B Y P ATRI CK HEN RY 231 Y EARS A GO W HE N HE S AI D I S LI GH T S O D EAR OR P EACE S O S WE ET A S TO BE P URCH AS ED A T THE P RI CE O F C HAIN S AND SLA VERY ? F ORBI D I T A LMIG HT Y GOD , FOR I K NO W N OT COU RS E W HA T O THER S MAY T AK E , B UT A S FOR M E , G IV E M E L IBER TY O R G IVE M E DEATH. YES , LIB ERTY , THE SEE D O F F REEDOM . LIB ERTY , THE C ORNE RSTO NE O F D EMOCRACY . L IBERTY , T HE T WI N SIS TE R OF J USTICE . L IBERTY AND JUS TICE FOR ALL . A ND LET'S MAK E N O M ISTA KE A BOUT IT , T HI S S IM PL E A ND N OBLE GOAL O F L IB ERTY A ND J USTICE FOR ALL HAS NOT YET B EEN ATT AI NED. I F EE L - - I BE LIEV E , I A M C ONFIDE NT T HA T W IT H THE L EADERS HI P O F J USTICE L EWIS A ND THE C OMMI TMEN T O F H IS C OLLEAGUE S WE WIL L C ONTI NU E D OW N THE R OA D T OW AR D L IBER TY A ND J USTI CE FOR ALL . JUS TICE L EWIS K NOWS J US T A S H IS P REDE CE SS OR S T HAT A C HIEF J US TICE CAN C HART THE C OURS E AND JEF CHI EF J US TICE C AN RALLY T HE T ROOP S , B UT S UC CESS A ND P ROGR ES S IS N OT MAD E UNL ES S YOU R COL LEAG UE S A ND W E T HE P EO PL E S HARE T HE V ISIO N . AS YOU H EARD J USTI CE L EWIS W AS A STA R A TH LETE . A ND I'M S UR E T HA T H E F ULLY U NDERSTAN D S THA T THE G REAT D WAYNE W ADE I S A N N BA S TA R T ODAY, N OT B ECAU SE O F HIS I NDIVID UAL EXC ELLE NT LEN S , B UT BEC AUSE H E UND ER ST OO D T HAT YOU H AV E TO EMP OWER Y OUR C OLLE AG UE S A ND E MPOW ER Y OUR TEA M. S HOULDE R T HE R ESPO NSIB IL IT Y W HEN T HING S G O WRO NG AND S HARE THE CRE DI T W HE N T HI NG S G O R IG HT . THE SE ARE THE A TT RIBUTE S O F O UR NEX T C HIEF J USTI CE . T HESE -- T HIS IS THE C LOTH F ROM WHICH F RE D LEWIS IS C UT. I FEE L CON FI DENT THA T J USTICE L EW IS A LONG W IT H H IS GRE AT COL LEAGUE S WIL L AD VANCE THE CAUSE O F J USTI CE . I FEE L C ONFI DENT H AVIN G H EARD THE ARG UM EN T VIR GI L H AWKI NS ONE , TWO AND T HREE A ND SEE W HA T T HI S C OURT DID A ND V IRGI L P OS THUM OU S LY E ADVANCES THE C AUSE O F EQU AL JUS TI CE F OR ALL. AND S O J USTICE LEWIS A S YO U T AKE P OSSE SS IO N O F T HA T H UG E G AVEL , A ND THE HUG E R ESPO NS IBILITY THAT COM ES W ITH I T , IT I S M Y W IS H T HA T T HE SUN W IL L A LWAY S S HINE O N Y OU R V IS IO N OF JU STIC E FOR A LL, THAT THE S TARS WIL L P ROVIDE YOU THE GUI DE FOR Y OUR T RA VELS ARO UN D THE S TATE A ND THA T T HE WIN D WIL L ALWAYS BE A T Y OU R B AC K. M AY G OD BLE SS Y OU , M AY G OD B LESS Y OU R DIS TI NGUI SHED COLLEAGUES, MAY GOD A LWAY S B LESS THE S UP REME COURT OF FLORIDA.THANK YOU.[ APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU FOR T HOSE S TIRRIN G WORDS . A ND I A M S O GLA D THA T M Y HUS BAND T AUGHT ME W EL L , SO I KNO W WHO D . W AD E I S . THE NEX T S PE AKER T HA T I WOULD L IKE T O R EC OGNI ZE I S S OMEB OD Y THAT N EEDS NO I NTRODU CTION, H E' S BOB BUT TERWORTH , T HE F ORME R F LORI DA ATT ORNEY GENERAL AND C URRENT DEAN O F S T. THO MA S U NIVERSIT Y SCHOOL O F L AW , D EAN B UTTE RW OR TH. [ APPL AU SE]

MA Y I T P LEAS E THE COU RT? IT I S R EALL Y V ER Y HUM BL IN G TO B E H ER E T ODAY AND J USTICE L EWIS I R EA LL Y W AN T T O THAN K YOU FOR ASK ING M E T O S PEAK AFT ER H .T . S MITH . [ LAUGHTER ]

SINC E M Y G OOD F RIEN D H.T . H AS S AI D EV ERYT HI NG I WAN T T O SAY , M UC H M OR E ELO QU ENTL Y I E VER CO UL D H AV E S AI D I T , B OTH CHI EF J UD GE WAS SAY ING I'M S O GLA D Y OU'R E F OLLO WING H .T. , HE S AI D I I HAV E H AD T O DO IT ONC E BEF OR E AND S AID LET'S F LI P A COI N . T HE T RANS ITIO NS ARE A N I MPORTA NT P AR T O F LIF E. T HEY G IV E U S AN OPP OR TUNI TY T O T AK E T IM E T O S TO P , T O R EFLECT A ND LOO K A T BOT H THE P AST AND THE F UTUR E. T HIS G IV ES U S A C HANC E TO L OOK B AC K A T WHAT H AS ALR EADY B EE N A CCOM PLIS HE D , MUC H B Y T HIS SU PREM E CO UR T AND ITS C HI EF S. I T I S TIM E TO STOP AND T O T HANK C HIEF JUS TICE BAR BARA P ARIENT E FOR THE E XT REME LY N ORMS AMOUNT O F TIM E THA T S HE HAS D EDIC AT ED AND S TILL I S T OW AR D A U NI FIED F AMIL Y CO URT AND IMP RO VE D J UV ENIL E J USTICE S YSTEM AND A D IV ER SE C OURT S YSTEM. W E SEE C RE ATIV IT Y , P AS SION , E FFICIENCY AND I NCLU SI ON . AN D W E T AK E T HI S O PP OR TUNI TY T O , C HIEF P ARIE NT E T O T HANK Y OU FOR Y OU R H ARD W OR K AND M ANY, MAN Y S UC CESS ES, TH ANK YOU. [ APPLAU SE] >> IT IS A LS O T IM E T O S TO P A ND C EL EB RATE JUS TI CE F RE D L EWIS BEI NG N AMED I N A FEW M OMENTS A S C HIEF J USTI CE . A ND W E TAK E T HIS OP PORT UN IT Y T O R EMEM BER W HO HAS BEE N THE P AST AS W ELL AS W E BEGIN T O SET EXP EC TATI ON S FOR THE F UTUR E . R EVEREN D TOLD U S A BOUT HIS BAC KGRO UND A T FLO RIDA S OUTHER N . S O TH EY WOU LD S AY , I REMEM BE R FRE D L EW IS A S A N O UT STAN DING ATH LETE , IN ACA DEMICS AND ALSO A LEA DE R. F ORMER LAW SCH OO L CLA SSMA TE S R EMEMBE R F RE D L EWIS ' SE RV IC E TO THE STU DENT BAR , HONOR C OUNSEL AND MUC H , MUC H M OR E. T HE L EGAL C OMMU NI TY R EM EMBERS JUS TI CE L EWIS ' E ARLY Y EARS I N PRI VA TE PRA CTICE AND NOW CAN SEE S TATEWIDE EFFORTS I N THE ARE A O F T EA CHIN G , P ROMO TING A BET TE R UND ER STAN DING O F O UR GOV ER NMEN T A ND P ROVI DI NG O PEN A CCES S J UD ICIA L O FF ICER S. A ND ALS O, H IS S ERVICE T O THE B AR A ND A LS O SER VI CE O N T HE F LORIDA COM MISSION ON LEG AL N EE DS OF CHIL DR EN AND H IS M ANY A WA RD S FOR S ERVI CE AND P UBLI C T RUST . S TUDENTS O F T HIS STAT E SEE A N I MPOR TA NT P ER SO N WHO IS V ERY A PP ROAC HABL E WHO A CTUALL Y L ISTE NS TO THE M W HO O BVIOUSLY CAR ES ABOUT WHA T T HE Y TH INK AND W HO T AKES THE T IME T O G O TO THEM . Y OU'LL H EA R AB OU T I T LATER , A LL ACR OSS THE STA TE ON A R EGUL AR B AS IS, THE S TUDE NT S O F T HI S S TA TE S EE A R OL E M ODEL . E DUCATORS , M AN Y OF T HE M H ER E TOD AY WHI CH W E'LL HEA R MOR E A BOUT L AT ER , S EE H IM A S A ROL E MO DE L A ND A T EA CHER O F T EACH ERS. CHILD REN , A DU LTS AND T HEIR F AMILIES W HE THER THEY' RE SICK, D ISAB LE D OR VI CTIM S O F I NJUS TI CE , T HE Y SEE A S M AN Y HOU RS O F PRO B ON O S ER VICE AS WELL A S A S BOA RD SER VI CE W ITHI N I NS TI TUTIONS SUC H A S M IAMI CHI LD RE N'S HOSP IT AL . THE PUBLIC S EES A WARD S A ND C OMMUNI TY SER VI CE A CHIEVE ME NT S REA LLY TO O MA NY , TOO MAN Y TO E VE N A TT EMPT , BUT A F EW A Y EAR , EVE RY DA Y H ERO , G RE AT A ME RI CA N , LA W A ND E DUCA TION AWA RD , G UARDIA N OF THE CON ST ITUT IO N A WARD AND M OS T REC ENTL Y E DUCA TION FOR D EMOC RA CY A WARD. WE A T S T. T HO MA S UNI VE RSIT Y OF LAW T RULY SEE THE E DUCATI ON JUS TICE , THE L EADERSHIP JUS TI CE , T HE COM PASSIO NATE JUSTI CE COM MITTED TO THE S UCCE SS O F O UR STUDE NT S W HO WHO S HARE S H IS E XP ERTISE O N O UR S CHOO LS'S B OARD O F A DVIS ER S , WE SEE A J URIS T WH O TAK ES T IME F RO M H IS VER Y B US Y S CHEDULE C OM ING TO OUR C AMPU S TO SP EA K A ND M ENTO R O UR STU DENT S. A ND ALS O SPE NDIN G TIM E WIT H T HE YOU NG S TUDE NTS OF T HE PAL M S PRIN GS M IDDL E S CH OOL W HICH W E HAV E P AR TNER ED W ITH F LEW T HE M OO T C OU RT - - THR OUGH T HE M OO T C OU RT C OMPE TITION AND B E R OLE M ODELS T O THEM . W E SEE A V ISIONA RY , WE SE E AN ADVOC ATE. WE SEE A P ER SO N WHOSE SIG NI FI CANT E FFOR TS O N BEHALF OF EDUCATION AND THELAW IN OUR STATE ARE WOR THY NOT O NL Y OF O UR SUP PO RT B UT A LSO O F O UR LAW S CH OO L' S H IGHEST HON OR , HAVIN G B EE N AWARD ED A N H ONOR AR Y D OCTO R R AT OF LAW D EGREE. IN SHORT , A NY ON E CAN S EE T HAT JUST ICE L EWIS I S A F AMIL Y MAN AND CIVIC L EADE R , A PER SO N OF COU RAGE , D EDICATIO N I N T HE PUR SUIT O F J USTICE AND SER VICE TO HIS F ELLOW M AN . T ODAY AS WE C ELEB RATE THI S T RANSITIO N , A S THE G AVEL I S P ASSE D O NC E MO RE A ND A S W E T URN T O T HE F UTUR E, W HA T CAN W E EXP EC T F RO M JUS TICE LEW IS ? N OTHING L ESS THAN BEF OR E , N OTHING L ES S THA N A BSOL UT E E XCEL LENT L ENS. I NOTIC E YOU HAVE T HREE OF US FRO M THE UNI VERS IT Y O F M IAMI THA T A RE MAK IN G C OM MENTS O N Y OUR BE HALF . D URING F OOTB ALL SE ASON Y OU AND I WOULD BE A LONE , B ACK-TO -BACK A GA INST ALL THO SE GAT OR S AN D A GA INST A LL T HOSE SEM IN OLES . W E W ER E T HERE , NO W THERE ARE F OUR O F U S , IT WAS T WO O F U S. I F IT IS A PPRO PR IATE, I F NO T , IT IS OKAY.

Y OU M EAN YO U'RE GOI NG T O DO IT A NYWA Y ?

I 'L L TAKE M Y BALL A ND G O HOM E , IF I T I S NOT A PPROPR IATE . F RED L EWIS , CHIEF JUD GE N UMBER 52 . B OB B UTTE RWORTH , A .G . , N UMBER 33. [ AP PLAU SE] C ONGRATUL ATIONS, M Y F RIEND , C ONGRAT ULATIO NS. [ APPLAU SE ]

WE 'R E GOING T O C ALL O N H.T . S MITH A GAIN - - NO , JU ST K IDDING. [ LAUGHTER ] T HANK Y OU VERY MUC H D EA N B UTTERW ORTH . AND JUST FOR T HE REC OR D , N EXT T IM E T HE NAM E' S P ARIE NT E . I NOW C ALL U PO N THE CHI EF J UDGE O F T HE L ARGEST C IRCUMS TANCE K NI T T HE S TATE OF FLORIDA, O UR F RIEN D AND L EADER CHIEF J UDGE JOE F ARINA. [ APPLAU SE ]

MAY I T P LEAS E THE COU RT ? C HIEF J US TICE P ARIENT E , C HIEF J USTI CE-E LE CT L EW IS , MEMBERS OF T HE COURT, F RIENDS AND F AMIL Y OF F RE D L IEU WIR KS L ADIE S AN D GEN TL EMEN , O N BEH AL F O F T HE 20 C HI EF J UDGE S O F T HE S TA TE OF F LORI DA , I NCLU DI NG OUR C HAIR , CHI EF J UD GE KIM K OVASKY AND T HE C OMMI SSIO N , J UDGE STAN M ORRI S AND C HIEF J UDGE B ELVI N PER RY AND THE T RIAL J UD GE S I N D AD E C OU NT Y , A LONG WITH OUR M AGIS TR AT ES , R UBEN CARAU , I T IS A N HO NOR AND P LEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE THI S A FTER NOON . >> O KAY, T IM E' S U P.

THAN K Y OU . FIR ST WE' RE H ER E T OD AY T O CON GRATULATE OUR FRI EN D FR ED LEW IS A ND ALS O T O THA NK OUR F RIEN D B AR BARA P ARIE NT E , AND B ASH B RARK S I W ANT T O JOI N T HE G ENER AL - - BA RB AR A , I WA NT T O JOI N THE G ENER AL'S THANK YOU T O Y OU W IT H H EARTFELT C ONSI DERA TION AND G RATITU DE O N WHA T YO U H AV E D ONE O N BE HALF O F F LO RIDI AN S , Y OU F OL LOW IN A N EXC EL LE NT T RADITION OF TWO O THER F ORME R C HIEF J US TICE S I N C HA RLIE WELLS AND HARRY L EANNES TEAD , W E APP LA UD T HE T HREE O F Y OU AND T HANK GOD F OR YOU . [APPLAUSE] - - H ARRY L EE A NSTE AD .

AND SPE CI FICA LL Y S INCE I T HASN 'T BEEN M ENTI ONED , I W AN T TO TH AN K YOU , B AR BA RA F OR THO SE A DDIT IONA L 1 14 T RIAL J UDGE S, F OR ALL T HOSE T RIAL L AW C LE RK S FOR THE S TATEWIDE T ECHN OLOG Y SYST EM, FOR THE BEN CH MARK IN G OF J UDICIA L S ALAR IE S A ND FOR Y OUR A DVOC AC Y ON BEH ALF OF T HE U NIFIED F AMIL Y COU RT C OMESET O F W HI CH I 'M A B ELIEVE R AS WELL. YOU'VE MADE OTHER I MPROVEMENTS IN O UR JUS TICE S YSTEM , A ND F OR TUNA TELY , Y OUR I NT ERES T IN AND D EDICAT ED T O C HILD RE N I S SHA RED BY O UR N EX T CHI EF JUS TICE F RE D LEWIS . W HO I S F RE D L EWIS ? W HAT IS H E ALL A BO UT ? W HAT M AKES HIM T ICK? T HIS IS W HAT F RE D' S F AM ILY AN D F RIENDS, O F W HI CH I 'M A M EMBE R , SAY ABO UT HIM . F RED L EW IS I S ON E OF THE M OST PRI NCIP LE D P EOPL E Y OU'L L E VE R MEE T. H E DOE SN 'T C OMPR OMIS E H IS P RINCIPLES . I F FRE D COMMIT S T O D OING S OMETHI NG, HE' LL DO I T WHA TEVE R I T TAK ES I NC LU DING A NY PER SONA L S ACRIFI CE T HA T N EEDS MAK IN G . F RED LEW IS I S VER Y B RIGH T , HAS A KEE N I NTEL LIGE NT A ND I S A DMIR ED B Y A LL W HO M EE T A ND GET T O KNOW H IM . W E'VE A LREADY HEARD ABOUT H IS EXC ELLE NC E O N T HE A THLETIC F IE LD , BUT S PECIFI CA LLY BEING A N ALL !!!!!! A LL-AMERICAN ATHLETE, BEI NG O NE OF THE T OP 1 5 ATH LETI C SCH OLAR S IN T HE U NITE D STATES IN HIS D AY , BEIN G THE P RESIDENT O F H IS S TU DENT B ODY , P RE SI DENT O F A S OPHOMORE , JUN IOR AND SEN IOR CO LLEGES I N HIS COL LE GE , T HIS I S SOME ONE WHO HAS E XC EL - - ACC EL LE D A CADEMI CALLY , ATH LE TI C KI CALL Y AS WELL A S S TUNL T LEADERSHIP. AT THE UNIVE RS ITY OF MIA MI L AW S CHOO L WHILE G RADU ATIN G W ITH HON OR S, TES TI FIES COM MAND ER OF T HE C ORPS F OR T HE R .O.T.C . P RO GRAM AND A FTER L AW S CH OO L HE A TTEN DE D A ND G RA DUAT ED F RO M U NITE D S TATES ARM Y G EN ER AL S CHOO L WHERE HE WAS NAMED TO ONO ONE'S SUR PRIS E THE T OP S TUDENT RECEIVING THE O RDER O F WOR LD WAR S SUP ER IO R A CHIEVE MENT H ONOR . W E ALL K NO W THA T C HI LDRE N , C HILDRE N ARE FRE D' S P ASSI ON A ND HIS LIF E GO AL I S T O P ROVI DE JUS TICE F OR A LL FLO RIDIAN S . C HILDREN AND JUS TI CE A RE B OT H S ER VED BY H IS D EV OTIO N T O SPE CI FI C EDU CA TION AND Y OU'LL HEAR M OR E ABO UT THA T D EVOTION FRO M ANN ETTE P IT TS LAT ER. O NE M IGHT WON DE R , W HERE D ID FRE D L EWIS OBT AI N THE I NTERES T I N C HI LD REN' S E DUCATI ON . W E F RI ENDS S UG GEST P ART OF T HE A NSWE R CA N B E TRA CE D BACK TO WHE N F RE D WAS Q UITE Y OUNG G RO WING U P I N B EC KL Y , WE ST V IRGI NIA , I N COA L MOO IN C OUNTRY, THER E WAS A N A TTORNE Y T HERE AND FOR THO SE O F YO U W HO M IG HT NOT K NO W W HAT A H OLLER I S , I'M TOL D T HAT IT IS T HE V AL LE Y B ETWE EN T WO MOU NTAI NS. F RED LEW IS A T A N EAR LY A GE KNE W THAT H E W ANTE D TO B E JUS T L IK E T HA T L AW YE R , I NTUITI VE LY H E KNE W THA T EDU CATION WAS THE KEY T O HIS S UCCESS . I BELIEVE T HA T PER SONA L E XPERIE NCE M OTIV ATES F RE D TO EDUCAT E AND MEN TO R YO UN G P EOPLE, T HERE BY O PENI NG U P T HEIR O WN VIS TA S A ND T HEIR O WN O PPOR TUNI TIES . F RED BEL IEVE D A ND PRO VE D T HAT EDU CATI ON I S THE MOS T I MPORTA NT I NGRE DIEN T GIV IN G EVE RY C HILD A CHA NC E T O B REAK OUT OF T HE IR OWN H OLLE R , OU T O F THE IR OWN H OPELES SNESS , OU T O F T HE IR O WN DESPA IR . B Y THE W AY , A S THE G ENER AL SAI D , F RE D B LE EDS OR ANGE , G REEN AND WHI TE . A ND AND W HENE VE R T HE RE I S A U NIVERSITY O F M IA MI F OO TB AL L , B ASKETB ALL , BA SEBA LL G AM E H E'S GO ING T O BE T HERE O R W ATCHING I T O N TELE VI SION OR L ISTE NI NG T O IT O N THE R ADIO . AND IF NO T , H E' S REC EI VING C ALLS WIT H U P- TO -T HE-M INUT E S CORE S , N O D OUBT A BO UT IT. F RED L EW IS I S A DEV OTED F AMILY MAN B LESS ED WIT H J UDY, T HE OUT GO IN G , F UN NY , P ERSONA BLE F ORMER TEACH ER T HAT A CCEL S AT B EING A M ARVELOUS S POUS E A ND M ARVELOUS M OM . W HEN THEIR FIRST D AUGH TE R E LLE , F RE D TRA VELE D TH E COUNTRY TO SEE E LL E P LA Y T ENNIS , TRA VE LE D THE CO UNTRY F OR MED ICAL UPD AT ES FOR E LLE'S UPD AT ES. W E'VE K NO WN E ACH OT HE R I N D IFFERENT C AP ACIT IES AND R OLES A ND FOR THE LAS T SEVE N YEA RS OR SO I'V E BEE N H ONORED T O B E A P AR T O F S PECIAL PAR TN ER SHIP T HA T W E'VE D EV ELOPED AND YOU ARE VER Y FORTUN ATE T O HAV E G AY LE AS YOU R E XTRA OR DINA RY JUD ICIA L ASS ISTANT GIV IN G U S ALL A HEL PI NG H AND. SO IF T HE PAS T I S T RULY PRO LO GUED O UR F LO RIDA SYS TE M WILL BENEFIT FRO M F RED L EWIS ' GUI DANCE , DIR EC TION A ND A CHIEVE MENT. AND FRED, WE M IAMI J UDGE S AND T HE TRI AL A TT OR NEYS A RE P ROUD OF Y OU . W E ARE YOU R R ESER VI OR O F G OOD W ILL AN D W E STA ND S R EADY T O A ID Y OU I N P URSU ING J USTICE. GOD B LESS . [ APPL AUSE ]

I' D S AY YOU H EL D Y OU R OW N THERE , J UDGE F ARIN A. T HANK YOU F OR T HOSE R EMAR KS AND KIN D W ORDS . A ND BEF OR E I A SK JUS TICE L EWIS T O DES CEND T O T HE POD IUM , I W AN T YOU T O LOO K B EHIN D Y OU A ND S EE - - YOU S AW T HESE B EAUT IFUL FLO WE RS . T WO YEARS A GO J USTI CE A NSTEAD W AS K IN D EN OU GH T O G IVE ME RO SE S AND I T HO UGHT W E S HOUL D FOLL OW T HE T RADITION . Y OU MIGHT THINK R OS ES W ER E A L ITTL E TOO GIR LY -GIR L O R SOME THING SO WE H OP E T HESE O RCHID S WIL L B LOOM .

I T HO UGHT A T F IRST T HOSE W ERE L IL LIES .

T HOSE A RE B IG O RC HIDS , OH, MY GOODN ES S.

HE O NL Y W IS HE S T HEY WERE L ILLI ES .

I D ON 'T K NO W WHO THOSE W OULD HAVE B EE N FOR T HE N , J USTICE LEW IS. IT IS NOW M Y D IREC TI ON A S CHI EF J USTICE TO ASK Y OU C HIEF JUS TICE L EWIS T O DES CEND TO TH E P ODIU M F OR A DM INISTRATION OF THE OAT H AND I W OULD ASK B OT H J UD Y LEW IS A ND LIN DS EY LEW IS T O A PPRO AC H T HE P OD IU M T O HO LD T HE B IBLE . O KAY . AND A S WE G ET THA T I N P LACE WE ARE A LS O G OING TO ASK F ORMER JUSTICE , FOR ME R C HIEF J USTICE L EA NDER SHA W T O A PPROACH THE P ODIU M AND D ELIV ER S DMAR T HE OAT H. -- A ND ADM IN ISTE R TH E OATH. I T'S ALL YOURS . >> M AY I T PL EA SE T HE C OURT ? J USTI CE L EWIS I F Y OU W OU LD P UT Y OU R HAN D ON THE BIB LE , Y OUR LEF T H AND A ND R AISE Y OUR RIGHT H AN D AND REP EAT AFTER M E. I D O S OL EMNL Y SW EA R.

I D O SOL EMNL Y SWE AR . >> THATL Y S UPPO RT , P ROTE CT A ND D EF END. > > THAT I WILL SU PP ORT, P ROTECT A ND D EF END. >> THE CON STIT UT IO N AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNI TE D STATES. >> THE CONST IT UT IO N AND G OVERNMENT OF THE UNI TE D S TATES. >> AND OF THE S TATE O F F LORI DA. >> AND O F T HE S TATE O F F LORIDA.

THAT I A M D UL Y QUA LI FIED TO HOLD OFFICE.

THAT I AM D UL Y QU ALIF IE D T O HOL D O FFIC E.

UND ER THE C ONST IT UTIO N OF T HE STA TE . >> UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.

AND I WIL L WELL A ND F AITH FU L LY .

AND I W ILL WELL A ND F AITHFU LLY. >> PERFORM THE D UTIE S O F C HIEF J US TICE. >> PERFORM THE DUT IE S OF C HIEF JUS TICE.

ON WHI CH I'M NOW . >> ON W HI CH I'M N OW .

ABO UT T O E NTER . >> ABOUT T O ENT ER . >> S O HE LP M E G OD .

SO HE LP M E G OD . [ APPL AU SE]

CON GR ATUL ATIO N S CHI EF J USTICE. [ APPLAUSE ]

I K NO W T HAT --

PLE AS E B E SEA TED BE CAUS E I K NO W JU ST IC E S HAW J US T H AS A COUPL E OF WO RDS OF WI SDOM . >> WELL , I D ON 'T K NO W HOW W ISE T HEY AR E , BUT W IT H T HE C OURT'S IND UL GENC E A ND YOU R P ERMISS ION , I WOU LD LIK E TO P RESENT YOU W ITH A SMALL P RESENT, A S MA LL GIF T. W HEN YOU E NTER THE F RO NT O FFICE A S C HIEF J USTI CE YOU W ILL F IN D T HAT P EOPL E AND O RGANIZAT IONS A ND GRO UP S T HAT Y OU 'V E N EVER H EARD O F W ILL DES CEND U PON YOU AND T HEY O NLY WAN T T EN MIN UT ES TO TELL Y OU HOW T O R UN THE COU RT S YSTEM O F T HE STA TE O F F LORIDA . SOME OF THESE P EOPL E N UT S . [ LAUGHTER]

A ND I NC IDEN TALL Y , I 'VE S CHEDUL ED M Y TEN M INUT ES . B UT THI S G IF T TH AT I 'M G IVING YOU , I 'M N OT GOI NG T O K EE P YOU IN S US PENS E . I T IS A SET OF HEA RING A IDS. T HE VA I S KIN D ENOU GH T O G IVE M E A N EW PAI R E VERY COU PL E OF YE AR S , SO I HAV E A DRA W ER FUL L O F THE M. B UT YOU WIL L FIND THA T I F Y OU TUR N T HIS H EA RING AID TO T HE R EA R A C LICK , THE O NL Y TH ING Y OU C AN H EA R T HE N ARE L OUD S OUND S A ND S HRIL L S OUND S , TU RN IT ANO THER CLICK AND T HE ONL Y THI NG Y OU'LL H EA R I S A LOW M URMU R , Y OU WON'T BE TRO UB LE D B Y TR YING TO UN DE RSTAND WHA T EVE RYBODY IS S AYIN G. AND THI S I S NOT A N U NPLEAS ANT M UR MUR. A ND I F THE PERSON HAS ANY C ADENCE O R R HYTH M A T AL L , I T C AN B E PLEAS IN G , IN F ACT. T UR N I T ONE M OR E C LICK AND B LISSFU L SIL ENCE. NOW WITH A LIT TLE PRAC TI CE AND A L IT TL E TI ME , YOU W ILL BE A BLE T O SIT AND SCH ED UL E T HESE PEO PL E. I K NO W T HA T Y OU ARE A P ER SO N OF G ENTL E NA TU RE , Q UI TE FRA NKLY AND Y OU'R E GOING T O B E R ELUCTA NT TO - - HOW S HA LL I P UT T HIS - - T HR OW T HESE P EOPL E OUT . S O I F Y OU P RA CTIC E , Y OU'L L BE ABL E T O SIT A ND M AK E D IRECT E YE C ONTA CT A ND I T W ILL A PPEA R AS I F Y OU'R E L ISTENING . W ITH A L ITTL E P RA CTIC E L EANING F OR WARD , PUT TING Y OUR HAN D O N YOUR CHI N AND A N OCC AS IONA L U H- HU H , TH EN Y OU CAN E VE N A PPEA R T O B E I NTERES TE D . N OW , IN FAC T Y OU CAN WEA R T HESE TOO D URIN G ORA L A RGUM ENT S . [ LAUGHTER] >> NOW CER TA IN L AWYE R S W HO WIL L APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT ON A REGULAR B ASIS - - I SAW D EXTER D OUGL AS O UT THE RE , T HEY'LL G ET O NT O YO U AND T HEY'LL KNOW W HA T YOU'R E D OING . B UT , THE RE I S A N U PSID E T O T HAT B ECAUSE IT H ASTE N S O RA L A RGUMENT. O NCE THEY SEE Y OU D O THA T , T HEY KNOW T HA T IT' S O VE R A T T HAT POI NT . S O I F YO U W IL L T AK E THE SE A ND USE T HE M WHE NEVE R O CCASIO N D EM ANDS , I 'M S URE IT WILL M AK E YOU R T EN UR E A L ITTLE MOR E PLE ASAN T, S O I W ISH Y OU GOD SPEE D AND I K NO W YOU 'RE GOING TO BE A G REAT C HIEF J USTI CE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> TH ANK YOU. >> AND IF AN YB OD Y T HINK S T HAT L EE S HA W I S JOK IN G ABOUT THAT, YOU D ON 'T K NO W L EE SHA W A ND N OW I KNO W WHY Y OU HAD T HAT PLE AS AN T L OO K O N Y OU R F AC E E VERY T IME I U SED T O COM E IN TO Y OU R C HAMBER S .

I T' S A LL YOU RS . W E'RE N OW S UP POSE D T O CEREM ONIO US LY PAS S THE G AVEL. I KNO W TH ERE -- >> HO W IS T HA T DON E C EREMON IOUS LY ? [LA UGHTER]

MY H USBAND WAN TE D M E T O T HROW T HI S AT Y OU , B UT I 'M N OT DOI NG T HA T . A LL R IG HT. [ APPLAU SE ]

I'LL T AKE IT T HI S I S H OW W E'RE S UPPO SE D T O B EGIN .

P LEAS E RISE. HEA R Y E HEA R Y E H EA R Y E , THE S UPREME C OU RT O F FLO RI DA I S NOW I N C EREM ON IA L SES SION , T HE H ON ORABLE R . FRED L EWIS P RESIDING , ALL W HO H AV E CA USE T O P LEAD , D RAW NEA R , GIVE A TTEN TI ON A ND YOU SHALL BE HEARD . G OD SAVE T HESE UNITE D STA TE S , T HIS GRE AT S TA TE O F F LORI DA AND T HI S H ONOR ABLE C OURT . L ADIES AN D GENT LEMEN, PLEASE B E SEATED.

A S W E BEGA N THE P RO CESS O F COM ING I NT O THE COURT RO OM T HE QUE STIO N I S P RESE NT ED , A RE YOU ANX IO US ? A RE YOU N ERVO US ? D O YOU HAV E S OM E C ON CERN AND T HE RESPO NSE TO T HA T I S C ONSI ST EN TL Y W ITH SIX P EO PL E T HAT I HAV E T HE B LE SSIN G TO S ERVE WIT H. I KNOW THAT THIS IS WHE RE T HE S HOUL DE R O F THE IR WOR K C OMES. S O M Y A NSWE R IS AL WAYS , I'V E GOT S IX G OO D F RIEN DS A ND S IX WON DE RFUL C OL LE AGUE S A ND I T MAK ES I T QUITE I NT ERES TING A ND MOST EXC ITIN G . TWO YEARS AGO JUS TI CE QUI NC E S UCCESS ED THE CER EMON IA L P ASSING O F T HE GAV EL T O CHI EF J US TICE PAR IE NT E B Y SAYI NG T HAT THE B ES T IS Y ET T O C OM E . T HOSE WORDS AND I Q UOTE T HOSE WORDS. AND AT IF TIME THER E W ER E SOME THAT THOUGHT , THA T' S I MPOSSI BLE, H OW D O Y OU T OP GRE AT , I T' S N OT POSSI BL E. W EL L, C HIEF JUS TICE P AR IENT E S HOWE D A LL OF US J UST HOW THAT WAS TO BE ACC OM PLIS HED. AS THE V ER Y F IR ST ORD ER O F B USINES S O N BEHA LF O F THE E NTIRE F LORI DA S UPRE ME C OURT , O N BEHALF O F O UR E NTIR E C OURT SYSTE M AND OUR W ONDERFUL MEN AND W OMEN A ND JUD GES AL L THE STAFF, AL L T HAT WORK IN T HE SYS TEM, AND O N B EH ALF O F THE ENT IRE PEOPLE OF THE G REAT S TA TE O F FLORIDA, WE E XTENDS OUR A PPRECIATION, OUR G RATI TUDE , AND OUR LOV E FOR Y OUR R EMARKABL E SER VICE AND L EADERSHI P , AND I ASK YOU TO RI SE W ITH ME T O T HANK HER . [APPLAUSE] > > CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE AND IF W E'RE BEI NG I NF OR MA L , BARBAR A, Y OU R CA REER I S A M ODEL F OR A LL TO A DMIR E, YOU R S ERVI CE A S WE C AME TO F LORIDA WOR KI NG AS A C LERK A ND STAFF A TTOR NE Y IN THE SOU THERN D ISTR ICT , YOU R WON DERFUL AND V ARIE D C AR EE R A S A TRI AL L AWYE R I N P RI VATE PRA CTICE IN SOUTH FLO RIDA , Y OUR D ED ICAT ED A ND D ISTI NGUI SH ED CAR EER ON THE D ISTRIC T COURT OF APP EALS , WHERE W E FIR ST MET A ND B OY D ID YOU G RILL M E, B UT WHE RE W E FIR ST M ET AND P RO BABL Y S EVERAL C LIEN TS AND F RI ENDS H ERE THA T I WAS R EP RESE NTIN G AT THE T IME W ER E P RE SENT A S W E FIR ST M ET . I KNEW HER H US BAND , J UDGE AZU RI, MA NY , MAN Y YEA RS B EFOR E T HR OU GH L ITIG ATION AND C ASES. AND I LEA RN ED T O RES PE CT H IS T ALENTS , B UT , B OY , DI D I C OME T O RES PECT YOU RS . B UT M OR E I MP ORTA NTLY Y OUR T ENUR E ON T HI S C OURT AND S PECIFICA LLY Y OU R TEN UR E AS CHIEF J USTICE . Y OU STE PP ED INTO THI S C HIEF'S OFF ICE AT A T IM E O F G REAT P ER SONA L S TRAI N. B UT THA T NEV ER SUR FA CE D , N EVER S URFA CED. AS YO U H AVE B EE N S TAND ING AS T HE R OC K NOT O NL Y OF THI S CO URT AND NOT ONL Y OF T HI S INSTITUTION, BUT FOR T HE E NTIR E C OU RT SYS TEM. A ND Y OU , YOU STA ND A ND Y OU H AVE BEEN I N T HA T POS ITIO N AS YOU R PRE DE CESS OR S A ND I T H AS B EE N S TATE D T ODAY , AND M Y F RIENDS I CAN NO T OVERS TATE I T , THE G RE ATNE SS O F T HE M EN W HO P ROCE ED ED H ER W IT H J US TICE W EL LS A ND J USTI CE A NSTE AD, AN D I , TOO AGR EE A ND A LL W IL L A GREE T HAT T HE STA TE O F FLO RIDA NEEDE D T HOSE STR ON G I NDIV ID UALS A T THA T P OINT I N T IME A ND W HETH ER I T I S A GRE AT P ER SON OR T HE B IG E VENT THA T MAKE S THE DIF FERE NCE , T HR OUGH T HE T ER M O IL E ARLY -200 0S A ND T O THE C HANGE O F THE FUN DI NG S YSTE M , M Y CO LL EAGUES HAV E BEE N R EMARKABLE AND OUT ST ANDI NG J UST A S C HI EF J US TICE PARIE NT E H AS B EEN. E VERY ONE T HA T S TE P SB OS THA T F RONT O FFIC E I S - - S BEP ST EPS I NT O T HAT FRON T O FF IC E I S UNI QU E A ND HAV E THEI R O WN C HARACTER ISTICS AND I'V E HAD T HE HON OR OF S ERVI NG WIT H THOSE WHO W IL L H ISTO RI CALL Y S HOW HAVE BEE N THE GRE AT EST OF A LL T IM E , J USTI CE SHA W , M AJOR HAR DING , C HARL IE AND HAR RY I F I MAY . THE D AY IS A CEL EBRATI ON O F THE IR C ONTR IB UT IO N AS WEL L A S THE C ONTR IB UTION OF ALL O F T HOSE W HO PRE CEDE D ALL O F US. MY FIRST APP EA RA NCE CA ME HERE IN THE FAL L OF 1 97 2 WHEN THE COURT W AS F AR, F AR DIF FERENT AT T HA T TIM E. A ND AS WE ALL KN OW I N T HE LEG AL P ROFESSION , WE' VE G ON E THROUGH S OME STR ESSES A ND STR AINS S INCE THA T TIM E. I M US T T ELL YO U , B AR BARA , Y OU STA ND W IT H THE B ES T EVER. Y OU STAND W IT H T HE BES T E VE R . A ND I U NDER STAN D AS I C OME I NTO T HI S K IND O F C IRCUMS TANCE THAT I CANNOT R EPLACE A J US TICE JUS TICE W ELLS, O R JUS TICE A NSTE AD OR J USTICE P AR IE NT E , I U NDER STAND THAT A ND I W ILL N EVER F IL L T HEIR SHOES B ECAUSE T HEIR SHOES ARE E NORMOU S I N S TA TURE . A NDLY N OT M EA SURE U P TO THE IR S TA NDAR DS , I U NDER STAND T HAT , BUT T HE Y'RE AT LEAST B Y MY SID E A S WE W ORK TO GETHER. B ARBARA , YOU STAND FOR T HE COR E O F ALL VAL UE S THA T WE A DMIRE , I N YOU R LEG AC Y A S W E'VE ALR EA DY H EA RD , I S G OING TO BE LIS TE D AS Y OU R D EDICAT ION AND DET ER MINA TION F OR FAIR A ND E QUAL T REAT ME NT O F E VERY ON E THR OUGH THE U NIFIED F AMIL Y CO UR T , THR OUGH CHI LD REN' S ISSUE , D RUG COUR T A ND YET W E CAN S IT HER E ALL DAY AND L IS T A LL T HOSE ACH IE VEME NT S AND H OW Y OU'R E GOIN G TO B E M ARKE D. THE MOST I MPOR TA NTLY , WE COME AND A DMIR E Y OU R STR ENGT H O F C HARA CT ER , Y OU R P ERSONA L S ACRI FI CE S , D IFFICU LTIES IN BEING A F AMIL Y P ERSON, TO ME , I D ON'T KNO W H OW YOU 'VE B EEN AB LE T O D O THI S J OB . A ND F RE D, T HANK Y OU F OR P ERMITTING H ER T O D O T HI S JOB , BUT T HE S EP AR ATIO N T O B E APA RT A ND T O D O THE JOB O F THE P EOPL E IS R EMAR KABL E A ND WE ALL L OV E YOU FOR I T AND T HANK Y OU FOR TAK IN G T HAT PART. T HE L AS T T WO YEA RS HAVE B EE N E VEN M ORE D EMAN DING . S HE CAM E I NT O T HI S UN DE R THE S TRESS O F M EDICAL CON CE RNS, T HE S TRES S O F DEM ANDS C AUSING F URTH ER F AM IL Y S EPAR AT ION S A ND L EADI NG T HI S COU RT S YSTEM, BUT NOT O NE T IME I N M Y BROTH ERS A ND S ISTERS U P HERE WIL L T EL L Y OU DID SHE EVE R HINT OF A NYTH IN G OTHER THA N F ULL STEAM A HEAD , NEV ER SLO WE D D OWN, A ND HER M OTTO I S "WE C AN C ONQU ER A NY OBS TA CL E " AND SHE H AS , A NY AND ALL O BSTACLES. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THA T NOT ONLY ARE YOU ARE R OL E M ODEL, BUT YOU H AV E E STABLI SHED YOU RS ELF I N T HE H ISTORY O F T HI S IN STIT UT IO N AND A S YOUR P RE DECE SSOR S T HAT YO U H AV E A LREA DY C OMMENT ED U PON AND Y OU , Y OU W ILL B E R EF LECT ED I N THE H ISTORY O F T HI S G REAT S TATE . YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS, M Y FRIEND C ANNOT G O W ITHO UT M EN TION . W E P AY T RI BUTE T O EXP RE SS O UR A PPRE CIAT IO N T O A LL THE J UDGE S OF T HI S I NSTI TU TI ON AND OUR NEW B ROTH ERS TH AT H AVE COME O N SINC E I'V E C OME T O T HE COURT , JUS TICE C ANTERO W HO I LOV ED B EF ORE E VEN CAME HER E , W E'VE KNO WN E ACH OTH ER FOR Y EA RS A ND Y EARS AND Y EARS , TH ANK YO U FOR C OME HERG A ND I K NO W IT H AS BEEN A S TR ESS O N YOU R FAM ILY AS WELL. A ND JUS TICE W ELLS I T HAS B EEN AN HON OR T O SERV E W IT H YOU A ND I K NO W THE SEP ARAT ION ON YOUR FAM ILY TO C OME TO T HI S A RE A. B UT THIS I S A D AY WHE RE T O REF LECT O N T HE INS TI TUTI ON , T HE P EO PL E AND I WAS V ERY H ESITAN T TO GO THR OUGH A DAY S UCH A S T ODAY BEC AUSE I WAS CON CERNED T HAT I T NOT BE E NOUGH ABOUT THE INS TI TUTI ON I N ALL O F US A ND WE' VE SHA RED THO SE T HO UGHTS A ND THIS IS A CHANGING, T HI S I S NOT A RE- CREA TI NG O F THE W HEEL, IT I S MOV IN G FOR WA RD W ITH TH E H EL P OF M Y B RO THER A ND S ISTE RS H ERE AT THE COURT.SO WITH THAT TRI BU TE T O AL L O F YOU , L ET'S S EE I F W E CAN P ROCEED A ND FIN IS H UP I N A SHO RT PER IOD OF TIME.NEXT I WOULD C AL L O N - - HAV EN'T COM MITTED T O MEM OR Y YET , THE Y L EE, THEY S EE M T O BE WOR KING . W OULD LIK E TO CAL L O N DAN S TENG LE WHO IS GEN ER AL C OUNSEL T O F ORME R G OV ERNO R L AWTON CHILE S WHEN I C AME TO T HE COURT. >> M AY I T PL EASE T HE C OURT? M R. CHIEF JUSTICE , JUS TI CES OF THE COURT , H ON ORED G UEST S , IT I S M Y HIG H HO NC H O-- H ONOR A ND P RIVILEGE T O C ONGRAT ULATE THE N EW C HIEF J USTICE O N BEH AL F OF A LL O F Y OUR F RI EN DS A ND F AM IL Y A SSEMBLED HER E O N BE HA LF O F A LL OF THO SE W ATCH IN G T HROUGH T HE M AG IC O F T ECHN OL OGY AND O N BEHALF OF T HE STATE C IT IZEN S , C ONGRATUL ATIONS . I H AV E -- WHA T WER E Y OU G UY S WHINI NG A BOUT HAV IN G TO F OLLOW H .T. S MITH , I H AD T O F OLLO W L INDS EY L EWIS , W HE N H ANK COX E GO T UP A ND S AI D , I DID N'T K NO W TH ER E WAS A NY ELEME NT O F THIS THAT WAS GOING T O BE FUN NY , I T HO UGHT I DID N' T K NOW TH ER E WAS A NY ELE MENT T HA T WAS S UPPO SED TO B E SERIO US , THE N LEE SHA W GET S UP HER E AN D T AKES CAR E OF T HA T. T HE R ESPO NS IBIL ITIE S O F THE FLO RIDA S UPREME C OU RT , LADIES A ND GENTLEMEN, ARE G REAT AND S OLEM N. B UT TOD AY IS A DAY O F C EL EBRATI ON . F OR USU ALLY T HE F OC US O F THE COURT I S O N AS JU STIC E L EWIS S AID, T HE PRO CE SSES A ND T HE L AW A ND THE HEA VY D ELIBER ATIONS ON T HE WEI GH TY MATTERS THA T ARE B EFOR E THI S C OURT. B UT TODAY A ND THE R EASO N HE W AS H ES ITAN T ABOUT D OING THIS, WE HON OR THE I NDIVID UALS INVOLVE D I N S TEER IN G T HI S I MPOR TANT A SPECT O F T HE S HI P AND S TATE. WE HON OR THE LEADE RSHI P OF THE OUTGOING IN G CH IE F , THE STA BILITY OF T HE I NSTI TU TI ONOF THE SUPREME COURT AND WE H ONOR THE Q UALI FI CA TI ON S AND REC OG NI ZE THE NEW RES PO NSIBIL ITIES OF THE I NCOMIN G CHI EF . B UT AS I S AT H ER E AND L IS TENED T O THOSE SPE ECHE S A ND C ROSSED O FF P AR AGRA PH A FTER PAR AGRA PH I N M Y OWN , I REA LIZE D I W AS A SK ED T O COME UP HERE T O P LA Y C LEAN UP , T O K EEP I T HON ES T , LE T M E STA RT W ITH Y OU D r. PRI CE , YOU DID F INE TI LLINGHEST YOU GOT TO THE J UDY L EWIS ' I S A N A NGEL P ART. [ LAUG HTER] I 'M NOT S UR E W HAT THE STAND AR DS A RE F OR G EN TLEM EN O F THE CLO TH , B UT B OY , THO SE O F US W HO A RE O F T HE BAR W OULD NOT HAVE GOT TE N BY W ITH T HAT . A ND WHI LE I 'M ONT O YO U , YOU P OINTED OUT THA T THE NEW C HIEF J USTICE WAS N OT A SLE EK O F B OD Y AS H E U SE D TO BE. AND I'V E S EE N T HOSE H IG H S CHOOL PICTURE , T HO SE O F U S W HO HAV E EXP AN DE D A LIT TL E BIT IN THE P AS T FEW Y EARS WOU LD F IN ALLY SAY H E -- WOUL D S AY H E FIN ALLY GRE W INT O HIS EARS. [LA UGHTER] >> JU STIC E P AR IENT E , WHIL E W E H AV E HO NO RE D Y OU V ER Y A PPROPRIA TE LY TODAY AND WHILE I T WARMS O UR H EA RT T O DO SO A ND W E THAN K YO U SO MUCH FOR YOUR SAC RI FICE, Y OU'RE NO LO NGER T HE CHIEF AND Y OU S TOOD U P H ER E AND S AID J UD GE AZURI HAD A SKED HIM TO STOP GIV IN G H IM S O MANY PUB LI C A CC OLAD ES , C OM E O N. [LA UGHT ER]

I W IL L LE AD T O T HE I NTERNA L W ORKING S O F THE C OURT T O J US TIFY THA T LAUGH A ND CAN DOR. A S HAS BEEN TH E T RA DI TION AT LEAST IN THE LAST F EW D ECADES T HE NEWLY INS TA LLED C HIEF P RE SENTS A THEME F OR H IS OR HER A DMIN ISTR ATIO N F OR THE S TATE C OU RT S YS TEM. Y OU M AY THI NK O F T HI S FOR T HE T IME BE IN G HAS THE M OS T P REEMINENT OFF IC E I N T HE STA TE C OU RT S YSTE M FOR ADM IN IS TERI NG JUSTICE AND YOU HAVE HEARD MAN Y TIMES T ODAY THE V IS IO N O F JUS TI CE T HAT W E E XPEC T T O SE E FRO M T HE NEW CHI EF JUS TI CE A ND T HAT WE W IL L H EA R ABO UT FRO M H IM IN JU ST A M OM ENT. W E LOO K TO T HE G UI DING S OURC E S IN L OOKI NG T O ENS UR E T HAT THE QUE ST F OR J USTI CE REM AINS A C ON STAN T IN THE W ORKI NG S OF OUR G OVER NM ENT , B E IT E XECU TIVE , L EGIS LA TIVE OR J UD ICIA L . W E LOO K T O THE CON STIT UT IO N. W E LOOK TO THE LAW S AN D T O T HE ESTAB LI SHED PROCE SS ES F OR T HE W ORKI NG S O F OUR T HREE B RA NCHE S O F G OVERNMEN T. THE L IMIT AT IONS ON TH E P OWER O F EAC H , THE CHE CK S AND B ALAN CE S , E STAB LISH ED I N OUR S YSTEM A ND T HE R ESERVA TION O F POWER T O THE P EOPL E ALL D ESIG NE D T O A CHIEVE J USTI CE . B UT TOD AY TOD AY I T I S T HE F INAL A NA LY SI S IT IS THE I NDIVIDUAL W HO I S LAR GELY R ESPONS IB LE EVERY D AY T O S EE K JUSTICE AND T O ADM INIS TER J USTICE O N BEH ALF OF ALL O F OU R C ITIZ EN S A S A LLEN A ND PAT WROTE I N HIS C OURAGEOU S NOV EL L " CR Y OF THE B ELOV ED COU NT RY I N SOU TH A FRICA " MEN A RE PRO UD O F T HEIR J UD GE S BE CAUS E THE Y B ELIEVE T HEY'RE I NCORRU PTAB LE, E VEN THE BLACK MEN H AVE FAITH I N THE M ALTH OUGH THEY DO N OT A LWAY S H AVE F AITH I N THE LAW , I N A L AND O F FEAR, THI S I NCORRU PTIBILITY I S L IKE A L AMB S ET U PO N A S TAND , G IVING L IF E T O AL L T HA T ARE I N THE HOU SE . W EL L, TOD AY W E GA TH ER T O S HOW O UR R ESPE CT AND G RATITUDE T O ON E OF TH OS E I NDIVIDUALS AND T O EXA MI NE T HE Q UALITY O F OUR N EW CHI EF J USTICE , OUR L AM P , O UR F RE D LEW IS. T HOSE O F YOU WHO HAV E W ATCHED H IM O N THE F WHEN CH T HE FIRST P ART OF H IS CAR EE R Y OU'L L REA LIZE T HI S L AM P HAS A HOT B UL B AND A COL D B ULB. A ND T HE RE I S OFT ENTI ME THA T Y OU WIL L KN OW W HA T YOU T HINK I S WHA T J USTI CE LEW IS I S E XACTLY THI NKIN G, Y OU MAY F IND O UT W HE N YO U GET T HE Q UALITY OF H IS Q UE STIONS AND T HE QUALITY O F HIS Q UEST IONS W HEN YOU W IN O R LO SE A S P AR T OF THE TEA M THA T IS THE F LORIDA S UPRE ME C OU RT . Y OU H AV E HE ARD A G RE AT D EA L A BOUT JUS TICE L EWIS ' A THLETI C P RO WESS , H IS A THLE TIC P RO WESS H E U NDERSTAN D S W AS A A CHIE VE D I N G OO D M EASU RE T HR OUGH THE Q UALITY O F H IS TEA M. A ND HE HAS A V ERY, H IGHL Y Q UALIFIED TEA M AN D W E W ELCOME H IM A S T HE NEW PIT CHER . H AD THE H IG H H ONOR TO MAD E T HE A PPOI NTME NT O F J USTI CE LEW IS. I T OL D H.T . T HA T F RED LEWIS M AD E A S EC TION W IT H G OVER NO R CHI LES I N H IS INT ERVI EW . WEL L, HE HAS S INCE M ADE A C ONNE CT IO N WITH A GRE AT M AN Y F LORI DIAN S A S ANN ETTE P IT TS W ILL T ALK AB OUT A ND A S YO U H AV E COM E TO U ND ERST AN D. MY F IR ST M EETI NG WIT H FRED L EWIS WAS I N THE I NTER VI EW FOR T HE SUPREME C OU RT A ND I T WAS ON A SUN DA Y A W EE K B EFOR E G OVER NO R C HILE S DIE D THAT H E P HO NE D FRE D L EWIS IN NE W Y OR K A ND T OLD HIM H E WAS G OING T O P UT H IM O N TH E HIG H C OURT A ND COULD H E B E I N T ALLAHA SSEE T HE NEXT D AY B ECAUSE HE S CH EDULED A PRESS CON FERENCE. AND I GOT ON THE P HONE AND F OUND O UT T HA T J USTI CE LEWIS , WH O WAS N OT YET A JUS TICE W AS C AU SING M E P ROBL EM S BY S AYING , I M AY B E I N NE W YO RK B UT I CAN 'T C OM E T O T ALLAHA SS EE THIS AFTERNOON. I SAID , THERE I S N O F LIGH T A FTER 3 :0 0 A ND I'V E GO T T O G ET Y OU I N HER E TO DAY. A ND HE S AID, WEL L , I 'M GOI NG T O MIA MI T O G ET M Y DAU GH TE R L INDS EY . S HE MAY NOT K NO W M UC H ABOUT W HAT I S GOING O N, B UT I 'M N OT DOING THI S WI TH OUT HER. [ APPLAU SE]

A ND T HROUGH A FEW MUC H NATION, T HAT IS WHA T HE DI D. MY N EX T E NC OUNT ER WAS C ARRY IN G L INDS EY UP THE S TAIRS OF T HE R ADIS SO N T HA T NI GHT , I H AD A LR EADY M ET AL LE WHO HAD F LOWN I N FRO M R ICE UN IVER SITY IN H OUST ON W HO A FTER I F OU ND OUT W AS C HECKED I N W EN T D OWN TO VISIT AND F INAL LY L OOKE D A T M E AN D S AID , I'D R EA LL Y LIK E T O TALK, B UT I H AV E A N EXA M O RDINAR Y TU ESDAY AND I WASN'T REALLY P REPARED TO TAKE TOMORROW O FF , I T HOUG HT I 'M PRETT Y IMP OR TA NT, BU T T HIS APP LE DID N' T FAL L FA R FROM THE TREE. O KAY , THE N I M ET J UD E JUD Y A ND INDEE D A LOV EL Y V ISIT A ND C OM PLET EL Y FRA EN GE D OU T AND SAID YOU W EREN 'T P REPARE D F OR H IM B EI NG A PPOINT ED TO T HE SUPREME COURT?WE WERE V IRTU AL LY T HREE O R F OUR WEEKS F ROM THE END O F T HE CHI LE S A DM INIS TR ATIO N AND T HE G OV ERNO R WAS S CHEDUL IN G A LL O F THE SE W ONDERFUL D INNE RS T O T HANK T HE P EOPL E WHO SER VE D HI M AND M ONDA Y N IGHT THA T VER Y N IGHT, T HE VER Y NEX T NI GH T T HE LEW IS ES W ER E G OI NG TO DI DN 'TER WITH T HE SUPREMECOURT AT THE MANSION AND J UDY LEW IS S AID, I T IS NO T THE SUPREME COU RT , W HAT IS T HIS M ANSION D INNE R DEAL? S HE HADN' T AN TI CIPATED THA T . I T OLD H ER W ELL , I 'LL SI T YOU WIT H M Y W IF E , SHE' LL B E A S U NHAP PY T O BE THE RE A S YOU WIL L. I W OR KE D O UT JUS T G REAT . YOU K NOW VE RY W EL L A BOUT J USTICE L EWIS ' H UMBL E B ACKGRO UND AND V ER Y M UC H HO W SO THA T H E D OE SN 'T F ORGE T F ROM WH ENCE H E CAM E, HE HA S A JAR O F C OA L A S THO UG H THI S M AN C OU LD EVE R F ORGE T FRO M WH ENCE HE CA ME T HI S IS A MAN W HO WILL PU T O N A FLO WE RE D S MOKE AND FIN GE R P AI NT W IT H H IS D AU GH TER. T HIS IS A GUY W HO C OU LDN' T F ORGET WHERE H E C AM E F RO M I F H E H AD W ANTE D TO . A ND, OF COURS E , WE KNO W WHE RE H E CAM E FROM , BECKL EY, WEST VIR GI NI A, I D ON 'T K NOW IF Y OU H EARD T HE N ATIO NA L P UBLI C RAD IO S TORY THE OTH ER D AY, T HE W ES T VIR GI NI A L IA RS CLU B FIN AL C ONTE ST T AKES P LACE EVE RY Y EA R I N B EC KLEY , WEST V IR GINI A . [LA UGHTER]

I H AV E SIN CE COM E T O F IGUR E OUT IT I S BEC AUSE THE L AS T H ONES T MAN HAD A LREA DY MOVED A WAY. [LA UGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] L ET ME CO NCLU DE B Y SAY IN G T HA T M AN Y P EO PL E H AVE S AI D MAN Y P ER SO NA L T HING S A BOUT F RED L EW IS . H E I S A F IN E , Q UALI TY M AN, O NE O F THE L AST THI NG S DOU GLAS AND I REM EM BE R, G OVERNO R CHI LE S DID WAS A UTOG RA PH P IC TURE S T O F RE D LEW IS S AY IN G I K NO W YOU 'L L MAKE M E P ROUD . AN D H E HAS AND H E WOUL D H AVE. F RED L EW IS I S G OING T O B E GUI DED , OF C OU RSE, B Y T HE S CALE S O F J US TICE , T HE - - YOU KNOW, I DON'T K NO W , W E HAVEN' T HAD T HI S C ONVERSAT ION WH ETHER WE L IKE T HE O LD S CALE S O F JU STIC E , L ADY JU ST ICE WHERE S HE D OESN'T HAVE A BLI NDFO LD O R L ADY JUS TICE WHE RE S HE D OES HAVE A B LI NDFO LD , THE M OR E M ODERN O NE THA T SAY S I A M B LIND , E VE RYON E I S EQU AL . O NE O F T HE C OMMO N T ATEO RS H AS REC EN TL Y S AI D T HAT W ITHOUT - - WIT HO UT T HE B LINDFOLD THE L AD Y JUS TICE B ETTE R, S HE CAN B ETTE R T EMPE R JUSTI CE W ITH MER CY B ECAUSE SHE CAN SEE T HE I MPAC T OF J US TICE ON H UMAN ITY. T HE I MP ACT O F J US TICE O N H UMANIT Y TAKES P LACE EVE RY D AY THROU GH T HE WOR K O F T HIS T EA M, T HI S C OLLE GIAL B OD Y , B ECAUSE WE HAV E SET I T U P S O T HAT THI S R EPRE SE NT S A D IVERSI TY OF BAC KGRO UN D AND OPI NION A ND EXPERIENCE SOTHAT AS NEARLY A S POS SI BL E A C LEAR VOICE T HA T HAS C OM E F ROM A CHO RU S O F MI ND S AND V OICES C AN B E B ROUG HT FOR TH T O D O JUS TICE F OR T HE C ITIZEN S O F FLO RIDA . WE A RE I N G OO D HANDS , LADI ES AND GEN TLEMEN. W E THA NK A GAIN J US TICE P ARIENT E F OR HER SER VI CE S , C HIEF J USTI CE W EL LS , F OR J USTICE A NS TEAD A ND T HEIR C OLLEAGUES ON T HE COURT. L ET ME F INIS H WITH ONE L ITTL E P OE M T HA T I T HI NK S AYS MOR E THA N ANYT HI NG A BOUT WHAT JUSTICE IS. A ND Y OU HAV E HEA RD T ODAY S O M UCH ABO UT H OW I MPOR TANT F AMILY, H OW I MPOR TA NT B ENEFIT ING BACK , HOW I MPORTA NT D OING JUS TICE HAS B EEN FOR JUS TI CE LEW IS . T HIS IS FROM A N ANC IE NT P OE M , " GO D T H Y A PRO TECT IO N AND IN P ROTECTION , S TR ENGT H. AND I N S TREN GT H , RE ASON . A ND I N R EASO N , J US TI CE. A ND IN JUS TICE , L OVE. A ND I N LO VE , THE L OV E O F GO D A ND I N T HE L OV E O F GO D , THE L OVE OF E VERY LIV IN G TH IN G. " T HAT' S FOR Y OU , CH IEF. [ APPLAUSE ]

NEXT W E ARE G OING T O H AV E O UR DAU GHTE R FROM H OUST ON , B UT UNF OR TUNA TELY S HE WAS R USH ED T O SUR GERY WED NE SDAY EVENING , L AT E WED NE SD AY N IGHT AND S HE A ND HER HUS BAND CLA RK A RE FRO M H OUSTON A RE U NABL E TO BE W IT H U S BUT ARE S HARI NG THI S E VENT T HROUGH THE I NTER NE T A ND THA NK S T O O UR P REDECESS ORS W HO HAVE M ADE T HE B ROAD CA ST O F OUR P ROCEED INGS A VAILABLE TO ALL CIT IZEN S WHO M AY WAN T T O PAR TAKE . S O I W IS H T HA T SHE HAD B EEN HE RE , BU T W E A LL S EN D OUR L OVE T O ELL E A ND CLA RK . [ AP PLAUSE] N EXT , WE WIL L R ECOG NIZE M S. A NN ETTE P ITTS W HO I S A F RIEND OF AL L OF U S.

MA Y I T P LEAS E TH E COU RT .

IT DO ES .

THAN K Y OU. Y OUR HONOR, I B EL IEVE I 'M THE F INAL S PE AK ER TOD AY . A ND I WIL L HAVE S OM E T ECHNOL OGY ASSISTANCE AND S OME PHOTO S WHI CH , BY T HE WAY , YOU 'V E P ROMI SE D M E YO U WOU LD N OT GET A NGRY W IT H M E FOR ANY OF THE PHO TO S T HAT I SEL ECTED. M Y PRE SE NTAT ION CO UL D BE A L ITTLE L ONGE R B ECAU SE O F THE PHO TOS , S O PLE ASE DO NOT TUR N ON THE R ED L IGHT SO THAT I C AN H AV E T HE T IME T HAT I NEED. I'M HERE TO S PEAK R EALL Y O N BEH ALF O F FLO RI DA'S TEA CH ER S A ND S TUDENT S AN D WE HAV E A NUM BER O F T HOSE T EA CHER S HER E TO DAY. W OULD Y OU STA ND AND RAISE YOU R H AND. [ APPL AU SE] F IRST JUS TICE P AR IENT E , M AY I T AKE T HE OPP ORTU NI TY T O THANK YOU F OR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND Y OU R S UP PORT O F YOU R ADM INIS TRAT ION , YOU'VE D ONE SO M UC H TO EDUCATE T HE PUB LI C A BOUT T HIS BR ANCH OF G OV ERNMENT, WE' RE DEE PL Y G RATE FU L FOR YOU TO T HAT. C HIEF J US TICE LEW IS , I WAN T F LORIDIANS T O K NO W Y OU AND U NDERSTAND YOU A S THI S PER SON N OW WHO I S LE ADIN G OUR J UDICIA L BRA NC H IN T HE S TA TE OF F LORIDA . AND I W ANT THEM T O K NO W YOU B EYON D THE C OU RTROOM , M ANY F ACETS O F Y OU R L IFE. Y OU ARE D ESTI NE D T O B E H ER E . I DID NOT KNO W YOU WHE N YO U W ERE IN FIR ST G RADE A T L INCOLN E LEME NTAR Y SCH OOL. YOU WER E I N M IS STOV ER 'S C LASS . P LEAS E R EM EMBE R , YOU R H ONOR , T HAT YOU'RE OK AY W IT H THE SE PIC TURE S. I KNO W T HAT YOUR L OV E FOR C OMMI TM EN T AND COM MI T ME NT TO EDUCAT ION BEGAN IN THA T CLASSROOM AND I KNOW THAT YOU C AN NAME E VE RY TEA CHER T HAT Y OU'V E EVE R HA D , BECAUS E T EA CHER S HAV E HAD A PRO FO UND I MP ACT O N YOU R L IFE. Y OU H OLD A D EE P AND A BIDI NG RESPE CT FOR T EA CHER S , IN F ACT, YOU E VE N MAR RI ED ONE . JUDY , TEA CHER M IAMI -D ADE COUNTY, YOU'RE A L UCKY MAN T O HAVE HER A S Y OU R PA RTNE R IN LI FE. JUDY HAS TOL D M E O FTEN O F TI ME S W HE N NEI GHBO RH OO D C HILDRE N WOULD KOL L TO YOU R HOUSE I N THE E VE NING BEF ORE YOU HAD C HILDREN AND THEY W OULD KNOCK ON THE D OO R , C AN M R. LEW IS C OM E OUT AND PLA Y ? C HILDREN H AV E ALW AY S G RAVITATED T OW ARDS YOU AND N OW I K NO W W HY . T HE N WHE N YOU BEC AM E A F ATHER, Y OU UND ER STOOD THE T RUE MEA NING O F LIF E A ND R EALIZE D THA T H AVIN G CHILD RE N W AS F OREV ER T O H AVE Y OUR HE ART W ALKING ARO UND O UTSIDE Y OUR B ODY. Y OU NEVER M ISSE D AN Y O F E LLE'S E VE NT S FRO M B ROWN IE S T O C HA MP IO NS HI P T ENNI S M ATCHES. YOU WERE ALW AY S THERE T O E NCOU RA GE H ER AND LOO K AT T HE WOM AN SHE IS T ODAY . M EDICAL C HA LL ENGE S Y OU F AC E W ITH YOU R S ECON D DAU GH TE R L INDSEY B RO UG HT YOU I N T OU CH W ITH CHILDREN I N THE M OS T VUL NERABL E C IR CUMS TA NCES . B UT I T O PE NE D YOU R HEA RT AND I T SHA PE D YOU R C HARA CT ER . S TILL, I DID N OT K NO W YOU A T T HA T POI NT U NTIL YOU W ER E A PPOINT ED T O T HIS CO URT. W E MET AT THE RETIR EMEN T O F J USTICE GER ALD KOG AN . Y OU'LL TOLD ME AT T HA T C EREMON Y THA T Y OU W OU LD L IK E TO VOL UNTEER AT O UR O RG ANIZATION. AND WHEN WE MET I R EA LLY DIDN 'T KNOW W HA T T O E XPECT. A ND YOU T OL D M E T HAT YO U W OULD LIK E T O V ISIT S CHOO LS T HREE OR FO UR TIMES A M ON TH . A ND WHE N I P ICKE D MYS EL F U P O FF THE F LOOR , I THO UGHT I W AS S O N ERVO US T HA T M AYBE I J US T MIS UN DE RSTO OD HIM . CER TAINLY , H E D IDN' T H AV E TIME TO VIS IT T HR EE T O F OU R S CHOOLS A M ONTH . B UT I DID NOT K NO W Y OU . I H AD T O LEA RN F OR M YSEL F. S INCE THA T DAY CHIEF JUS TICE LEW IS H AS VIS ITED THR EE T O FOU R S CH OOLS E VERY M ONTH S INCE HIS APP OI NTME NT T O T HE BEN CH, M ISSI NG ONL Y ONE M ONTH , N OVEM BER 2 00 0 , FOR OBV IOUS R EA SONS . VIS IT A LL AGE S AND W E'D TEAC H ABOUT THE C OU RTS AND THE C ONSTITUTION.I WANT TO S HARE T HI S SID E OF Y OU W IT H THE PEO PLE HE RE T ODAY T O H AV E SU CH A H IGH-LEVE L G OV ERNM EN T O FFICIAL I NTER AC TING W IT H C HILD RE N ALL OVE R THI S S TATE H AS BRO UGHT A H UMAN SID E T O JUS TICE. YOU R C OURT F AMIL Y HAS S UPPO RTED YOU IN THIS E NDEAVO R , GAYLE NOW J UGGL ES Y OUR CALE NDAR WHENE VER A T EACHER C ALLS A ND S AY S CAN J USTICE LEW IS C OM E T O P LAY? Y OUR S TAFF A SSIS TS W IT H P RESENTATIONS AND CUR RI CULU M DEV ELOP MENT F OR THE JUS TICE T EACHIN G I NS TI TUTE. FOR O N AN U PLIF TE D N OTE, I W OULD L IKE T O L OO K A T SOME O F T HESE PIC TURE S W HICH W E SHAR E A S LES SONS I N LAW AND L ESSON S I N L IF E , LIKE T HE E LEMENTAR Y SCH OOL THAT WE V ISIT ED , O NE O F O UR FIRST S CHOOLS W E WER E WA LK ING DO WN T HE HAL L AN D T HE PRI NC IPAL WAS L EA DI NG U S D OW N THE H AL L AND WHE N W E TU RN ED THE C ORNE R I L OOKED AR OUND A ND HE WAS G OING , JUS TICE - - J USTICE L EW IS I S GO NE , HOW C AN YOU MIS PL AC E A G UY I N A R OBE? W HERE DID H E GO? I BEG AN T O R ETRACE M Y S TE PS A ND L OO KE D IN EVE RY DOO RWAY T HAT WAS O PE NE D A ND T HE RE H E WAS H AV ING THE TIM E O F HIS LIFE WIT H A K IN DERG ARTEN C LASS I N H IS ROB E. W HAT SEEM S T O HAV E HA PPEN ED I S A L ITTL E B OY H AD F ORGO TTEN HIS S HO W A ND T EL L T HAT DA Y A ND WHE N HE O BSER VED T HI S WON DE RF UL L OOKING JUDGE W AL KI NG D OWN THE HALL, WHAT A G REAT SHO W A ND TEL L I TE M. S O H E ASK ED AND , OF C OURS E , C HIEF J USTICE LEW IS S AI D Y ES. SO WE COUL D DO NOT HING M OR E T HAN W AI T UNT IL SHO W AND T ELL W AS OVE R AND M OVE ONTO T HE R EG ULAR C LASS W E H AD S CHEDULED T O W ORK WITH . W E DO L OT S O F S UB STAN TIVE L ESSONS , BU T W E HAV E LOT S O F F UN. D O YOU REM EMBE R THE E LEME NTARY STU DENT T HA T W E H AD WOR KE D WIT H A LL YEA R LONG. W E WER E T OL D T HESE W ER E THE LOW EST REA DI NG LEV EL STUDENTS IN THE S CHOOL. B UT WE H AV E THE M DOI NG C AS E S TUDIES J UST L IK E L AW S TUDENT S W IT H U.S . SU PR EM E C OURT CAS ES. T HEY WERE THE J USTI CE S A PPLYIN G THEIR K NO WLEDGE OF U .S. CON STIT UT IO N C ASES . O NE CAS E I N PA RT ICUL AR W AS T HE TINKE R C AS E , B LA CK A RMBAND C AS E, W E CALL WITH I T E LE ME NTAR Y STU DENT S WHE RE S OME S TU DENT S H AD DEC IDED T O E XPRESS T HE IR O PINI ON S AB OU T T HE W AR , V IE TNAM B Y WEA RING B LACK A RMBA ND S TO SC HOOL . W E BROUGH T I N B LA CK CLO TH A ND TIE D IT A RO UN D T HEIR ARM A ND WE HAD T HEM E XP ERIE NCE THIS LESSON WITH U S. A ND SOMET IM ES YOU L EA VE A CLA SSROOM A ND Y OU'RE N OT S URE HO W M UC H THE STU DE NTS GAIN F ROM T HA T LES SO N . B UT W E F OUND OUT MON TH S L ATER THA T THE Y R EA LL Y DID U NDERSTAND , BECAUS E THE T EACHER T OLD U S THA T T HE Y HAD STA GE D A SIL EN T PR OTES T IN THE CAFETERIA ABO UT THE QUA LITY O F FOO D I N T HEIR S CHOOLS. >> AND WE WER EN'T I NV ITED BACK, WER E W E?

W E WER EN'T I NVIT ED BAC K. >> THE TEA CH ER S SA ID T HE Y WER E SYM BO LI CA LL Y EXP RE SS IN G T HEIR F EELI NG S AB OU T T HE Q UALITY O F L UNCH ES . ONE T HING T HAT I HA VE NOT U NDERST OOD I S HOW YOU E NABL Y K NOW W HI CH C HILD RE N I N A C LASS NEE D S OM E S PECI AL A TTENTI ON . I D ON'T U NDER ST AN D I T , BU T F ROM TH E M OM ENT W E W AL K I N HE SEEMS T O S PO T T HA T CHI LD . AND YOU GRA VITA TE TOW AR DS T HAT CHILD A ND Y OU O FFER A KIN DNESS A ND A S EN SE O F COM PASS ION T HA T HEL P YOU B OTH GR OW. W E VIS I T' SED A H IGH S CH OOL -- WE VIS ITED A H IGH SCHO OL ONC E W HE RE THE RE W AS A S TUDENT W HO STU TTER ED A L OT. A ND IT WA S TAKIN G S O LO NG TO GET A Q UEST IO N O UT . HE R AISE D HIS H AND AND THE C LASS W OULD L AUGH . A ND ROL L T HE IR E YE S AND WHA T YOU D ID WAS WAL K UP T O THE CHI LD , S TUDE NT AND L OO K A T H IM I N THE EYE S A ND YOU W AITED AND Y OU WAI TE D A ND Y OU W AI TE D A ND YOU WAI TE D U NTIL THE Q UEST IO N CAM E OUT . A ND THA T E NCOU RA GE D H IM S O M UCH TH AT H E ASK ED A NOTH ER Q UESTIO N. A ND ANOTH ER Q UE ST IO N. A ND THOUGH WE DID N' T H AV E TIME TO FIN IS H T HE LES SO N , THE L ESSO N WAS GRE AT ER T HA N THE LES SO N WE W ER E T HERE T O T EACH. S OON T HE STU DE NT S S TOPP ED L AUGHIN G AND THE Y STO PPED ROL LI NG T HEIR E YE S. A ND T HEY R EA LI ZE D THA T THI S S TUDE NT M US T H AV E S OMET HING IMPORTANT TO SAY AND MUS T B E W ORTH L IS TE N IN G T O I F T HE JUSTI CE O F THE FLO RI DA SUPRE ME COURT W OULD STO P AND L ISTEN. SO I L EA RNED P ATIE NC E F RO M Y OU. ALL OF THE C HI LDRE N B EHIN D M E HAV E S TORIES . Y OU E NCOU RAGE T HE M TO B E Y OUR BEST . Y OU SHOW THE M T HA T L AW I S N OT A MYS TERY , IT IS NOT R OCKE T SCIENCE. THEY CAN U NDER ST AND AN D A PPLY IT TO THE IR E VERY DA Y L IVES . Y OU T EACH T HE M T HA T W E AR E I NDEE D F OR TUNATE T O L IV E IN THIS C OUNT RY AND H AVE TH E RIGHTS THAT WE HAV E AND THE L EGAL PRO CE SS ES THA T WE HAV E I N T HI S C OUNT RY . O NE O F M Y F ON DEST M EMOR IE S IS THI S L ITTL E RED -HAI RE D B OY SITTI NG IN TH E F RONT O F A CLASS THAT W E W EN T TO SEE A ND YOU , A GA IN , PIC KE D HIM O UT , W EN T STR AI GH T TO H IM , PIC KED HIM OUT AND G AV E HIM S O S PECI AL A TTEN TION , WHICH W E LATER F OUND WAS NEE DED F OR V ARIO US R EA SONS , T EA CH ER PASSED A N OT E AS W E W ER E L EAVING , BU T WHA T I D IDN' T K NOW THA T DAY W HE N I MET Y OU O UTSIDE T HA T S CHOO L WAS T HA T Y OU HAD J US T G OT TE N O UT O F T HE HOS PITA L. YOU HAD H AD A N APP EN DE CT OMY. A ND H E NE VER T OLD ME , H E J UST S HOWE D UP A T THE S CHOO L . H E HAD O N S OM E P ANTS O R SUSPE NDERS , I TH IN K, I'M S UR E H E WAS N' T C OMFO RT ABLE , W HAT AN INC RE DIBL E P ERSO N AND YOU T AUGH T M E PER SEVE RA NCE. F INALLY A RO UN D CHR ISTM AS T IME WE WENT TO VIS A TE SCH OO L THAT W E SP ENT A LOT O F T IME AT, A VER Y LOW S OCIO EC ONOM IC SCHOOL , J USTICE LEW IS W ANTED TO BRING T HEM LUNCH F OR C HRISTMAS. HE STO PP ED A T M cD ONAL D S ON THE W AY A ND O RDER ED 45 C HE ESEB URGERS , FIS H S ANDW IC H W ITH A PP LE -PIE S , Y OU N AM E IT. >> SOUNDS LIKE WHAT I E AT , C OUNT RY I T A ND YOU W ONDE R W HERE THE W EIGH T H AS GON E?

W E DON' T DO T HA T EVERY DAY , B UT W E D ID THI S D AY AND , YOU KN OW, THE PEO PL E BEH IN D US WERE R EA LL Y NOT V ER Y HAP PY WITH U S, B UT WHE N W E A RR IV ED AT THE SCHOOL THE KID S WERE SO E XCIT ED . E VERY TIM E W E WOULD GO TO T HE SCHOOL THE Y WOU LD A LWAY S JUM P TO THEIR F EE T W HE N JUS TICE L EWIS W OULD ARR IV E T O S HOW H IM R ESPE CT . W E ARRI VED W ITH A LL O F THIS FOOD. WHAT WE NOT IC ED AS TIME WEN T O N W AS T HA T T HE S TUDE NT S W EREN'T EAT IN G A LL OF THE IR S ANDWICHES, T HEY WE RE O NL Y EAT IN G ABO UT H ALF O F T HEIR S ANDW IC HES AND THEY W ER E C UTTING T HE M V ER Y C AR EFUL LY A ND P UT TING THE M BA CK A ND W RAPP IN G THE M. I N THE IR PAC KET. A ND W E WER E TO LD T HA T THEY W ERE DOING T HAT BE CA US E THE Y W ANTE D I T FO R DIN NE R . S O JUSTIC E L EWIS S AID , W E'VE G OT SO MUC H FOO D , WE'V E G OT S O MUC H F OO D AND W E CAN G ET M ORE I F WE NE ED IT. E AT EVERYTH IN G THA T WE H AV E H ERE AND YOU C AN T AK E S OM E H OME. I HAV E N EVER S EE N CHI LD RE N E AT SO MUC H IN M Y L IF E. T HEY ATE EVE RY THIN G THE RE A ND THEN SOME. G ET L OTS OF LETTERS FROM STUDENTS, ONE S TU DENT W ROTE T O US A ND S AI D , I T HINK THE G OVER NM ENT M AD E A R EALL Y G OOD C HO IC E IN CHO OS ING Y OU A S A J USTI CE . I AGREE . Y OU'V E G IVEN S O MUC H T O CHI LDRE N AND THE T EACH ERS O F THI S S TATE , THE J US TICE T EACHIN G INSTI TUTE W HI CH YOU L EAD BR INGING A HUM AN S ID E T O JUS TI CE T HA T I S S O N EEDED. O UR T EACH ER S L OVE A ND R ESPECT YOU A ND H AV E T URNE D O UT HER E FO R YOU T ODAY T O S HOW THE IR A PPRE CIAT IO N. Y OU PAR TI CIPATE I N SO MAN Y A CTIVIT IES THA T I COU LD NOT N AME T HEM, L AW WEE K , SOME O F T HE GREAT , G REAT CHI LD RE N WE'VE MET D UR IN G LAW WEE K , M OOT COU RT , H IGH SCH OO L C OMPETITI ON , A ND S O FORT H A ND SO O N. A FT ER A TWO -H OUR SESS IO N I N A SCH OO L J USTICE L EWIS WIL L S IT AT A T AB LE O R STA ND AND S IGN H UN DR ED S OF A UTOG RA PH S. AND HE DOESN'T JUS T SIG N F RED LEWIS , H E A SKS TH E CHILD THEIR NAME AND H E WRITES A P ER SONA L N OT E. A ND I HAV E S EE N C HILD RE N TAK E T HAT CONS TI TUTI ON T HA T H E S IG NE D AND H OL D IT T O T HEIR C HEST AND S AY " I WIL L SAVE T HIS F OREV ER A ND WHE N I B ECOM E A LAW YE R I W IL L S HARE I T W IT H H IM A GA IN." I KNOW THA T Y OU'L L SAY Y OU'VE G AINED M UC H M ORE THAN A NY O F THE S TU DE NT S W HOSE L IVES YOU'V E T OU CHED B EC AUSEI DO THINK WE L EARN A L OT F ROM IT. B UT I HAV E L EARN ED S O MUC H FRO M Y OU . I APP RE CI AT E AND A M H ONOR ED TO WOR K W IT H YOU A ND T HIS SCHOOL . I TREAS URE Y OU R COM MITM EN T T O E DU CATI ON AND THE JUS TI CE S YSTEM AN D I L OO K FOR WA RD T O W ORKING W IT H Y OU IN THE F UTUR E. G OD B LESS YOU , Y OU R FAM IL Y , T HIS HON OR ABLE COU RT . T HANK YOU. [ APPL AU SE]

A S W E B RING T OD AY'S SESSION T O A C ON CLUS ION, I K NOW MOS T OF YOU W ER E W ONDE RING , W HAT' S H IS R ELATIO NSHIP WIT H THE B EAUTIFUL L AD Y S ITTING T O M Y L EFT AND Y OU R R IGHT S AND I S AVE T HIS F OR T HE L AS T B ECAU SE MY T WI N C AM E T O T HE C OURT A T THE SAME TIME THAT I A RR IV ED . I MAY BE A LIT TL E O LDER , M AYBE LOO K A L ITTL E OLDER , I D ON'T KNOW. B UT I D O BE LIEV E I N THE C ONCE PT OF T HE TEA M , O F U S A ND I'V E A LREADY E XPRE SS ED M Y D EARE ST D EARE ST FRI EN D J USTICE P EG GY Q UINC E HOW I NTRICA TELY SHE 'LL B E I NVOLVED W ITH WH AT'S W HAT GOES O N IN T HE C HI EF J US TICE OFF IC E. WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE A C ONTINUIT Y AND P LEAS E SH AR E WIT H YOU R WON DE RF UL HUS BAND , B ROTHER FRE D B UC KEYE , G OD D OES MAK E H OU SE CALLS . [ APPLAUSE] BUT A S WE'RE R UN NING S HORT ON T IME, I D O NEE D T O E XPRESS T HE C ONCEPT T HAT WE A RE KECKE D. W E'RE ALL C ON NE CTED A ND W E'RE A LL C ONNE CTED I N OU R S EARC H FOR V ISIO NS OF JUSTICE. AND S OME OF YOU HAV E SHA RED WITH M E THE A UD IO/V ID EO PRE SENT ATION THAT W E SH AR E W ITH OTHER CITIZENS IN T HE S TATE THAT O UTLI NE S THE H ISTORY O F FLO RI DA'S SEA RC H F OR ITS V ISIO N O F J USTI CE. AND I HOP E T HAT AS YOU ENTER THI S G RE AT HAL L T ODAY Y OU T OOK A M OM EN T T O SEE JUS TI CE O N THE WAL L A ND I HOP E TH AT YOU N OTED OUR REQ UE ST AND O UR PLE A F ROM AL L T HE B ROTHERS A ND SISTERS OF THI S C OURT THA T YOU C OM E SHA RE W IT H U S YOU R VIS IONS O F J USTICE . THIS REPRESE NT S T HE V ER Y F IRM UND ER STANDI NG T HAT THERE I S N O ME O R I IN OUR C OURT S YSTEM. T HIS BRANCH WIL L S UR VIVE AND IT WILL THR IV E ONLY W IT H THE F ULL UNDE RSTANDING AND D ETERMINATION THAT THE J USTICE PRO MISE D W IL L B E F ULFILL ED BY THE C OLLE CTIV E US AND T HE C OL LECT IV E WE, N OT I OR ME. T HIS C OL LABORA TIVE A PPRO AC H A ND C OO RDIN ATED E FF OR T W IL L E XT EN D T O CO OPER AT IO N W ITH ALL B RANCHE S O F GO VE RNMENT, E XTEND THE L EG ISLA TI VE BRANCH, THE EXECUTIVE BRANC H AND W E WIL L EXT EN D O UR H AN DS T O SOL VE PRO BLEM S TOG ET HE R WHA TEVE R T HEY M AY B E AN D D O IT I N A GOO D WAY . T HOSE CUR RENT LY LEA DING T HE STATE A ND T HOSE WHO M AY F OL LOW THA T WE D O NO T KNO W W HO THE Y MAY BE , BUT T HEY W ILL SERV E I N T HE STA PL E, F IN E T RADITION A S O UR L EADERS THAT A RE PRE SENT LY I N THO SE POSIT IO NS . W E PLEDGE T O W OR K DIL L - - DIL IG EN TLY T OG ETHER SO THAT J USTICE IS A R EALI TY FOR A LL O F US. YOU KNOW , KNOW IN G THA T WE ARE THE S UPPO RT O F AND THE P RODU CT O F T HO SE A ROUND U S A ND THO SE W HO S UPPO RT U S, I DO NEE D T O T AK E JU ST A C OUPL E OF MOM ENTS OF T HOUGHT S T O T HO SE WHO HAV E B ROUGHT U S H ERE TO DAY. Y OU KNOW, MY MO M D IE D W HE N I W AS VER Y, V ERY YO UN G A ND I H AD A DAD T HAT W AS W OR KING VER Y, VERY H ARD TO P UT FOO D ON T HE TAB LE . A ND H E WAS A PRO DU CT O F A O RPHANAGE A ND F OSTE R F AMIL Y. AND HE WAS P ASSE D ARO UN D F ROM P ILLA R T O POS T , S O DA D A ND I WER E KIND OF L EF T A LONE. AND THE GUI DA NC E FO R THE F UTURE C AM E T O ME F RO M THE P UBLI C SCHOO L TEA CHER S AND T HE E DUCA TION P RO CESS . A ND WHO AS I NOT O NL Y KNE W BUT I F ULLY UND ERST OO D T HAT T HOSE TEA CHER , THO SE E DUCATORS , TOWS O F YOU H ER E - - THOS E OF YOU H ER E TODAY AND T HOSE ACROSS THE GRE AT S TATE ARE THE F OUND ATIO N FOR EVERYTHING, YOU'RE T HE FOUNDATION FOR ALL THAT IS O N THE COU RT THE P RODU CT O F T HESE M EN AND WOM EN H ER E. A ND A LT HOUGH THO SE E DUCA TO RS M AY L OOK A T U S ON T HIS C OURT A ND SHA KE T HE IR H EADS I N DIS MA Y A ND SAY , AR E Y OU R EA LLY THE P RODU CT O F M Y E FFOR T ? TO ALL T HE E DUCA TOR S W E SAY T HA NK Y OU , YO U HAV E OUR R ESPECT , OUR A DMIR ATIO N AN D WE SHALL B E F OR EV ER GRA TE FU L T O YOU. WE A LSO SA Y T O YO U , OUR E DUCATO R F RIEN DS , THA T TH E F UTURE O F F LORI DA P ASSE S THROUGH Y OU R HANDS EAC H D AY. AND W E A LL BEL IEVE , AL L OF US O N T HIS C OU RT B EL IEVE THA T YOU H OL D O UR M OS T PRE CI OU S R ESOURCE , OUR C HILDREN. WE T RU ST YOU W IT H O UR G REATEST GIF T AND W E S TAND TO S UP PO RT Y OUR E VERY E FFORT. I WOULD L IKE TO SA Y A COU PL E O F THANK Y OU S T O THO SE N OT ONL Y MY BRO TH ERS AND SIS TERS H ERE OF THE COU RT, B UT B AC K T O M Y ROOT S I N W ES T V IRGI NI A AT A V ER Y YOU NG AGE I M ET A Y OUNG MAN W HOSE FAT HE R HAD B EEN K IL LED I N TH E M IN E S AND LEF T A Y OUNG M OTHE R , FOU R CHI LDREN A ND W E H AD A L OT I N C OMMO N A ND I G UESS P ROBA BL Y WE RAI SED E AC H OTH ER I S REA LLY WHAT HAPPENED. MY DAD WAS WORKING L IK E C RAZY A ND HIS M OM W AS T RYIN G T O KEEP THE FAM IL Y TOG ETHE R A ND HE WAS M Y P AR TNER O N THE H IGH SCH OO L C HAMP IO NSHI P T EAM A ND R ON , L ILLY A ND D ON A RE HERE WITH U S T ODAY . T HANK YOU . [ APPLAU SE]

I A LS O GO BACK T O MY ROOTS A ND H AV IN G JUS T A N O PPORTUNI TY TO H AV E A D OL LA R O R TWO TO S PEND WHE N I W AS I N C OLLE GE A ND S ARAH RIL EY C UNNING HA M W HO I S HER E T ODAY K IN D O F T OO K ME UND ER H ER WING, IT WAS INTERESTING B ECAUSE I HAD N OT KNO WN H ER UNT IL I G RADU ATED FRO M HI GH S CHOOL AND I C AME B AC K TO TOWN AND SHE ALWAYS M AD E S UR E I H AD A S UMME R JO B A ND H ER DAD DY W AS T HE NEW R IV ER C OAL CO MPANY , WHIC H IS THE COMPANY ALL MY FAMILY HAD W ORKED FOR . AND S O SARAH R ILEY , THAN K YOU FOR B EING HER E, SHE CAM E D OWN FROM K ENTU CK Y T OD AY, THANK YOU.[ APPLAU SE] I A LSO NE ED T O EXT EN D S OM E A PPRECI ATION T O T HE E NT IR E F LORI DA S OU TH ER N FAMILY, BECAUSE I CAME TO THIS G RE AT STA TE AS A 1 7-YE AR-O LD F RIGHTEN ED KID . I T WAS A BIT D IFFE RE NT T HA N O THER S AND I WAS ACC EPTE D B Y T HAT IN STITUTION, I TS ADMINISTRATION, ITS FACULTY A ND T HA T BECAME MY F IRST F AMILY HERE I N FLOR ID A A ND W E'VE M AINT AINE D THO SE R ELAT IO NSHI PS OVER THE YEARS.M Y F RATE RNIT Y BRO TH ERS , S O M ANY OF T HE M HERE , MY R OOMMATES FRO M T HAT TIME , D r. P RI CE WHO WAS T HE RE A T T HE T IM E . S O Y OU D ON 'T B E M Y F IR ST F LORIDA FAM IL Y A ND I THA NK YOU F OR B EING H ERE AN D I LOVE YOU DEARLY. A ND YOU A LL K NO W W HO Y OU ARE A ND THANK Y OU S O VE RY M UC H. A S I ALS O STEP PE D IN TO MIA MI I WAS A L ITTLE CON CERN ED A BOUT THA T B IG MET RO POLI TA N A RE A. M Y VERY F IR ST D AY O N THAT C AMPUS I M ET S OM E F OL KS A ND WE' VE BEE N FRI ENDS , L IFEL ON G F RIEN DS FOR EVER , H .T . , A S H E M ENTIONED , S OME OF THE FIR ST F RIENDS , A ND ALA N IS H ERE AN D T HERE A RE OTH ER S OF YOU A ROUND T HA T M AD E ME FEE L A T HOME T HA T I C OU LD B E ACCEPTED IN T HI S LA RGE, L ARGE A RE A. B UT THE NEX T ST EP I N MY LI FE W AS T RULY THE LIF E-CH AN GING E VENT, A S M Y F IRST Y EA R OF L AW S CHOO L , I WAS H IRED BY E D PURS E AND I WAS A BL E T O COME WIT H L ARRY AND M Y P ARTNER AND I NEE DE D A JOB , PROV IDED A J OB FOR M E, BUT N OT ONL Y A JOB , BUT THE Y P ROVIDE D ME WITH THE G UI DA NC E THAT I N EEDE D TO LEAR N HOW T O B E A L AWYE R. A ND WE L OS T E D SEV ERAL Y EARS AGO AND I T HINK HIS SON M ICHA EL , I H OP E I S HER E S OMEPLACE, BU T W E LOV ED E D D EARLY AND T HE M OS T D IFFI CULT THING I N MY LIF E WAS T O S PEAK A T H IS FUN ERAL . BUT A LS O , I T HINK M AY BE E D AND L AR RY'S S ON S A RE HER E , L ARRY IS HERE WITH US, AND L ARRY AND I W ER E PARTN ER S FOR 2 8 YEA RS I G UESS F RO M T HE TIM E I STA RT ED W OR KING U NTIL I T AM E K AI M T O THE COU RT. WE' RE F OREV ER I NDEB TE D TO YOU , Y OU 'R E OUR PAR TN ER S FOR LIF E AND W E TH AN K YOU S O VERY MUCH. A S I BEG AN M Y P RO FE SS IONA L CAREER I MAD E T HE C ON TACT S W ITH ALL THE WON DERF UL CLI ENTS A ND A TTOR NEYS T HAT I W OR KED WIT H I N MIA MI AND I 'M NOT O NE O F T HOSE T HA T LEF T B ECAUSE I WAS UNH APPY WIT H THE M IAMI COM MU NI TY . I LOV E SOU TH FLO RIDA , I LOV E L AWYERS AND I C AM E T O TAL LAHASSEE FOR A N OPPORTUN ITY T O S ERVE PEO PLE O F F LO RIDA A ND ALL O F YOU I N M IAMI MAD E M Y L IF E F ULL. I T HANK YOU F OR IT. AND M AD E L IFEL ON G F RI EN DS O F A LL T HE C LIEN TS AND E VEN YOU' RE W IT H ME WH EN T HE C ALLS CAM E , D J AND E LO IS E A ND WHE N T HE CAL L CAM E W E W ERE S HARI NG L IFE AGA IN . I THA NK T HOSE O F Y OU H A THA T M AD E I T PO SSIB LE TO C OM E T O T ALLAHA SSEE A ND SERVE T HE PEOPLE HERE. I OWE A G REAT DEB T T O ALL O F Y OU. I THA NK ALL O F YO U WHO HAV E B EEN P ERMI TT ED M E T O WORK W ITH YOU. AND I THINK WE HAVE A L OT O F S TAFF ATT OR NEYS , WO UL D YOU A LL STAND , THE STA FF A TTORNEYS AND T HE J As T HA T A RE ARO UN D, I SAW A COU PL E THERE, I SAW P RE STON I N THE B ACK IS A ND H ERE I N FRO FR T F RONT , M Y STA FF A TTOR NEYS H ERE . [ APPLAU SE] >> AND A LL O VE R AND STA FF ATT ORNEYS FROM EVE RY ONE ELS E I S EE S ITTI NG O N THE SID E , W ELCOME , W EL CO ME , W ELCO ME. S O IT I S A N ENT IR E F AM IL Y , E NTIRE F AM ILY T HA T W ORKS H ERE. W E THANK A LL THE S TA FF A TTORNEYS , A LL T HE COU RT S TAFF AND CER TAIN LY M S. A NN ETTE PITTS, YOU'RE THE B EST FRIEND T O AL L O F US A ND THE B ES T FRIE ND T O F LORIDA C HI LD RE N, S O THANK YOU FOR THAT. A S TO M Y FAM ILY, I N EEDE D T O R ECOGNIZE T HOSE , I T HINK M OST OF YOU MET DAW N S AUNDER S WHO I S O UR O LDES T DAUGHT THEY ARE C AME INT O O UR LIVES LAT E A FTER W E W ERE AB LE T O E STAB LI SH A P RO GRAM , A N EDU CA TION AL P RO GRAM I N M IAMI A ND D AWN , TH ANK YO U, M Y L OV E F OR O PENI NG L INDSEY 'S W ORLD A ND STA ND U P AND SAY H I TO EVERYBODY. S HE'S OVE R H ER E SIG NI NG . [AP PLAU SE]

AN D M Y F IRST W ORDS A BOUT E LLE W ERE I NS TRUC TION S F RO M M OM T O T EL L ME , F OL LOW THAT B ABYI NG D ON'T L ET T HA T BAB Y O UT OF YOU R SIGHT AND I 'V E N EVER W AIVERE D I N T HAT RESP ONSI BILITY AND I 'M SUR E AT T IMES I 'VE SMO TH ERED HER AND ELL E A ND CLA RK I KNO W YOU 'RE I'M S OR RY Y OU 'R E NOT H ERE A ND I K NO W YOU 'R E H ERE ON THE I NT ERNE T A ND L IN DSEY , Y OU'VE T AUGH T U S MOR E THAN Y OU EVE R KNE W. I A LS O T HANK Dr. BRO WN S AND L YNNEL FOR B EI NG HER E , Y OU A ND I ARE BUS INESS PARTNERS, THANK YOU FOR COMING, THANK YOU FOR SHARING, SHARINGE VERYTHING WITH US. D J AND E LL E THAN K YO U F OR E VERY THING YOU DO. ALTHOUGH I CALL HER MOM AND P EOPLE ASK , WELL, W HO'S Y OU R MOT HER, SHE LOOKS M ORE L IKE Y OUR DAU GH TE R T HAN Y OU R MOTHER, BUT I DO NEED T O S AY T HE S TR EN GT H O F OUR FAM IL Y A ND THE LOV E O F M Y LI FE , EVER YT HING T HAT O UR FAM IL Y A ND STR EN GT H OF O UR FAM IL Y AND T HE STRENGT H O F MY PRO FESS IONA L LIFE AND S UPPORTED ME THROUGH LAW SCHOOL, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU F OR Y OUR C ON TINU EDSUPPORT.[ APPLAUSE] >>> A S I PONY E XPRE SS P RESSED I N T HI S GREAT S TATE , I K NEW WH EN I C AME I D IDN' T H AVE MUCH T O O FF ER B UT I K NEW I WOU LD G IVE AL L T HA T I H AD T O OFFE R , AND I U NDERST OOD T HROU GH T HAT PROCESS THAT WE'RE ONL Y T HE PRO DUCT O F T HOSE ARO UN D U S A ND CAN ONL Y A CCOM PLIS H T HA T W HAT CA N B E ACCOM PL IS H ED B Y THO SE AROUN D US A ND T HE T EA M T HAT SIT A T THIS P OD IUM. I WANT TO H IT V ER Y B RIEF LY SOM E OF T HE THINGS THA T AL L O F U S ARE JOI N HANDS T OGETHE R , B UT T O CON TI NU E S OME O F T HOSE T HING S , FI RS T AND F OREM OS T I S A N OP EN A ND OPE RATI ONAL COURT S YS TEM I N TH E FAC E O F N O MATT ER W HA T MAY OCC UR . T HIS PAS T MOND AY W E WE RE A T T HE O RLANDO A T THE P AN DEMI C S ESSION A ND LEA RN ED 3 0 T O 40% OF O UR E MPLO YEES A CROS S T HIS G REAT S TA TE M US T NO T B E A VAIL ABLE, W E M UST PR EPAR E , PREPARE , PREPARE , WE MUS T C ONTINU E T O DO S O. WE MUST HAVE OUR C ONTI NU ATION OF O PERATION PLANS I N PLACE AND NOT J US T A S AN E XE RCIS E O F COM E P LYANCE BUT A S . T EC HNOL OGY W E ARE GOI NG TO BE V ALUE -B ASED A S W E MOV E F ORWARD . YOU KNOW, MY F RI ENDS I 'V E L EARN ED THA T T ECHN OLOG Y A NSWERS Q UEST IONS THAT I N EVER KNEW E XI STED , BUT YOU C AN ALS O SEL L C HILD RE N T HROUGH TEC HNOL OG Y . WE W IL L M OV E F OR WARD , IT I S G OING OCC UR AND IT I S A QUESTION OF BEING D ONE WITH T HAT GOOD , S TRON G V ALUE-B ASED J UDGM EN T. W E AR E PRO CE ED ING F OR WARD WITH A TASK FOR CE O N COM PL EX C ASES AND COM PL EX C AS E M ANAGEM EN T A LONG W IT H D ISCOVE RY A ND P ROCESS D IFFICU LTIES. WE ARE GOING TO IMP ROVE T HE M ANAGEM ENT A ND M OVEM EN T O F C OMPLEX CASES AND T HE O RD ER W ILL B E SIG NE D O N WED NE SDAY WIT H REG AR D T O T HA T S UBJE CT . I L OO K VE RY M UC H F OR WARD TO I NTERACTION OF T HE BENCH AND B AR AND I N OTED B AC K THE RE A S T HE PAS T PRE SIDE NT A LA N B OOKM AN W AS W ACK TH ER E , THAN K YO U SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADE RSHIP, I CAME TO KNOW Y OU, I D IDN' T K NO W Y OU B EFORE , I 'V E C OME T O B E ON E O F YOUR G RE ATES T FRI EN DS . A ND M R. C ONGR ESSE , HA NK , MY F RIENDS W E' RE G OI NG TO D O G REAT THING S F OR T HE S TA TE OF FLORIDA. A ND F RANC IS CO R AMMO N , WH ER E A RE YOU , SIR ? W E'RE GOI NG T O J OIN TO GETH ER , W E'RE GOI NG T O JOI N TOG ETHE R A ND WIT H J ACK' S IN VOLV EMEN T AS WELL, WE AGR EE D WE 'R E G OING T O EST ABLISH A P ERMANENT C OMMI TTEE O N STA NDAR D J UR Y I NS TRUC TION S F OR BUS IN ESS A ND C ON TRAC T D ISPUTES , S OMET HING T HAT HA S N OT BEEN AB LE T O BE A CCOMPLIS HED , W E WIL L A CCOM PLISH T HA T I N TH E N EX T TWO -YEA R PER IO D AT L EAST T O HAVE THE OUTLINE A ND D RAFT FOR T HOSE AND J UDGE TOM S MITH FRO M OR LA NDO HAS AGR EED T O S ER VE A S OUR F IRST C HAIR O F THAT. WE'RE GOING TO E ST AB LISH A LSO AN D W E H AV E ALS O IN PLAC E THE L EADE RSHI P O F BE NC H AND BAR E FF ORT, A TAS K F ORCE O N JUD ICIA L E VALUAT IONS. T HE TIME HAS C OM E T HA T W E C ANNO T L ET O UR JUD GE S , OUR T RIAL JUD GES AND OUR A PPELLA TE JUDGES B E A TT AC KE D F OR BAS ELES S R EASO NS . O F OFF ICER S MUST BE ABLE TO R ESPOND AND R ES PONS IBLE W AY T O HAV E I N P LA CE A D IS TRICT COURT OF APPEA L J UD GE AND T HE HONOR ABLE T OM WAR NE R W HO A GREED T O SER VE I N THE SE C APAC IT IES , BU T W E MUS T HAVE A VALID SYS TE M F OR F AI R AND E QUITABLE V AL UATI ON S S O TH AT T HE PUBLI C O F F LORIDA W IL L KNOW WHO THEIR J UDGE S AR E AND N OT LEAVE JUD GE S UNN ECESSARILY OPEN AND EXP OSED T O A TT ACKS F RO M S PECIAL INT ERES TS NOR I NCOMPE TENT JUD GE S SE RVIN G TO T HE D ETRI ME NT O F O UR P EO PLE , WE W ILL AC COMP LISH THAT. IN THE LAST TEN Y EARS WE' VE NOT HAD A S URVE Y WI TH REG AR D T O ADA C OMPL IA NC E , FOR THREE M ILLION F LORI DIAN S ARE IMP ACTED AND M Y FRI EN D , H. , WE TAL K A BOUT A CCES S AN D E QUALIT Y, B UT IN D AD E COUN TY A LONE THERE A RE 2 9% , ACC ORDING TO T HE LAS T CEN SU S O F INDI VI DUALS WHO ARE I MPACTE D B Y DIS AB ILIT IE S. W E'RE G OING TO S URVE Y FAC ILITIES , WE 'R E GOING TO S URVE Y P ROGR AM S AN D S ERVI CE S A ND WHA T M AN Y O F T HESE P EOPLE HAV E FA CE D I S NO D IFFE RENT THAN A N A RMED G UARD S TANDIN G AT THE COURT HOUS E D OOR BAR RI NG E NT RY, T HE SE ART IFICIAL B ARRI ER S MUS T N OT , M UST N OT B E I N PLACE FOR F LORIDA C ITIZ ENS. AND WE'RE GOI NG TO D O THI S N OT IN A N A NTAG ONIS T IC WAY , B UT IN A COL LA BO RA TIVE AND COORD INAT ED EFFORT W ITH L OCAL A ND C OU NT Y OFF ICIA L S A ND WE WIL L MAK E S OME PR OG RESS IN T HI S AR EA. M Y HEART WAS BRO KE N WHE N I R EAD W IT H S UC H D IS MAY OF I NDIVID UALS I N W HEEL CHAI RS THA T C AN NOT ENTE R OUR H ALLS O F JUS TICE . WE CAN AND WIL L D O B ETTE R. A ND YOU K NO W , - - [ APPLAUSE ] . >> WE ARE G OING T O CONT INUE T O ANAL YZ E AND W IT HIN OUR C URRE NT SYS TE M IN A C OOPE RATE !!IVE WAY LOO K TO SE E T HAT W E NOT T URN OU R C OURT S YSTE M A ND OUR C RIMI NA L J USTI CE SYS TEM I NT O S IM PL Y A S ILENCE O F A N 1 800s FOR T HOSE FACING HEA LT H I SS UES. W E P LE DGE WE ARE G OING T O S TUDY AND W OR K COO PE RATI VELY T O RESOLVE ANY ISS UE S TH AT M AY B E O UT STAN DING . W E'RE G OING TO ALSO, I T HINK , FOR T HE F IRST T IM E , I W AS C ONCERNED T HAT W E O NLY A PPRO AC H THIS ON A L OCAL L EVEL BUT W E'RE GOI NG T O P REPARE F RO M AN E DUCA TION AL S TANDPOIN T S TA TEWIDE EFF ORTS F OR SEN SI TIVI TY A ND DIV ERSITY T RAIN IN G FOR C OURT P ERSONN EL . A ND WIT H THE G REAT T HANK S TO OUR L EGISLATI VE L EA DERS AND THE E XECU TIVE B RANC H W E' RE G OING H AV E A TRE MEND OU S N UMBER OF N EW JUD GE S CO MING INTO THE SYS TE M. W E'VE C ALLED FOR A S UMMI T IN JAN UA RY O F 2 00 7 THA T W IL L A NALYZE T HE E NTIR E SYS TE M O F J UDICIA L E DU CATION AND T HE S TR UCTURE AND DEL IV ER Y O F EDU CATI ON T HR OUGH THE F LORIDA COU RT EDU CA TION C OUNSEL . W E ALS O NEE D TO AC COMP LISH AND WE WILL A ND J US TI CE P ARIE NT E WIL L H ELP LEA D TH E EFFORT ON THIS AN D T HA T IS T O FIND THE N ECES SARY RULES TO MAKE THE T RA NS ITIO NS S O T HAT THE U NI FIED F AMIL Y COUR T WE C AN F IL L ANY VOI DS T HA T WE MA Y H AV E I N ANY OF THE R ULES THA T M AY E XIST . AND FINAL LY AND W E' LL F INIS H U P HERE , BUT TH E COR NERS TO NE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS W IL L B E JUS TI CE T EACH ING, W E'RE G OING TO JOI N HAND S WIT H THE F LORIDA BAR , WE'R E GOING T O C RE AT E THE PERMANENT S TATEWI DE S TRUC TU RE F OR R EACHIN G OUT T O E VE RY SCH OOL I N THE STA TE OF FL OR IDA. I T W ILL C ONTA IN A CHA IR WIT H A M EM BE R OF T HE F LO RIDA S UPREME COURT , ONE M EMBE R F OR E AC H DIS TR ICT CO URT OF APPEAL, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER F ROM EAC H CI RC UI T A ND WIL L HAVE A P ROFE SSIO NA L ADV IC ER T O TEAC H AND W OR K WITH OUR J UDGES T O DO L ES SO N PLA NS T O DO TR AI NING AND E DU CATI ON ON T HAT. AND WE'RE GOING TO FO RM T HE M OST C OMPR EH ENSI VE A PPRO AC H THAT HAS BEEN A TTEM PTED A ND W E' RE GOING TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. YOU KNOW , W E' RE REA LL Y G OING T O W ORK TO FUL FILL T HE P ROMI SE S O F T HIS D EM OCRACY . T HE C ORE VALU ES W E W IL L NOT C HANG E A ND WE' RE NOT G OING T O P ERMI T THE M T O B E DIMI NISHED BY LAC K O F EFF OR T FOR E DU CA TION A ND I T HAS B EEN THE MAN TEL OF THE F LORIDA B AR , IT W ILL CONT INUE TO BE T HE M AN TE L O F T HE SUPREME COU RT . A ND BEF ORE WE L EA VE THI S H ONORED P LA CE , I A SK THA T W E TAKE I N OUR H EART S AND OUR MIN DS AND I N O UR S OULS THE W ORDS FRO M A G REAT SON G THA T A YOUNG W OM AN F RO M TAL LAHASSEE I S GOI NG S HA RE W IT H U S AND LA TR ESS IS A , M S. H AW S WOULD YOU P LE ASE COME AND S HARE WIT H U S A S W E STAN D T O HON OR A MERI CA . 77 O , BEA UTIF UL 77 77 FOR S PA CIOU S SKI ES 77 77 FOR A MBER W AVES O F G RAIN 77 77 FOR PUR PL E MOU NT AI N M AJES TY 77 77 A BOVE THE F RUIT ED PLA IN S 77 77 A MERI CA , A MERI CA , 77 77 GOD SHE D HIS G RACE O N THE E 77 77 AND C ROWN T HY G OO D 77 77 W IT H B ROTH ER HO OD 77 77 F RO M SEA T O S HINE !!ING SEA 77 [ APPLAU SE ]

W E AS K THA T Y OU ALL P LEASE JOIN U S FOR R EC EPTI ON T O MEET TH E C OURT F AM IL Y A ND T O MEET WIT H O NE ANO THER , WE'LL B E A T C IT Y HAL L WHI CH I S D IAGN OL LY ACR OS S THE S TREET A ND J UST UP T HE H ILL. I T IS THE B RICK BUI LDIN G H ERE ON T HE LEFT A S YO U COME OUT O F THE C OURT . A ND WE L OO K F ORWA RD T O S EEING YOU A LL T HE RE AND W ITH T HA T, W E SHA LL STA ND I N R ECESS. [ APPL AUSE] |