MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE. HEAR YE.HEAR YE.HEAR YE.THE SUPREME COURT OF THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA IS NOW IN SESSION. ALL W HO HAVE CAUSE T O P LE A , DRAW NEAR , G IVE ATTENT ION AND YOU SHALL BE HEARD. GOD SAVE T HESE UNITED STATES, THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA AND THIS HONORABLE COURT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN , THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. PLEASE BE SE ATED .

CHIEF JUSTICE: GOODAFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. AND WELCOME TO THE FLORIDASUPREME COURT . WE , I WANT TO SEE SOME SMILES OUT THERE. OKAY. WE CONVENE , TODAY , I N CEREMONIAL SESSION, FOR W HAT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THIS COURT'S CALENDAR, AND FOR ME , ONE OF THE MOST UPLIFTING. BECAUSE TODAY WE HO NOR SELECTED ME N AND W OMEN OF OUR PROFESSION AND A VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATION, FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARYEFFORTS TO THIS STATE 'S PRO BONO EFF ORTS. OUR STATE 'S PRO BONO EF FORTS TAKE INSPIRATION FROM AN EXPRESS PROV ISION OF OUR CONSTITUTION THAT GUARANTEES ACCESS TO THE COURTS FOR REDRESS OF ANY INJURY. AND, REA LLY, FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND-A-HALF , THIS COURT HAS REPEATEDLY RECOGNIZED THAT THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A PRIVILEGE THAT CARRIES WITH IT CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO OUR SOCIETY AND T O OUR DEMOCRACY . I CAN THINK OF NO BE TTER WAYTO BEGIN THIS YE AR'S PRO BONO CEREMONY THAN BY DEDICATING THE CEREMONIAL SESSION TO THE MEMORY OF HENRY LATI MER , A MAN WHO IS MY DPRAERND , WHO WAS A RESPECTED LAWYE R, A SUPERB JUDGE AND AN EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BE ING. HENRY'S PROFESSIONAL L IFE EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF PRO BONO PUBLICO, FOR THEGOOD OF THE PU BLIC. HIS POSITIVE APPROACH TO FAITH, FA MILY AND FRIENDS AND HIS INTEGRITY WERE IN REMARKABLE CONTRAST TO THE EARLIER FL ORIDA WH ERE HE GREW UP. HE BEGAN HIS LIFE U NDER THE BLIND RULE OF FLORIDA'S SEGREGATION CODE , WITH ALL OF ITS HATEFUL ASSUMPTION INGS , YET HE DID N OT LET THE HATRED OF OTHERS IN HIS LIFE AFFECT HIS LIFE. HE ROSE ABOVE IT. COMING FROM A JACKSONVILLE HOUSING PROJECT WHERE HE GREW UP WITH HIS MOTHER , HE WENT ON TO A TTEND FLOR IDA A &M AND THEN EARNED AMASTER'S DEGREE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC. HE STUDIED LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND WAS ONE OF ONLY EIGHT AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN HIS CLASS. HE WENT ON TO PRACTICE La AND THERE A FTER PRACTICE TO PRACTICE LAW AND THEREAFTER PRACTICED O N THE BENCH FOR 30 YEARS BE FORE RETURNING TO PRI VATE PRACTICE. HIS SP IRIT OF PRO BONO EARNED HIM THE 19 97 FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENT'S PRO BONO SERVICE AW ARD. M UCH OF HIS PRO BONO WORK CAME THROUGH A FREE C LINIC ESTABLISHED BY HIM AND N AMED IN HONOR O F HIS LATE S ISTER LAURA AND ALSO IN INFORMAL SETTINGS , SUCH AS COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CH URCH HA LLS, W HERE HE PERSUADED HIS CORPORATE COLLEAGUES T O SPEND THEIR SATURDAY S PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TOTHE POOR. HENRY CONSTANTLY INS PIRED M ANY OT HERS AND LIFTED OUR SPIRITS AND O PENED OURHEARTS TO AS PIRE TO DO OUR VERY BE ST. HE MADE A DIFFERENCE , EACH AND E VERY D AY OF HIS LIFE, AND HE MA DE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS, MINE INCLUDED. IN A TAPED INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MI AMI SH ORTLY BEFOR E HIS DEATH , HENRY WAS AS KED ABOUT HIS DEFI NITION OF LEADERSHIP . HE RESPONDED , I NEVERTHOUGHT OF IT AS LEADERSHIP , BUT AS A QUESTION OF TIMING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEND A HAND O R TO D O SOMETHING TO HELP SOME ONE AND TO D O THE RIGHT THING , AND I F THAT TRANSLATES INTO LEADERSHIP , THEN THAT IS A WAY OF LIFE . FOR ALL THESE REASONS, IT IS ESPECIALLY FIT TING THAT WE DEDICATE THIS CEREMONIAL SESSION, TODAY, TO HENRY LATIMER , WHO SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION AND A LESSON TO A LL OF US , AS TO H O W TO LEAD AND LI VE AS A LAW YER AND A HUMAN BEI NG. I WO ULD ASK THAT WE OBSERVE A MOMENT O F SI LENCE I N HENRY'S MEMORY. THANK YO U. AT THIS TIME , I WILL NOW PRESENT A PO STIME U S CHIEF J USTICE LIFE POSTOMB US LIFETIME CHI EF J USTICE SERVICE AW ARD. I WOULD ASK THAT MRS. LATIMER AND HIS DAUGHTER, T RACI LATIMER , IF THEY WOULD PLEASE ROACH THEBENCH. PLE ASE APPROACH THEBENCH. ,,THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED I N M EMORY OF YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR FATHER, IN DE DICATION TO HIS LIFETIME SERVICE TO THE MINORI TIES OF FLORIDA. HIS SERVICE HAS CHANGED FUTURE LAWY ERS' CAREERS IN DELBLY AND HIS DED ICATION TO THE TIME OF THE LATIMER CLINICS HAS FOREVER IMPROVED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS FLORIDIANS. HIS LIFE WILL BE HE LD UP AS AN INSPIRATION AND A LESSON TO ALL OF U S , AS TO HOW TO LEAD AND LIVE AS LAWYER AND A PERSON. IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO PRE SENT TO YOU THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.

THANK YOU VERY M UCH. [APPLAUSE] I THINK , IF WE CAN HAVE TRACI , WHO WILL AP PROACH THE PODIUM, TO MAKE SOME REMARKS. THANK YOU .

ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER , MY SISTER A ND I , WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS EMBRACED OUR F A MILY AND INVITED US HERE FOR THIS MEMORIAL MOMENT IN THE NAME OF MY FATHER. IT IS INTERESTING , BECAUSE I WASN'T Q U ITE SURE WHAT TO SAY , HOW TO SAY , OTHER THAN THE WORDS THANK YOU , AND OFTENTIMES, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT K NE W MY FATHER VERY , VERY WELL , YOU K NOW HE ALWAYS HAD L I TTLE NOTES STICKING AROU ND. WELL, I FO UND ONE OF HIS LITTLE NOTES . AND I CAN ONLY S MILE , BECAUSE THE NOTE THAT I FOUND , LAST NIGHT , PERTAINS TO THIS, WHA T WE AR E HERE FOR TODAY. SO WHAT OTHER , WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO LEAVE YOU WITH W ORDS OF HIS THOUGHTS ON HOW HE F ELT HE SERVED OTHERS . IN THE WORD S OF MY FATHER, THE Q UIET GE NTLEMAN IMP ACTS JUDGE WHO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIMSELF , HIS JOB , AND THE PEOPLE HE SERVED. THE HUMAN SIDE O F HIM WAS NEVER L OST OR CONS UMED BY OR IN THE LUSTER OF HIS TI TLE , IN THE WORDS OF MY FATHER. I THANK EVERYONE, TODAY , FOR EVERYTHING, ONCE A GAIN , THATYOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR FAMILY , FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD , AND MAY HIS LEGACY CONTINUE TO LIVE ON. THANK YOU . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH , AND IT IS TODAYTHAT WE HONOR SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR EFFORTS , BUT I KNOW OF NO PROFESSION THAT GIVES MORE FREE AND UNSELFISH LY OF ITS SERVICES . IN THE LAST YEAR 2003-2004 , FLORIDA LAWYERS R E PORTED G IVING OVER 1 .5 MI LLION HOURS OF PRO BONO WOR K. THESE LAWYERS KNOW THAT , ALTHOUGH IT IS EA SY TO REPRESENT A CLIENT WHO IS EDUCATED AND WELL-FUNDED , THE POOR AND THE POWERLESS MUST, ALSO , HAVE REPRESENTATION, IF WE ARE TO FULFILL THE PRO MISE O F E QUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. FLORIDA LAWYERS HAVE, ALSO , D ONATED OVER $3.5 MIL LION IN CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS IS ALL , BOTH THE HOURS AND THE MO NEY , DOUBLE THE AMOUNT FROM 1 99 4 , WHEN WE F IRST STA RTED THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT , AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, FLORIDA LAWYERS HAVE DO NATED LITERALLY M ILLIONS OF HOURS T O OTHER KICHBDZ VOLUNTEERISM , INCLUDING - - HOURS TO VOLUNTEERISM, INCLUDING CHARITABLE AND RELIGIOUS WORK. THI S IS WORK TR UL Y O F PUBLIC RECOGNITION. THE CHIEF JUSTICE 'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD THE VERY DIFFICULT TASK OF MAKING RECOMMENDATION S FROM A VERY L ONG LIST OF NOMINATIONS, AND THOU GH THE TASK WAS NOT EASY, I F ULLY CON CUR IN HIS RECOMMENDATION, AND I WOULD LIKE THE MEMBERS O F THE ADVISORY COME WHO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, TO STAND. IF YOU WILL , STAND UN TIL IREAD THE NAMES AND THEN WE WILL ALL APPLAUD YOU. FIRST OF ALL , OUR CHAIR AND FORMER BAR PRES IDENT, MILES McGRANE. SOLOMON BA DGER , REPRESENTATIVE HOLLY B E NSON , ALLISON BET HEL , DONNA GRAPH , JOHN COSACK , LO UIS QUALL , JUDGE EM ERSON THO MAS , AND KATHLEEN AN AND SUZANNE A N AGALOS. IF WE CAN PLEASE G IVE A ROUND OF APPL AUSE. I WOULD , A LSO , LI KE TO HAVE ANY FORMER RECIPIENTS OF THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED . O KAY. WELL , EVERYONE IS OUT DOING G OOD WORK, I HOPE , AND CONTINUING, AND N EXT CATEGORY OR MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA PRO BONO COORDINATORS ASSOCIATION. THOSE ARE WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED . [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL, FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN THIS AREA , BECAUSEI AM SURE THAT THE GROWTH OF THE PRO BONO EFFORTS COULD NOT HAVE T A KEN PL AC E , WITHOUT THE COORDINATION THAT YOU PROVIDE , SO YOUPROVIDE US WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES. I NOW TURN TO THE TO BIAS S IMON AWARD. IT IS ESPECIALLY FITTINGTHAT THE PRIMARY AWARD PRESENTED TODAY, BEARS THE NAME OF TOBIAS SIMON. THE AWARD WAS SO N AMED , BECAUSE HIS RECORD O F SERVICE REPRESENTS THE YARDSTICK AGAINST WHICH EACH OF US IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, MEASURE OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THOSE WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE MEANING FUL ACCESS TO OUR COURTS. IN UNDERTAKING TO REPR ESENT THE DISADVANTA GED AND THE DOWNTRODDEN , NOT ONLY DID TOBIAS SIMON MAKE MEANINGFUL THE PROMIS E OF ACCESSIBLE JUSTICE FOR THOSE HE REPRESENTED, BUT HE , ALSO , HELPED TO DE FINE AND PRESERVE CER TAIN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS FOR US ALL. WE KNOW THAT THE SP IRIT OF TOBIAS SIMON , LI VES ON IN THE AWARD THAT BEARS HIS NAME, WHICH HONORS THOSE OTHER FLORIDA LAWYERS WHO HAVE UNSELFISH LY CARRIED ON HIS WORK. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE T O ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT O F THE FLORIDA LEGAL PROFESSION'S HIGHEST PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR. THIS YEAR'S AWARD G OES TO AN ATTORNEY WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TRULY REMARKABLE , AND I CAN ONLY CITE TO A FEW OF MANY EXAM PLES , AND THE FULL B IO IS IN THIS WONDERFUL BROCHURE THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY THE FLORIDA B A R. SINCE 19 82 , THIS MAN HAS DONATE ADMINMUM OF FOUR HOURS PER WEEK TO THE GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES CLEARWATER OFFI CE. IN HIS WORK , HE HAS INTERVIEWED PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS TO EVALUATE THEIR NEEDS. FOR THOSE CLIENTS NE EDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN COURT, HE HAS REFERRED THEM O N TO THE OF FICE O F STAFF ATTORNEYS.HE NOT ONLY DOES THAT BUT ATTENDS WEEKLY MAKINGS TO DISCUSS THE ME RITS O F THEIR WEEKLY MEETINGS, TO DISCUSS THE MERITS OF THEIR CASES. IN MANY MEETINGS HE HAS BEEN ABLE T O ASSIST CLIENTS BY GIVING THEM INFORMATION THEY NEED TO RESO LVE THEIR CASES WITHOUT GOING TO COURT. IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF PROVIDING THIS SERVICE, HE HAS DONATED A.M. APPROXIMATELY 4 500 HE HAS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 4 500 HOURS OF PRO BONO SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY A ND AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING A SOLO PRACTICE. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR'S AWARD RECIPIENT OF J AMES VANDERPLUS OF IN DIAN ROCKS BEACH. IF YOU COULD, PLEASE COME U P AND ACCEPT THE AWARD . [APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU , MA DA M CHIEF JUSTICE, HONORABLE JUST ICESOF THE COURT , MS. KELLY JOHNSON , PRESIDENT OF THEFLORIDA BAR , MEMBERS O F THE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE HERE , MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUE S , LADIES AND GENT LEMEN , MAY ITPLEASE THE COURT . I THANK YOU , MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE, FOR YOUR KIND AND GENEROUS REM ARKS . I AM RE ALLY HUMBLED AND AWED BY ALL OF THIS, BECA USE I CONSIDER MY SELF JUST ONE AMONG THOUSANDS OF M Y PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES WHOARE DOING LIKE WORK IN LENDING THEIR TIME ANDSERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO AREIN NEED OF LEGAL SERVICES AND CANNOT A FFORD OUR LEGALFEES, WHICH ARE BY ALL COUNTS , ENORMOUS FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES AT LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION , THIS HONORABLE COURT AND THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, FOR THEIR REMARKS AND FOR THEIR SELECTION. I WANT TO THANK KAREN FRANCE , EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF CLEARWATER BAR, FOR HER RECOMMENDATION AND ENDORSEMENT , AND GARY MOORE , MY OFFICE MANAGER A T CLEARWATER OFFICE , VAN DER PLUS LEGAL SERVICES, AND JOHNNY CUNNINGHAM , WHO KINDLY DROVE ME U P HERE , THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION IN THE PINELLAS-PASCO AREA , AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY WIFE , DR . J EA N VAN DER PLUS , WHOSE L OVE AND CARING AND SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE HAVE SUSTAINED ME OVER THE YEARSAND LET ME DO THE WORK THATI HAVE DONE. IF ONE WE RE TO BE LIEVE THE STORIES PORTRAYED BY RECENT HEADLINES , ONE WOULD SEE AVIEW OF THE TYPICAL LAWYER AS ONE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXORBITANT RISE IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PREMIUMS OR ONE WHO COLL ECTS G REAT PROFITS AND FEES FROM C L ASS A CTION SUITS WHILE HIS PLAINTIFF CLIENTS GET DISCOUNT COUPONS FOR THE DEFENDANT'S PRODUCTS . ALL THE WHILE , FI NDING LOOPHOLES IN THE LAW , TO GET THEIR TORT IOUS CLIENTS OFF THE TO OK ON LEGAL TECHNICALITIES. SELDOM SEEN IN MY VIEW , IS AFRONT PAGE HEADLINE DEPICTING THE MORE T Y PICAL LAWYER WHO TA KES CASES NOT FOR L UCRE AL ONE, BUT FOR ONE WHO SEEKS JUSTICE AND COMPENSATION FOR HIS INJURED CLIENT , WHO TR IES TO RI GHT THE W RONGS SUCH AS PEOPLE VICTIMIZED BY SKIN FLINT LAND LO RDS AND CAR DE ALERS WHO E LECT NOT TO STAND BEHIND THEIR 30 -DAY WARRANTIES AND MORTGAGE BROKERS WHO FILE ER FOR CLOSER PA PERS WHO FILE FOR CLOSER PAPERS MINUTES A FTER THE PEOP LE ARE LATE.WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO DIG HOLES , COLLECT THEIR FEES AND LEAVE! [LAUGHTER]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINISHER DOES . [LAUGHTER] BUT THESE ARE , ALSO, THE ATTORNEYS WHO DRAFT ALSO FOR SHUT-INS AT NO CHARGE. THEY PROBATE MEA GER ESTATES THAT WOULD NOT GENERATE SIGNIFICANT FEES. THEY OBTAIN DIVORCES FOR BATTERED SP OUSES WITH LITTLE OR NO IN COME. THEY RE VERSE MORT GAGE FORECLOSURES THAT ARE PREMATURELY BROUGHT AND A HOST OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT SEEM UTTERLY PEDESTRIAN BY COMPARISON WITH THE DRAMATIC HIGH PROFILE CASES THAT YOU SEE IN THE HEADLINES.THESE ARE TYPICAL OF THE KINDS OF CASES THAT ARE HANDLED BY THE LAWYERS OF THE VA RIOUS LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION ANSWER OTHER LEGAL AID OFFICERS, LAWYERS WHO COULD BE E ARNING U P WARDS OF TH REE TIMES THEIR SALARY OUT IN PRIVATE PRAC TICE BUT , INSTEAD , D E VOTE THEMSELVES TO SERVING THE NEED Y AT THEIR PRESENT SALARIES . THEY ARE ALSO THE KINDS OF CASES THAT ARE H A NDLED BY A HOST OF UN SUNG VOLUNTARY ATTORNEYS ON A PRO BONO BASIS. M ANY OF THEM ARE CL EAR CANDIDATES FOR THIS AWARD AS W ELL. WHILE THE PROF ESSION AND THIS COURT D UALLY RECO GNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS , THE GENERAL PU BLIC, IN MY VIEW , IS WOEF ULLY IGNORANT OF THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN SOCIETY , AND THEIR EFFORTS COULD USE A GREAT DEAL MORE EXPOSURE TO THE PUB LIC EYE THAN THEY PRES ENTLY GET. I WISH , HERE, TO SALUTE THEM AND THEIR EF FORTS AND REITERATE THAT I AM ONLY ONE , PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF OTHERS , WHO GIVE E QUALLY GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME AND TALENT. ONE FINAL NOTE ON MY O WN PARTICIPATION , I AM SOMETIMES AS KED WHY I DEV OTE THE KIND OF T IME THAT I DO TO PRO BONO ACTIVITIES AND STILL CAR RY ON MY OWN SOLO PRACTICE. I CAN BEST AN SWER B Y QUOTING A LA DY WHO WAS A CHAIR LAD Y OF A COMMITTEE , THE GOVERNOR'S HUMAN RIG HTS ADVOCACY COMM ITTEE, ON WHICH I SERVED SOME YEARS AG O. HER NAME IS HELEN WHITE. SHE IS SINCE DECEASED. WHEN ASKED WHY SHE DEVO TED ALL HER TIME TO THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY, SHE SAID SOME PEOPLE PLAY GOLF. I DO THIS . AGAIN, I THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLES S THIS HONORABLE COURT AND GOD BLESS AM ERICA . [APPLAUSE] ,,

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU , MR . VAN DER PLAUSE THANK YOU , MR . VanDER PLUS, FOR THOSE VIABLE REMARKS . NOBODY IS SEEKING TO GAIN THESE AWARDS AND DO IT WHEN THEY D I DN'T THINK ANYONE WAS WATCHING, AND YOU ARE CLEARLY THAT KIND A FTER EXAMPLE.I HOPE THAT THESE PEOPLE LISTENING TO THE CEREMONY , NOT ONLY HERE TODAY BUT O VER THE INTERNET , WILL GAIN INSPIRATION FROM YOUR GREAT WORKS . THE NE XT AWARD IS ONE THAT I AM PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE AND PRESENT , AND THAT IS A NEW AWARD THAT THE COURT HAS ADDED THIS YEAR , TO RECOGNIZE A STATE COURTJUDGE FOR HIS OR HER WORK TOWARDS IM PROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE , AS IT RE LATES TO PRO BONO WORK BY LAWYERS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS NEW AWARD HONORS THE J U DGE WHOSE WORK BEST EXEMPL IFIES THE ASPIRATIONAL GOAL DESCRIBEDIN THE RECENTLY AMENDED COMMENTARY TO CANON B OF THE CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT. THE COMM ENTARY STATES, SUPPORT OF PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES BY MEMBERS OF THE BENCH , IS AN ACTIVITY THAT RELATES TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE COMMENT GO ES ON TO SAY THAT JUDGES MAY ENGAGE IN ANUMBER OF ACTI VITIES , DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGEATTORNEYS TO PERFORM PRO BONO SERVICES . IN KEEPING WITH THIS ASP IRATION THAT WE , AS JUDGES COLLECTIVE LY SH AR E , IT IS MY PRIV ILEGE AND HONOR TO ANNO UNCE THE F I RST RECIPIENT OF FLORID A'S NEW DISTINGUISHED JUDICIAL SERVICE AWARD. IT GOES TO A JUDGE WHOSE PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS BEGAN LONG BE FORE THE DAYS WHEN HE WORRY A ROBE , WHEN HE FREQUENTLY GAVE PRO BONO SERVICES AS AN ATTORNEY IN JACKSONVILLE , AND THEN LATER , IN HIS INVOLVEMENT A S PRE SIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION, IN WHICH HE REMAINS ACTIVE THROUGH THE PRESENT. LATER , AS A JUDGE, HE CHAIRED THE JOINT COMMISSION OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND THEFLORIDA BAR MOUND ATION AS IT CON FO UNDATION , AS IT CON DUCTED AN EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF OUR STATESYSTEM OF PROVIDING LEGALSERVICES TO THE POOR.AT THE REQUEST OF THE BAR PRESIDENT, HE CHAIRED A STATEWIDE SYMPOSIUM ON EQ UAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE. AND ONE OF THE MANY BYPRODUCTS OF THIS ENDEAVOUR , WAS LEGISLATION THAT , FORTHE FIRST TIME SE CURED STATE F UNDING FOR C IVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR IN FLORIDA. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK WAS UNDERSCORED, WHEN ONLY YESTERDAY , THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE OBSER VED THE FIRST OFFICIAL LEGAL AIDE DAY , W HILE THE LEGISLATURE IS ALSO ACTIVELY CONSIDERING LEGISLATION THIS YEAR , TO , AGAIN , F URTHER EX PAND STATE FUNDING. WHILE THIS J UDGE HAS MANY MORE ACHIEVEMENTS , I WILL MENTION ONLY ONE FURTHER. IN 20 02 AND 2 003 , HE CHAIRED A TASK FORCE ON PRO BONO ACTIVITIES BY JUDGES , AND ICAN TELL YOU THAT, AS CHAIROF THAT TASK FORCE , HE ENDURED M UCH IN THE WAY O F COMMENTARY DIRE CTED TO WARDS HIM , BUT ONE OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE TASK FORCE , WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHA NGES TO CANON 4 -B , LATER A P PROVED BY THE COURT, THAT U RGES ALL JUDGES TO ENCOURAGE PRO BONO WORK BY LAWYERS , SO MAYBE , ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T DO IT THROUGH THE CODE , WE HAVE DONE IT THROUGH EX AMPLE , SO IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT THIS INAUGURAL DISTINGUISHED JUDICIAL SERVICE AWARD, SHOULD GO TO ONE OF THE PRIMARY AUTHORS OF THE V ERY CODE LANG UAGE THAT CAUSED US TO CREATE IT. IF AN YONE WAN TS TO G UESS WHOTHIS GENT LEMAN MAY BE , I WILL NOW RE VEAL THE NAME. THE COURT RECOGNIZES THE HONORABLE WILL IAM VAN NORTWICK OF THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APP EAL TO APPROACH THE BENCH , RECEIVE THE AWARD AND PLEASE, THEN , APPROACH THE PO DIUM FOR YOUR OWN REMA RKS. THANK YOU , JUDGE VAN NORTWICK. [APPLAUSE] I DIDN'T PICK OUT THESE AWARDS, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOURS IS BIG GER THAN EVERYONE ELSE'S , BUT HERE IT IS. THANK YOU .

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. I HOP E THIS T URNS OUT BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME I APPEARED BEFORE YOU . [LAUGHTER] CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE, HONORABLE JURIES ADVERTISES, FELLOW JUDGES , PRES IDENT JOHNSON , PRESIDENT-ELECT BOOKMAN , PRESIDENT-ELECT DESIGNATE CO X. YOU HAVE GOT AN OTHER ONE OUT THERE? TOBIAS SIMON AND THE FLORIDA BAR AWARD RECIPIENTS , COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND GUESTS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK A LOTOF PEOPLE. FIRST OF ALL THOSE WHO NOMINATED ME , THE MEMBERS OF THE SE LECTION COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY M ILES McGRANE, WHO HAD BEEN INTRODUCED, AND , OF COUR SE, THE CHIEFJUSTICE. WHEN THE CHIEF JUSTICE INFORMED ME THAT I WAS TO RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION AND THERE IS A WHOLE OTHER ST ORY BEHIND THAT , THAT W E WON'T GO INTO , I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED.THAT WAS THANKS T O THE STEALTH TACTICS OF THOSE WHO NOMINATED ME AND TO THE SURPRISING SECRECY OF MY JUDICIAL ASSISTANT L ISA WATSON AND MY W I FE , MA RIA BEHIND ARE SO N. MARIA'S SI STERS WILL TELLYOU THAT SHE NORMALLY CANNOT KEEP A FA MILY SECRET. THIS NEW SECRECY S KILL HAS ME WORRIED. [LAUGHTER] I FEEL LUCKY AND DEEPLY HONORED FOR THIS AWARD AND TO HE AR ALL OF THE N IC E THINGS THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID. I KNOW HOW MANY JUDGES DEVOTE TREMENDOUS ENERGY, T IME AND EF FORT OUTSIDE OF THEIR WORK, TO IMPROVE ACC ESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.MANY OF THEM COULD BE STANDING HERE. I FEEL VERY LU CKY TO BE THEFIRST ONE T O STAND HERE. SECONDLY, I FEEL GRE ATLY HONORED , TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE OTHER LAWYERS RECOGNIZED HERE. LET ME ADD MY INDIVIDUAL CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU , BUT ESPECIALLY T O VAN, THE TO BIAS SIMON WINNER. THE TOBIAS SIMON AWARD CEREMONY HAS AL WAYS BEE N ONE OF MY FAVO RITE TIMES. THE CE REMONY SH INES THE SPOTLIGHT ON LAWYERS WHO SHOW OUR PROF ESSION AT ITS ABSOLUTE BEST . THESE LAWYERS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR TIME AND SK ILLS TO SERVE OTHERS , WITHOUT THE THOUGHT OF FINANCIAL GAIN , AND CERTAINLY WITHOUT THETHOUGHT OF THIS OR ANY OTHER RECOGNITION. THEY DO NOT ME RELY RECOGNIZE OUR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO JUSTICE , BE CAUSE RECOGNITION CAN SIMPLY BE SOMETHING IN THE BRAIN. THEY LI VE THAT RESPONSIBILITY BY THEIR ACTIONS . BY HONORING THE LAWYERS , WE AND THEY LIFT US ALL UP , LIFT THE EN TIRE PROFES SION UP. WINSTON CHUR CHILL SA ID THAT WE MA KE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET. WE MAK E A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE. I AM S URE THAT EACH OF THESE LAWYERS UNDERSTAND CHURCHILL'S WISDOM , BECAUSE YOU GET MORE OUT OF DOING THIS THAN ANYTHING EL SE. WE, ALSO, USE THIS INDICATION TO FOCUS ON THE THIS OCCASION TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AC CESS TO DEMOCRACY TO THE R ULE OF LAW AND TO THE RULE OF OUR PROFESSION IN ACHIEVING ADEQUATE ACCESS.WE ARE ALL JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF OUR PROFESSION , WHEN WE SEE THESE LAWYERS THAT ARE HERE, COMMITED TO ACHIEVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE AS A CORE VALUE , BECAUSE IT IS A CORE VALUE TO OUR PROFESSION.IT IS THE SO UL OF OUR PROFESSION . AT THE SAME TIME WE ALLREALIZE THERE IS ST ILL A LOTTO BE DONE , BEFORE WE CAN ADEQUATELY, QUOTE , PROVIDE ADEQUATE ACCESS MUCH LESS E QUAL ACCESS. I WILL NOT DE TAIL THE DATA SHOWING THE UNMET NEED , BUT WHEN WE HAD THE 2 000 RETREAT THAT TE RRY RU SSELL CA LLED, THE DATA DEVELOPED , DEMONSTRATED THE VAST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE , THE MIDDLE-CLASS AND THE POOR , WHO ARE STILL UN ABLE, DESPITE ALL OF THIS EFFORT , TO O B TAIN REPRESENTATION. NUMEROUS OTHER STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE UNMET NEED OF PARTICULAR GROUPS AND PARTICULAR CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. THEN, ASK ANY JUDGE A BOUT THE NUMBER OF SELF-REPRESENTED PA RTIES INTHE LEGAL SYSTEM . AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE IS A MA JOR SYMPTOM OF OUR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYST EM. AT OUR COURT ALONE , AN APPELLATE COURT , EXCLUDING PRISONER POSTCONVICTION CASES, AL MOST ALL OF WHICH A RE PRO SE , IN 20 04 , 54 PERCENT O F THE CASES FI LED IN OUR CO URT , HAD AT LE AST ONESELF -REPRESENTED PAR TY. THAT IS AN ASTOUNDING ENOUGH. EVERY COURT IN FLORIDA , FAMILY COURTS IN PARTICULAR, H AVE MADE MANY CHA NGES AND ACCOMMODATION S TO ADDRESS THE INCRE ASING NUMBER OF SELF-REPRESENTED PERSONS. YOU CAN GO TO THE FLORIDA STATE COURTS ' WONDERFUL WEBSITE AND LOOK AT ITS SELF HELP PA GE, SET UP PRIMARILY FOR UNREPRESENTED PERSONS. IT INCLUDES FORMS, LINKS TO LOCAL SELF HELP CE NTERS WHICH EXIST I N EVERY CIRCUITAND LEGAL AID GRO UPS. EVEN WITH ALL OF THIS EFFORT,I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY JUDGE OR JUSTICE WHO BELIEVES THAT WE ARE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSING THIS IS SUE . THE CHALLENGING , THE CHALLENGE OF IMPR OVING ACCESS IS DIFFICULT , BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED. IT IS COMPLEX. B UT WE CAN MAKE ADE QUATE ACCESS A RE ALITY , WORKING INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, EACH OF US , E ACH JUDGE , EACH LAWYER CAN ENCOURAGE A YOUNG LAWYER TO DEVOTE TIME TO PRO BONO . I AM HERE PRIMARILY, BECA USE A SE NIOR LAWYER I N M Y FIRM , THE LATE T JOHNSON INTERESTED ME I N WORKINGWITH LEGAL AID IN JACKSONVILLE. THAT WAS IN THE EA RLY '7 0s WHEN I WAS A YO UNG LAWYER. HAD HE NOT MADE EFFORT TO SUPPORT MY INVOLVEMENT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS SUPPORTIVE O F LEGAL AID , I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INCLINED TO DEV OTE THE TIME AS A YOUNG LAWYER TO DEVOTE THE TIME TO PRO BONO WORK AND AWAY FROM B ILLABLE WORK, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY WHE RE LAW FIRMS LIKE TO FOCUS YOUR CAREER. IN ADDITION TO WORKING INDIVIDUALLY, I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGE THER, TO ADDRESS SOME O F THE MORE SYSTEMIC ACCESS ISSUES. THE 2000 ACCESS TO JUSTICE RETREAT, STUDIED THE ACCESS GOALS AND REA LITIES IN FLORIDA AND CA ME UP WITH A NUMBER OF PROPOSED PROP OSALS A NU MBER O F PROPOSALS WHO WERE V OTED O N BY EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE. ONE OF THOSE DID BECOME A REA LITY, AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID , STATE FUNDING FOR LEGAL AID. THE BAR AND THE COURTS HAVE UNDERTAKEN OTHER OUTSTANDING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS. FOR EX AMPLE , I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE K ELLY JOHNSON AND JANE CURREN. THEY WERE THE DYNAMIC D UO , WITH OTHERS , THAT WILL , THAT DEVELOPED THE NEW "K IDS DESERVE LICENSE" TAG . WHICH THE FLORIDA BAR AND THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION HOPE WILL RAISE A SUBSTANTIAL AM OUNT FOR CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES.THI S IS THE FIRST LIC ENSE PLATE THAT WILL ACTUALLY GO TO PROV IDE ACCESS TO ANYONE , MUCH LESS CHIL DREN WITHOUT ACCESS . ANOTHER KEY PROPOSAL AT THE RETREAT , CAL LED FOR THE C REATION OF AN ACCESS FOR JUSTICE COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE , COMP RISED JUST NOT OF LAWYERS AND JUDGES BUT OF LEADERS FROM THE BUSINESS , PROFESSIONAL AND AC ADEMIC COMMUNITIES AND INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES. THIS WOULD B E A B ROAD BASED COMMISSION THAT WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT PROVIDING ADEQUATE ACCESS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED JUST BIKE BUY THEBENCH AND BAR. IT JUST BY THE BE NCH AND BAR. IT IS A SOCIETAL PROBLEM WITH SOCIETAL SOLUTIONS, DESPITE THE WONDERFUL PRO B ONO EFFORT S OF OURPROFESSION. THE GOAL WOULD BE TO TAKE A MACRO AP PROACH , EXAMINE V ARIOUS OPTIONS AND THEN A SSIST IN DOING SUCH THIN GS AS THIS , SUCH THINGS AS ARE BEING DONE INDIVIDUALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE. MANY OVER STATES HAVE FOUND THIS MA NY OTHER STATES HAVE FOUND THIS APPROACH TOBE A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET THE E N TIRE LEGISLATURE BEHIND EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS, AND I BEL IEVE IN ACCESS COMMIS SION SERVING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR STATE , AND TO OUR LEGAL SYSTEM . NOW , IT IS NOT MY INTENT TO STAND HERE AND TAKE AWAY F ROM OUR CELEBRATION BY NAGGING ABOUT OTHER THINGTHAT IS WE HAVE T O DO , AND I A LSO RECOGNIZ E THAT OUR COMMENTS HERE ARE IN THE NATURE O F SER MON S TO THE CHOIR , FOR G IVEN THELEADERSHIP THAT IS HERE , SERMONS TO A CONVENTION OF CHOIR DIRECTORS . BUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSEMBLED HERE , HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THIS CEREMONY NOT ONLY BE A CELEBRATION OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION 'S CORE VALUES AND I DEALS , BUT , ALSO , T O BE A SPRINGBOARD FOR F UTURE ACTION THAT WILL MAKE THOSE ID EALS AND VA LUES EVEN MORE REAL ITY . BY DOING THAT , OUR PROFESSION WILL BE TTER SERVE SOCIETY.IT WILL, ALSO , EN RICH THE L IVES OF ALL OF US, WHO AREA PART OF IT. IN OTHER WORDS , LET US CAPTURE THE S P IRIT OF TOBY SIMON AND HE NRY LATIMER , NOT JUST TO DAY BUT YEAR-AROUND. THANK YOU V ERY M UCH. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE INDULGED YOU THIS TIME . THE NE XT AWARD THAT I AM PRIVILEGED TO PRESENT IS TO A LAW FIRM FOR THEIR DISTINGUISHED PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS.I HAVE BEEN TO LD THAT THIS IS AN AWARD THAT I S NOT GIVEN EVERY YEAR BUT ONLY WHEN A TRULY DE SERVING FIRM IS NO MINATED . AND THIS FIRM IS REALLY REMARKABLE, NOT JUST BECAUSETHEY ARE A HUSBAND AND WIFE T EAM , BUT THEY ARE TWOLAWYERS WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND MADE IT THEIR E THIC TO PROVID E PRO BONO SERVICES TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. THEY WERE RECENTLY HONORED BY THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION FOR CONTINUING CONTRIBUTION TO SAY GULF COAST LEGAL SERV ICES. I DON'T KNOW WH AT IS IN THE WATER OVER THERE BUT IT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD , AND THEY , ALSO, HAVE CONTRIBUTED THROUGH PRO BONO PROGRAMS OF THE CLEARW ATER BAR. THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE CLEARWATER LEGAL ASSISTANCE CLINIC, WHICH HELPS PRO BONO LITIGANTS , AND FOLLOWINGHURRICANE CHAR LEY LAST YEAR , THEY BOTH SIGNED UP TO PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES THROUGH THE JOINT LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY F E MA AND THE YOUNG LAWYERS DI VISION OF THEFLORIDA BAR. THEY HAVE , ALSO , CONTRIBUTED IN COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS , THROUGH ACTIVE COMM UNITY SERVICE , AND THES E ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE FIRM'S CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. THE COURT NOW RECOGNIZES T HE F IRM OF BARRETT AND BARR ETT , CONSISTING OFTED AND AL ICEN BARRETT , TO APPR OACH THE BENCH AND RECEIVE YOUR AWARDAND SHAKE THE HANDS O F THE JUSTICES AND THEN PROCEED TO THE PO DIUM T O MAKE REMARKS. [APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO T AKE THE PODIUM TO MAKE THE REM ARKS . SAN HOW, WH EN I HEARD OF ALL OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS, ITHOUGHT YOU WOULD BE MUCH O LDER .

WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FOR TW ENTY YEARS TO GETHER. WE WILL KEEP IT GOING. MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT.

CHIEF JUSTICE: IT DOES.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO TELL YOU THE E MOTIONS AND THE FEELINGS T HAT W E EXPERIENCED, WHEN WE RECEIVED THIS LETTER FROM JUDGE PAR IENTE , A D VISING US THAT WE HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR THIS COMMENDATION . WE ARE PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO BE HERE TOD AY, JUST WITH OUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES THAT WE KNOW FROM PINE HE WILL US PINE HE WILL AS COUNTY THAT HAVE MEANT SO MUCH TO FROM PINE HE WILL AS COUNTY THAT HAVE FROM PINE HE WILL ES COUNTY FROM PIN ELAS COUNTY, WHO HAVE MEANT SO M UCH TO US OVE R THE YEARS AND WHO WORK WITH US. JAMES VanDERPLUS , IT IS AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THE SAME D AY YOU ARE , FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS IS ACT UALLY VAN 'S SECOND TOBIAS SIMON AWARD. IS THAT RIGHT ? IT IS ALSO A PLEASURE TO HAVE WITH US , MANY OTHER L OCAL PEOPLE FROM THE PINELLAS COUNTY AREA THAT HAVE ME ANT SO MUCH TO US OVER THE YEARS , LOU QUALL AND R ANDY SA SSER , BOTH HERE, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION, WHO HAVE DONE A MARVELOUS JOB AT THE STATE LEVEL , REPRESENTING OUR BAR ASSOCIATION. SUSAN DEMERCE , L O CAL PROFESSOR FROM ST. PETE COLLEGE , IS H ERE TODAY, AND ATTORNEY WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THE CLE ARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION . KAREN GRAFT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLEA RWATER BAR ASSOCIATION, WHICH WILL BE RECOGNIZED LATER, RECEIVING THE VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATION AWARD THIS YEAR. SHELLY JOHNSON, THE C URRENT PRESIDENT OF THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION , AND MICHAEL FEINER , PAST PRESIDENT OF THE CLEARWATER BARASSOCIATION, WHO WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION LATER , AS , NOW , THE DI RECTOR OF YOUNG LAWYERS DIV ISION OF THE FLORIDA BAR. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK JANE HELMS, THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR O F GU LF COAST LEGAL SERVICES , WHO YOU MAY HAVE HEAR D A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TODAY AND GARY MOORE, THE MANAGING AT TORNEY FOR GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES , WHO IS NEAR THE BACK OF THEROOM. IT IS TH ROUGH THESE MARVELOUS ORGANIZATIONS, THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION, THE CLEARWATER BAR FOUNDATION , GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES , THAT WE HAVE FOUNDMANY, MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES THAT WE HAVE FOUND MANY , MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SERVICES . TIME A FTER TIME , THE OVER 800 LAWYERS OF THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION HAVE STEP PED FOR WARD , TO ADDRESS THOS E PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED BY THE FINE LEGAL ORGANIZATION S AND ASSOCIATIONS IN OUR AREA . ALICEN AND I, BARRETT AND BARRETT ATTORNEYS AT LA W , ARE PROUD TO BE JUST A V ERY S MALL PART OF THAT EFFORT . A FI NAL THANK YOU TO MY WIFE. WE WERE TALKING A BOUT IT TODAY ON THE WAY HERE. WE MET IN LAW SCHOOL, ON THE CAPITOL STEPS I N LANSING , MICHIGAN. LANSING , MIC HIGAN , IS THE CAPITOL OF MICH IGAN , AND THAT IS WHERE WE MET , 2 0 Y EARS A GO, AL MOST TO THE DAY , APRIL 15 , 1985. AND SO WE ARE HOPING THAT , PERHAPS TODAY , 20 YEARS LATER, WE CAN TA KE A LIT TLE T RIP TO THE TALLAHASSEE CAPITOL STEPS A ND RENEWSOME OLD VOWS AND OLD FRIENDSHIPS.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS MRS. BARRETT GOING TO SAY SOME WORDS?

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. THIS IS MY GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RENDER THE CONCURRING OPINION, WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID BY EVERYONE THUS F AR , AND TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE HERE TODAY. I WOULD, ALSO , LIKE T O RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL PEOPLE. OUR PARENTS , BECAUSE THEY WERE THE PEOPLE THAT FIRST INSPIRED U S TO DO PRO BONO WORK , BECAUSE THEY SET THE EXAMPLE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD , B Y VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEE DED HELP. SECOND OF ALL, WHEN WE BECAME YOUNG LAWYERS, WE JOINED THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION , AND ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT WE ASSOCIATED WITH , WE SAW THE NUMEROUS HOURS AND GOOD DE EDS THAT THEY DID FOR PEOPLE WHO N EEDED HELP. SO I T SEEMED JUST A NATURAL EXTENSION FOR US TO CONT INUE D OING THIS PRO BONO WORK , AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WORK. IT JUST IS THE WAY WE WERE RAISED, AND THE WAY WE WERE TAUGHT , AND SO IT IS AWONDERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE TO THE COMM UNITY AND TO HELP PEOPLE IN THIS MANNER, AND WE ARE ESPECIALLY FOR TUNATE , BECAUSE WE ARE MARRIED , THAT WE CAN DO THESE THINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO WOR RY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE WORKING ON REAL WORK OR VOLUNTEER WORK, BECAUSE WE ALSO CONCUR WITH EACH OTHER IN THAT OPINION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH .

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: I WOULD SAY THAT THE DECKS WERE STACKED THIS YEAR , AND IF MEMBERS OF THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN ON THE NOMINATING COMMISSION , BUT THEY WER EN'T , AND I THINK YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD WHO IS AND WILL KNOW FROM YOUR PROGRAM WHO IS THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR 'S VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATION , SORT OF LIKE THE ACADEMY A WARDS , WHERE, AF TER YOU G ETTHE BEST DIR ECTOR AND THE ACTOR , YOU FIGURE YOU HAVEGOT TO GO THE BEST M O VIE , YOU HAVE GO T TO G O THERE , AND IN FACT THIS YEAR , IT DOES GO TO THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION , AND I THINK WHAT IS REMARKABLE IN WHAT HAS HAPP ENED WITH THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION , IS THE T RUE PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN FORMED WITH THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION AND GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES , AND TH ROUGH THAT VEHICLE , IT IS EVIDENT THAT IT HAS INSPIRED LAWYERS IN THAT COMMUNITY TO FIND THE VEH ICLE BY WHICH THEY ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, AND THEY HAVE DONE SO MUCH IN T ERMS OF THE HOURS THAT HAVE B EEN PUT IN BY THE MANY LAWYERS THAT HAVE VOLUNTEERED THROUGH THE CLEAR WATER BAR ASSOCIATION, BUT JUST TO NAME A FEW O F THE 20 04 PROGRAMS , INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. HISPANIC OUTREACH CLINICS , THE ROSS NO RTON RECREATION C ENTER CLINIC , THE PRO BONO CLIENT RETRAINING SE MINAR , SOMETHING VERY APPROPRIATE , NEAR AND DEAR TO KE LLY'S HEART AND OTHERS , THE LI VING WILLS PROJECT , THE PEOPLE'S LAW SCHOOL AND OTHER GE NERAL C IVIL CLINIC S. THE CLEARWATER COURTHOUSE LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT, WHICH , AS JUDGE VAN NORTH R ICK MENT IONED I S SO VAN NORTWICK MEN TIONED IS SO CRITICAL, WHEN WE HAVE LAWYERS AND LAW FIRMSWILLING TO BE ON SITE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.IT IS INVALUABLE T O THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITYTHAT ARE REPRESENTED BUT ALSO TO THE COURTS, AND LASTLY, THE CLEARWATER BAR FOUNDATION,, WHICH ALSO, ACTS AS A METHOD OF OBTAIN ING M ONEY FOR LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR, SO FOR THAT AND THE NE ARLY 60 0 PRO BONO HOURS THIS YEAR , THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION AND THOSE RECIPIENTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY , PL EASE COME UP TO RECEIVE THE CHIEF JUSTICE COMMENDATION. [APPLAUSE] ,,I CAN'T HEL P BUT PROUDLY OBSERVE TO THE FOUR REPRESENTATIVES , ALL , HAPPEN TO BE OF THE F E MALE SEX .

CHIEF JUSTICE BAR BARA PARIENTE, ME MBERS OF THECOURT AND OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS TODAY, ON BE HALF THEBOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE CLEARWATER BAR, I WISH TO EXSUPPRESS MY HEARTFELT EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR THE COURT FOR RECOGNIZING OUR BAR ASSOCIATION FOR THIS WHICH WE CONSI DER TO BE A VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AND VERY IMPORTANT AWARD TO OUR MEMBERS. CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS HAVE A CL EAR HISTORY OF PARTICIPATING IN PRO BONO SERVICES. A GOOD EX AMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE OUR 75th ANNIVERSARY , WHICH WE ARE GO ING TO HAVE AGROUP OF CELEBRATIONS IN MAY, WE HAD A GROUP OF PAST MEMBERS FROM THE '60s TO THE '90s, AND THEY COM PARED AND REMINISCED DIFFERENT STORIES AND A LOT OF THEIR MEM ORIES OF PRAC TICING LAW CAME BACK TO PRACTICING PRO BONO SERVICES, AND THERE IS A HISTORY FOR US AND WE AREPROUD OF IT. BEFORE IT THERE WAS L LC ANDBEFORE THAT GULF COAST LEGALSERVICES AND BEFORE THERE WAS IOTA , THE CLEARWATER MEMBERS CONDUCTED A BENEFIT TO SOCIETY, AND THE METH ODS BY WHICH WE G AV E THESESERVICES WERE DELIVERED , WERE CHANGED , WERE SOPHISTICATED. CLEARWATER BAR MEMBERS WERE STILL AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE BUT NOW THERE WERE PROFESSIONALS WHOSE CAREERS ARE BEING DEDICATED 100 PERCENT TO PROVIDING THE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE INDIGENT AND IT MADE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE. FROM OUR THEIR OUR SI STER CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATIONSET UP A GRANT TH ROUGH CLEARWATER BAR FOUN DATION , WHICH SET UP IOTA , WHEN WE REQUESTED THE FU NDS BE TRANSFERRED TO THE FOUNDATION AND THAT THE PRO B ONO EMPLOYER BE EMPLOYED BY GULF COAST AND ALSO CHAIR A PRO BONO COMMUNITY CHAIREDWITH A LOCAL JUDGE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM YOUNGLAWYERS , PRO BATE LAWYER , GULF COAST AND CLEARWATER BAR STAFF. WHILE THE ATTORNEYS HAVE ALWAYS DONATED THEIR TIME FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE CLE RK'S COURTHOUSE CLINIC AND BY TAKI NG ON CA SES FOR D IRECT REPRESENTATION, WE HAVE SEEN OUR ATTORNEYS AND OUR MEMB ERS OF OUR BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER VAST AMOUNTS OF HOURS AND I T HAS INCREASED WITH C REATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THEGULF COAST MEMBERS AND HELPING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE INDIGENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. PIC TURE ROOM AT THE Y WCA ON A SUL TRY FLORIDA EVENINGTHIS PAST YEAR, WITH FAMILIES LA RGE AND SMALL AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGE S CHA MPING ON COOKIES AND SI PPING FR UIT PUNCH. L INING THE WALLS WERE MEMBERS FROM THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION, EACH WITH AN INTERPRETER SITTING WITH THEM. YOU SEE MO ST OF THE FAMILIES AT THAT PARTICULAR CLINIC ONLY S POKE S P ANISH , AND MOST OF THE ATTO RNEYS ONLY SP OK E ENGLISH, AND THIS WAS THE S CENE AT THIS LEGAL CLINIC AT THE YW CA AT THE HISPANIC CENTER THERE , THIS PAST YEAR. BECAUSE OF THE CHRABT I HAVE EFFORT OF THE YWCA , THE GULF COAST SERVICES, CLEARWATER BAR AND HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION ST UDENTS FROM STETSON LAW SCHOOL WHO SERVED AS INTERPRETERS IN THE LEGAL CLINIC AND THE ST. PETE COLL EGE PARALEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WITH THE CLINIC, THE CLINIC ENDED UP BEING A HUGE SUCCESS, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE PROJ ECTS FROM THIS PAST YEAR THAT WE ARE EXTREM ELY PROUD OF. THE CLEARWATER BAR HAS BEEN A CONDUIT TO OUR MEMBERS , PIE FAX , EM AILS , PUBLICITY , BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTERS. WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKESURE THAT THE WORD I S OUT AND FIN DING WAYS TO MEET THE PRO BONO REQUIREMENT O R TO JUST HELP OUT BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THIN G TO DO IN OUR VIEW. IT BECOMES A LOT EA SIER , WHEN YOU GET THE WORD OUTAND YOU ASK PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, AND YOU FIND THAT THEY WILL ARE WILLING TO DO IT MOST OF THE TIME I F YOU ASK. FROM LEGAL CLINICS TO RECREATION CE NTER CLINICS , HUNDRED OF PARTIC IPANTS HAVE BENEFITED THIS YEAR. OUR GULF COAST PROFESSIONALS HAVE DESIGNED AND CREATEDPROGRAMS TO HELP MEET LEGAL NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY ANDTHE CLEARWATER BAR HAS THEPOWER TO RE ACH THOSE G O ALS. BY COOPERATING TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY , THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS HAVE INCREASED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SUPP LY. WE HAVE N'T REINVENTED THE WHEEL.IT IS NO THING NEW. WE JUST FOUND A WAY T O MAKE IT ROLL A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER. CLOSING I WANT TO EXPRESS SPECIAL THANKS TO GARY MO ORE , JOHN HEL MS , AND THE GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES FOR THEIR ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC R OLE IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OUR MEMBERS SO THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ASSIST THEM AND I HUMBLY APPRECIATE THE HONOR OF PRO BONO RECOGNITION OF THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATIONTHIS YEAR. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO ASK K ELLY OVERSTREET JOHNSON, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR , TO PRESENT THE FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENT'S PRO BONO SERVICE AWARDS.

THANK YOU. MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT.

CHIEF JUSTICE: I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT JUDGE VAN NORTWICK TO SHAMELESS LY ADVERTISE YOUR LI CENSE PLATE.

HE ASKED FOR IT. I HAPPENED TO S AY, SURE, I WILL GET THAT FOR YOU RIGHT AWAY. I DO HOPE EVERYONE HERE WILL BUY ONE AND HELP US OUT FORA WONDER FUL CAUSE! JUSTICE PAR IENTE , JUSTICES , COLLEAGUES, FAMILY, FR IENDS , HONOREE. FIRST OF ALL , CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF Y OU. IT IS SO INSPIRING TO BE HERE AND TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THAT ALL OF YOUHAVE DONE AND TO READ ABOUT MANY OF YOUR ACCOMPLISH MEN TS. I JUST WISH THAT THE WORD GOT OUT MORE, ON HOW MANY WONDERFUL THING THAT IS WE AS LAWYERS, DO. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BO AR D OF GOVERNORS OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND THE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 76,000 MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR . WE WOULD LI KE TO OFFER OUR COLLECTIVE CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS. TODAY IS A VERY SPECIALTODAY , NOT ONLY FOR EVERYO NEIN THE COURTROOM ANDCERTAINLY OUR RECIPIENTS , BUT, ALSO, FOR THE THOUSANDS OF FLORIDIANS WHO HAVE RECEIVED LEGAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER PRO BONO SERVICE OF LAWYERS . IT IS ALSO A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, SINCE WE ARE HON ORING OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE HENRY LATI MER. HENRY LATIMER WAS A VERY SPECIAL MAN. HE MEN TORED MANY , AND HE WASA FRIEND T O ALL WHO KNEW HIM.CHIEF JUSTICE PARI ENTE, THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING THIS CERE MONY TO HENRY'S MEMORY . THE CHIEF JUSTICE READ OUT SOME STATIS TICS TO YOU ON ALL THE MANY HOURS AND DOLLARS THAT ARE DONATED BY FLORIDA'S LAWYERS. I WAS GOING T O REPEAT THOSE , BUT AS USUAL, SHE BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH , SO I WON'T DO THAT, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS TRULY INSPIRING , BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, THE N UMBERS OF HOURS DONATED GROW, AND THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS DONATED , G R OW. IT IS A WONDERFUL TREND . FLORIDA LAWYERS ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE SEE EXAMPLES OF THE WORK BEING DONE BY THOSE WHO ARE BEING RECOGNIZED HERE TODAY , WITH THINGS LIKE ACTING AS GUARDIANS FOR AWARDS WHO ARE FOR WARDS WHO ARE INDIGENT, SERVING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE HOMELESS , REPRESENTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VI OLENCE , MEDIATING FAMILY LAW DISPUTES , PROVIDING IMMI GRATION WORK , FACILITATING FOR ADOPTIONS AND LITIGATING MATTERS INV OLVING PHYSICAL AB USE OF DETAINED PRISONERS. IN AD DITION , SE VERAL OF THE AWARD RECI PIENTS SERVE AS GUARDIANS AD LITEM AND ATTORNEYS AD LITEM. OTHER PRO BONO SERVICES DEDICATED TO CHILDREN , INCLUDE VOLUNTEERING IN DEPENDENCY COURT , BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR DISVAPINGD CHILDREN AND ASSISTING LOW IN DISADVANTAGED CHIL DREN AND ASSISTING LOW IN COME RELATIVES WHOSE PARENTS ARE ABSENT, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS THERE.IS A WO NDERFUL QUOTE I HEARDFROM A JUDGE WHO RECEIVED AN AWARD LA ST YEAR , AND ITHOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE. WHEN YOU SEE A TURTLE ON A FENCE P OST, YOU KNOW HE DIDN'T GET THERE BY HIMSELF. I THINK THIS IMAGE SPEAKS BOTH TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HELPED BY THE WORK OF PRO BONO LAWYERS AND TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES OF THE LAWYERS WHO DE VOTE NUMEROUS HOURS EACH YEAR , TO VOLUNTEERING FOR OUR LEGAL AID . BEFORE I ASK E ACH OF THE WINNERS TO COME FOR WARD TO RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATE , I WOULD LIKE TO R E MIND E VERYONE HERE TODAY O F ONE PORTION OF THE OATH OF ADMISSION, THAT WE ALL AS LAWYERS TAKE. ALL FLORIDA LAWYERS SWEAR I WILL NEVER RE JECT , FROM ANY CONSIDERATION , PERSONAL TO M YSELF, THE CAU SE OF THE DEFENSELESS OR OPPRESSED O R DELAY ANY ONE'S CAUSE FOR LUCRE OR MA LICE , SO HELP ME GOD. I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANY OF THOSE OF YOU SITTING HERE TODAY AB OUT OUR OATH. AGAIN , THAN K YOU TO ALL OF THE HONOREE . IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO CALL YOU UP INDIVIDUALLY , AND I WILL HAVE TO TELL YOUI AM GOING TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I MESS UP ANYBODY'S NAME.I AM REALLY GOING TO T RY. FIRST OF ALL , JUDGE , I AM GOING LET YOU HAVE YOUR AWARD. FROM THE FI RST CIRCUIT , STEVEN E QUINELL. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE SE COND CIRCUIT , MARTIN RDIX. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE THIRD CIRCUIT , N ANCY HO LIDAY FIELDS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE FOU RT H CIR CUIT , CHAD S RO BERTS . [APPLAUSE] FROM THE FIFTH CIRCUIT , DEE PATRICK DALTON. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE SI XTH CIRCUIT , J AMES M VanDERPLUS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT, DEAING-HANDLE.[APPLAUSE] DI EGO HANDEL.

FROM THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT JOSEPH S JACKSON [APPLAUSE] FROM THE N INTH CIRCUIT , JAMES M McKEE GEE. [APPLAUSE] JAMES M McGHEE. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE TENTH CIRCUIT, BETH HARLAN[APPLAUSE] FROM THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT MATTHEW PCOLONASE. [APPLAUSE] THAT WAS MY HARD ONE . JACQUELINE MACK FROM THE TWELFTH CIRCUIT [APPLAUSE] FROM THE THIRTEENTH CIRCUIT , KATHLEEN S MacELROY. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 14th CIRCUIT , WILLIAM R GARRETT , AND I DON'T THINK HE WAS ABLE TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY . FROM THE FIFTEENTH CIRCUIT , EILEEN N J OSEPH . [APPLAUSE] FROM THE SIXTEENTH CIRCUIT , LINDA B WHEELER , WHO WAS, ALSO, NOT ABLE T O BE HERE WITH US TODAY. FROM THE SEVENTEENTH CIRCUIT , JOE ANN VANESA [APPLAUSE] FROM THE EIGHTEENTH CIRCUIT , KENNETH TOOROGER. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE NINE TEENTH CIRCUIT , DEBORAH M MO OK ER HOOKER. [APPLAUSE] AND FROM THE TWENT IETH C IRCUIT , MICHAEL I MI LLER. [APPLAUSE] AND THEN WE HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OUT-OF-STATE, R ICHARD AHORTER [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU . CHIEF JUSTICE, SHOULD I NOW CALL UP MR . FA ENER.

I THINK AFTERWARDS YOUWILL COME BACK UP FOR APHOTOGRAPH, SO WHY DON'T WE GIVE A BIG ROUND O F AP PLAUSE [APPLAUSE] I THINK THE NEXT AWARD IS BEING G IVEN BY MICHAEL FAENER, PRESIDENT OF THE Y OUNG LAWYERS DIVISION. ARE YOU HERE TO PRE SENT THE AWARD ? MADAM CHIEF JUSTICE. MEMBERS OF THE COURT. PRESIDENT JOHNSON, PRESIDENT-ELECT BOOKMAN, MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY , MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE , HON ORED COLLEAGUES , FRIENDS , JUSTICES FROM CLEARWATER , FORWARD , I DID NOT GET MEMO SAYING THAT THE CLEARWATER BAR WAS SUPPOSED TO WIN THE YOUNG LAWYERS AWARD, SO WE ARE GOING TO CHA NGE THE PACE A LITTLE BIT . WHEN I START PREPARING MY SPEECH FOR THIS OCCASION , I STARTED LAST WE EK AND , WITH THE DE ATH OF THE POPE , I K IND OF STARTED REFLECTING UPON THE INFLUENCE THE PONTIFF HAD HAD ON MY SELF BEING YOUNGER , REALIZING HE WAS THE ONLY POPE THAT I REMEMBER, AND A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU KEEP HEA RING ABOUT JOHN PAUL I I , IS THE UNIVERSEALITY OF THE CHURCH BUT , A LSO , THE UNIVERSEALITY OF THE MO RALS AND VA LUES , AND WHAT STR UCK ME WAS THAT THE PO NTIFF HAD AL WAYS HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL IN HIS HEART FOR CHIL DREN. THE HOPE , THE NEED , AND MORE IMPORTANTLY , THE OUTREACH TO THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. AND THEN I STARTED THINKING , EXAMINING WHAT THE FLORIDA BAR DOES , AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE YOUNG LAWYERS DO TO HELP THE CHILDR EN OF THESTATE OF FLORIDA . SO I STARTED THINKING ANDWROTE DO WN A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS OF WHAT YOUNG LAWYERS HERE , IN FLORIDA , DO. JUDGE VAN NORTWICK , I CA N T ELL YOU YOUNG LAWYERS ARE ACCEPTING YOUR CHA LLENGE IN RECORD NUMB ERS, TO NOT ONLY HELP THE CHILDREN BUT ALL OF THE CITIZE NS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING PRESIDENT MILES McDPRAN FOR THE CHILDREN INITIATIVE ALONG WITH KELLY JOHNSON'S EXTE NSION OF THE LICENSE PLATE . BY PLED GING MONEY , TIM E AND EFFORT TO MA KE IT A REALITY . OUR STATE WIDE DIV ISION HAS HELPED OUT , BY PLE DGING M ONEY FOR HOLIDAYS I N JANUARY PROJECTS , BY HELPINGOUT WITH, BOTH , THE MOOT COURT AND MOCK T R IAL COMPETITIONS, TO F URTHER EDUCATE THE YOUTH. BUT WHAT ALSO STRUCK ME , WAS HOW MANY OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS AFFILIATES HAVE ADOPTED YOUTH PROJECTS . THE YOUNG LAWYERS KNAPSACK FOR STU DENTS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL, SO WHEN THE YOUNG LAWYERS GOT TEN NOMINATIONS AND EI GHT OF THE TEN HAD TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD EXCELED WITH CHILDREN PROJECT , IT MA DE ME THINK, SO THE NEXT THI NG THAT CAME TO MY MIND , WAS SOMEBODY WHO REALLY IS DE VOTED TO CHILDREN AND THEIR CAUSE, S HOULD GET THIS AWARD, AND IT IS WITH G REAT PLEASURE THAT I HAVE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE HERE TODAY. OUR RECI PIENT IS NOT FROM THE SIXTH JUDI CIAL CIRCUIT BUT AC TUALLY FROM THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. SHE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN AWARDED THE CHILD ADVOCACY AWARD IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT . IMMEDIATELY UPON GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL , SHE JU MPED INTO VOLUNTEERING A S GUARDIAN AD LITEM , AND , REALLY, TOOK THE HARD CA SES . NOT THE SI MPLE ONES BUT THE ONES WITH B A TTER ED CHILDREN, THE ONES WHO REALLY CAME FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS , THE EMOTIONAL ONES . NOT ONLY DID SHE ENTHUSIASTICALLY TAKE THOSE CASES, BUT SHE TOOK IT ONE STEP FU RTHER , BY NOT ONLY SOLVING AND HELPING THE CHILDREN, BUT, THEN, S AYING LET'S A D DRESS THE ROOT PROBLEMS . IN 20 00 , OUR RECIPIENT FOUNDED A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION, TO HELP DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY CA LLED E DUCATE TOMORROW . "EDUCATE TOMORROW" IS DEDICATED TO RAISING THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ALL CHILDREN. I HAD A CHAN CE TO TALK TO THE RECIPIENT , AND SHE SHARED SOMETHING WITH ME EARLIER , THAT , IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR THAT HER SISTER IS ALSO THE EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR OF IT. THEIR OF FICE IS RIGHT IN HER LAW OFFICE , AND IT IS REMARKABLE, BECAUSE SHE HAS DED ICATED QUITE A BIT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO , REALLY , HELPING THE CHILDREN OF THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT. IT IS WITH MY PLEASURE, THAT THE FLORIDA BAR YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION , PRES ENTS THE AN NUAL YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION AWARD FOR PRO BONO SERVICE T O MELANIE DAME AND. [APPLAUSE] TO MEL ANIE DAMIAN. [APPLAUSE] ,,

CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE , JUSTICES, MEM BERS OF THE BAR, LADIES AND GENT LEMEN , M AY IT PLEASE THE COURT. I AM A LITTLE AF RAID I CA N'T LIVE UP TO THE INTRODUCTION , BUT I AM INCREDIBLY HONOREDTO, FRANKLY , NORTHBOUND THESAME ROOM AS SOME OF THE O THER RECIPIENTS , AFTER READING WHAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE DO ING IN THIS PROFESSION. I AM ST ILL A YOUNG LAWYER , AT LEAS T FOR THE AN OTHER Y EAR . AND SO I AM FREQUENTLY A S KED WHY DID YOU BECOME A LAWYER , AND A BU SINESS CLIENT ASKED ME THAT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND I L OOKED HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND ITOLD HIM I WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE, AND WHILE HE LO OKED A T ME WITH SOME SKEPTCISM , IT WAS TRUE , AND I KNOW , FA R FROM BEING ALO NE IN M Y MOTIVES FOR PRACTICING AND ESPECIALLY AS EVIDENCED HERE TODAY , I AM IN THE MAJORITY . AND I AM INCREDIBLY GRATIFIED TO BE IN A PROFESSION WHERE I CAN HELP PEOPLE EVERYDAY . I WANT T O THANK THE YOUNGLAWYERS FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING , AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO T HANK MY SI STER , WHO DOES FULL-TIME WHAT I CAN DO ONLY PART-TIME , AND HELP S ME TO NOW SA Y WE ARE HELPING 300 FOSTER K IDS . [APPLAUSE]

CHIEF JUSTICE: IS SHE HERE MELA NIE?

YES , SHE IS. VIRGINIA .

CHIEF JUSTICE: STAN D UP , PLEASE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR THIS AWARD.IT IS A GR EAT HONOR .

CHIEF JUSTICE: THANK YOU SO M UCH . [APPLAUSE] I TO LD YOU THIS CEREMONY BRINGS JUST A S MILE TO OUR FACES AND TO MY FACE , AND MELANIE, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION, AND THAT WAS A PERFECT RECIPIENT , MICHAEL. HOWEVER , MR . FA ENER , YOU DEPARTED TOO QUICKLY , B ECAUSE THERE IS A MATTER THAT I HAVE TO ADDRESS WITH YOU TODAY, THAT IS OF SUCH MAGNITUDE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISPENSE WITH THE USUAL R ULES AND ADDRESS IT WHILE YOU ARE STILL HERE. [LAUGHTER] WHAT IS IT ? THE SE ARE THE FACTS , AND I F YOU WOULD PLEASE COME UP AND COME TO THE PODIUM . WE UNDERSTAND THAT , IN 2004, THE STATE OF FLORIDA , I THINK WE ALL KNOW, ENDURED THE MOST CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE SE ASON IN ITS HISTORY , WITH FOUR MAJORSTORMS THAT LITE RALLY AFFECTED EVERY REGION OF THIS STATE, W ITHIN A PE RIODOF A F EW WEEKS. THE FIRST OF THESE STORMS , HURRICANE CHAR LEY , DEVASTATED PARTS OF FLORIDA'S SOUTHWEST COAST. YOU , I UNDERSTAND , AS A PRACTICING LAWYER, WERE , ALSO, A ST UDENT I N THE MASTERS OF LAW PROGRAM, TAXATION PROG RAM , AT THEUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION. IN FACT , I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE THE YOUNGEST YOUNG LAWYER DIVISION PRESIDENT IN ITS HI STORY , AND THE ONLY STUDENT TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE. ARE YOU GUILTY OF THIS SO FAR?

G UILTY .

DE SPITE SACRIFICES YOUHAD TO MAKE , YOU TOOK IT ON YOURSELF , AS YLD PRESIDENT, TO HELP JO INT COORDINATION WITH FE MA, A PROGRAM BY WHICH LAWYERS VOLUNTEERED THEIR TI ME TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE HURR ICANES , FREE OF CHARGE. NEARLY 700 ATTORNEYS, INCLUDING TODAY'S LAW FI RM RECIPIENTS , ANSWERED THIS CALL TO PRO VIDE SERVICE FOR THIS PROGRA M. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHERS WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THIS EFFORT, BUT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP WERE TRULY REMARKABLE. YOUR WORK , DEMON STR ABLY HELPED HU NDRED OF PEOPLE SORT THROUGH THE QUAGMIRE OF LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT ENGULFED THEIR LI VES D UE TO THE STORM , AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM AND IN THE STATE KNOW HOW MANY LIVES WERE INTERRUPTED . NOW, I KN OW THIS IS ASURPRISE, SO I AM SO RR Y IF I GAVE YOU A START , AND IF SO , IT IS NOT MY FAULT, IT IS MILES Mc GRANE 'S FA ULT , AND AS CHAIR OF MY AD VISORY COMMITTEE , IS HE THE ONE WHO ADVISED M E TO DO THIS BECAUSE HE SAID HE LIKED SURPRISES, SO IT IS MY PRIVILEGE, NOW, TO GIVE YOU A CHIEF JUSTICE S PECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD , HONORING YOUR DEDI CATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE RE SIDENTS OF THIS STATE , TH ROUGH YOUR EXTRAORDINARY WORK AS YLD PRESIDENT, SO ALTHOUGH YOU DIDN'T GET A YOUNG LAWYERS TO B E FROM THE S I XTH CIRCUI T FOR YOUR AWARD , IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE G IVEN YOU THE AWARD INSTEAD. SO PLEASE COME UP AND AC CEPT THIS AWARD. [APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO TALK! [LAUGHTER] UNLESS YOU WANTED TO SAYTHANK YOU .

I JUST , IT WAS A , WOW, THAT IS , AC TUALLY SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT 24 HOURS AGO, I WAS IN NEW OR LEANS , AND THERE WAS AN EF FORT TO TRY TO GET ME TO STAY THERE R ATHER THAN TO COME HERE, AND I AM G LAD I CAME NOW . [LAUGHTER] BUT IT WASN'T JUST ME. IT WAS THE SP IRIT OF THEFLORIDA BAR THAT EVERYBODY JUST COMING TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT. I WAS JUST ONE PERSON, ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME , BUT THERE IS JUST EVERYBODY THAT I CAN THANK. MY WHOLE ENTIRE BOARD , THE VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATIONS , THE PRO BONO ASSOCIATIONS , K ELLY , FOR BASICALLY ALLOW ING AND JACK HARKNESS , THE FULL RESOURCES OF THE FLORIDA BAR , THEY ARE THE REAL RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD. I AM JUST FIGURE HEAD , BUT THANK YOU , THANK YOU , JUSTICES.

CHIEF JUSTICE: YOU ARE A V ERY NICE FIGURE HEAD.

THANK YOU[APPLAUSE] LET'S GIVE A BIG ROUND OF AND PLUS OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY , AND LET'SHOPE THAT THOSE WATCHING THAT HAVE NOT CONTRIBUTED IN PRO BONO TIME THIS YEAR,MAYBE , WILL BE INSPIRED , JUST MAYBE, T O DO SO NEXT YEAR , AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THAT EACH OF YOU MAKE IN YOUR LIVES INDIVIDUALLY. YOU KNOW, KELLY IS TALKING A BOUT HOW I S T EAL HER LI NES. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I WANTED TO COME UP WITH ALINE THAT WOULD EXEMPP HI THE S PIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM , AND ALSO THE SPIRIT O F HE NRY LATIMER , AND THE QUOTE , AFTER LOOKING THROUGH ALL OF THESE QUOTES, WAS NOT YOUR QUOTE.IT WAS BILL VAN NORTWICK'S QUOTE, THE WINSTON CHURCHILL QUOTE , SO I AM GOI NG TO JUST S AY IT AGAIN , BECAUSE IT M UST BE A BOTH QUOTE , IF WE BOTH CAME UP WITH IT AT THESAME TIME , AND THAT IS YOU MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT YOU GET , BUT YOU MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GI VE. THAT IS WHY , AS I SAID , IT IS SO APPROPRIATE THAT WE HAVE DED ICATED THIS CEREMONY TO THE SPIRIT O F HENRY LATNER . LA TIMER . JUDGE THOMPSON , WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BUT WAS A DEAR FRIEND OF HENR Y'S , SAID THAT HE KN EW HOW VERY PROUD HENRY W OULD BE O F THE CE REMONY OF BEING HONORED , AND WHAT HE, ALSO, SAID , AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY A G REAT NOTE TO E ND IT ON , THAT THIS CEREMONY NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE N AMES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DEDI CATED LAWYERS , IT INSP IRES US ALL TO DO MORE T O HELP THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED AND HOPEFULLY , WE WILL LEAVE THIS ROOM WITH RE NEWED INSPIRATION TO DO THAT. MANY OF US DID GO INTO THE LEGAL PROFESSION , MELANIE , JUST FOR WHAT YOU SAID, TO HELP AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK , AND CLEARLY THOS E IN THEROOM HAVE CARRIED THAT OUT , THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU , FOR PUT TING ME ANING INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES , FORMAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS , ONE BY ONE , AND WITH THAT , THIS CEREMONIAL SE SSION IS IN RECESS.

MARSHAL: PLEASE RISE. ,,

CHIEF JUSTICE: WE ARE LEAVING AND THEN WILL COME B ACK FOR THE PICTURES , SO WITH THAT WE ARE IN RECESS .] LAUGHTER]