SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA IS NOW IN SESSION. DRAW NEAR, GIVE ATTENTION, AND YOU SHALL BE HEARD. GOD SAVE THESE YUNS, THIS GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA AND THIS HONORABLE COURT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. PLEASE BE SEATED.

GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT. IT IS TRULY WONDERFUL TO LOOK OUT IN THE AUDIENCE AND SEE SO MANY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION. I WOULD ALSO SAY FOR JUSTICE CANTERO'S BENEFIT IT IS WONDERFUL TO LOOK OUT AND SEE A WOOD PANEL WHERE CHRIS IS STANDING, WE HAD A STAINED PANEL THERE AND THAT IS COURTESY OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO START TO RENOVATE THIS COURTROOM. WE THINK IT IS LOOKING MUCH BETTER. IN MY VIEW, AND AS CHIEF JUSTICE THIS CEREMONY TODAY IS REALLY A HIGHLIGHT FOR US FOR ALL OF US ON THE COURT AND IT IS MEANINGFUL AND IT IS TRULY UPLIFTING AND I HOPE THAT IT ALSO BECOMES INSPIRATIONAL NOT ONLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY FOR THOSE ARE HERE AND WATCHING ON THE INTERNET. BECAUSE TODAY WE HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR PROFESSION WHOSE LEGAL SKILLS ENABLE COUNTLESS FLORIDIANS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE, BUT FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I BELIEVE THIS BAR AND THIS STATE WITH ITS LAWYERS HAS ALWAYS LED THE COUNTRY IN RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE THAT WITH THE PRACTICE OF LAW, WHICH IS A PRIVILEGE, CARRIES WITH IT CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS IN OUR SOCIETY AND TO OUR DEMOCRACY. WE KNOW WHEN WE ALL TOOK OUR OATH OF ADMISSION TO THE FLORIDA BAR WE SWORE THAT WE WOULD NEVER REJECT FROM ANY CONSIDERATION PERSONAL TO MYSELF THE CAUSE OF THE DEFENSELESS OR OPPRESSED. AND WHILE TODAY WE HONOR SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS, WE KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE STATE THERE ARE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF LAWYERS THAT EVERY DAY IN THEIR PRACTICE PERFORM SELFLESS ACTS TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO JUSTICE. I KNOW OF NO PROFESSION THAT GIVES OF THEIR TIME MORE FREELY THAN OUR PROFESSION. INFORMATION THIS PAST YEAR FROM THE FLORIDA BAR REVEALS THAT IN THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD FLORIDA LAWYERS REPORTED GIVING NEARLY $1.5 MILLION HOURS OF PRO BONO WORK. EXISTING RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO SATISFY 23% OF THE NEED TO LEGAL SERVICES AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT RELEASED BY THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION ENTITLING "DOCUMENTING THE JUSTICE GAP IN AMERICA," LES THAN 20% OF THE LEGAL NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME AMERICANS ARE BEING MET AND UNMET NEEDS HAVE ONLY INCREASED IN THE LAST DECADE. THAT MEANS 80% OF OUR MOST NEEDY INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT HAVING THEIR BASIC LEGAL NEEDS MET. AND IN FLORIDA AT LEAST THREE OUT OF FOUR OF FLORIDA'S MOST NEEDY CITIZENS HAVE IMPORTANT LEGAL NEEDS THAT ARE GOING UNMET. HOW DOES OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE OPERATE WHEN A LITIGANT IS UNREPRESENTED? AND AS FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED AND NEGLECTED, PRESENTLY ONLY ONE HALF OF THEM HAVE A GUARDIAN AD LITEM EVEN THOUGH THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW. SO WHILE WE ARE HERE TODAY TO COMMEND OUR PROFESSION FOR THE GREAT WORK, WE MUST NEVER, EVER REST ON OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE CAN DO BETTER AND MUST DO BETTER. NOW THE CHIEF JUSTICES VIFS COMMITTEE HAD THE TASK OF MAKING A LONG LIST OF NOMINATIONS ALL OF WHOM ARE SO DESERVING OF RECOGNITION, THOSE BEING HONORED TODAY ARE SIMPLY THE MOST DESERVING. THE COMMITTEE'S TASK WAS NOT AN EASY ONE, I FULLY CONCUR IN ITS RECOMMENDATION AND SO I WOULD FIRST OF ALL LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND WHO MADE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. WHEN I FINISH READING THE NAMES OF THE FULL COMMITTEE, I WOULD ASK THAT THEY STAND IN ATTENDANCE AND THAT THOSE IN ATTENDANCE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. FIRST, KELLY JOHNSON, THE CHAIR, ANYONE ANTONIO CASTRO, CYNTHIA GUERRERO. PAOLO, JUDGE AMY SMITH, KENNETH WALTON AND LYNN YOUNG. ANY OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY? WELL, THEY WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS AT LEAST IN THEIR FACES AND WE KNOW KELLY, OF COURSE, DID A WONDERFUL JOB CHAIRING, WE ALL KNOW KELLY, WE'LL THANK HER WHEN WE SEE HER. AT THIS TIME I ASK ANY FORMER RECIPIENT OF THE TOBIAS SIMON PRO BONO SERVICE AWARD TO RISE AND BE RECOGNIZED. ALL RIGHT, WELL, I KNOW WE HAVE THIS NEXT GROUP HERE, WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE WITH US TODAY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA PRO BONO COORDINATOR ASSOCIATION, WOULD THEY PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO STAY STANDING, I WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THIS GROUP -- UP, UP, AGAIN. THEY REPRESENT ALMOST ALL OF OUR 20 CIRCUITS. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING TO COORDINATE THE PRO BONO EFFORTS WITHIN YOUR CIRCUIT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEM, GET TO KNOW THEM AND WHEN THEY CALL YOU, PLEASE RETURN THEIR CALL AND SAY YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] LAST YEAR AT THE PRO BONO CEREMONY WE HONORED THE MEMORY OF HENRY LATTIMER A FRIEND OF MANY OF OURS AND AN EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING WHOSE LIFE EXEMPLIFIED THE SPIRIT OF PRO BONO PUBLICO FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC. THE PRIMARY AWARD BEARS THE NAME OF ANOTHER GREAT LAWYER, THE AWARD WAS SO NAMED AFTER TOBIAS SIMON BECAUSE HIS RECORD OF SERVICE REPRESENTS THE YARD STICK BY WHICH EACH OF US MEASURES OUR COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO WORK AND SERVING THOSE WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO OUR COURTS. WE KNOW THAT THE SPIRIT OF TOBIAS SIMON LIVES ON IN THE AWARD THAT BEARS HIS NAME WHICH HONORS THOSE OTHER FLORIDA LAWYERS WHO HAVE UNSELFISHLY CARRIED ON HIS WORK. THIS IS, I GUESS, CONSIDERED THE ACADEMY AWARD OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION AS IT COMES TO PRO BONO AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT OF FLORIDA'S LEG PROFESSION'S HIGHEST PUBLIC SERVICE HONOR. THIS YEAR'S AWARD GOES TO AN ATTORNEY WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TRULY REMARKABLE. AND I JUST CITE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HER WORK. IF I HAD ONE WORD TO SUMMARIZE THE FOCUS OF HER PRO BONO CAREER, THAT WORD WOULD BE "CHILDREN." IN THE TIME ALLOTTED I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU ALL SHE'S DONE FOR SOME OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND IN READING THE LITTLE BRIEF, BIO, I CAN TELL YOU IT DOESN'T BEGIN TO CAPTURE THE DEPTH OF HER COMMITMENT AND THE BREADTH OF HER WORK. THIS WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN COOPERATION WITH MANY PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING WORK STARTED IN 1990 AS A GUARDIAN AD LITEM VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY AND AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ATTORNEYS IN 2000. SHE HAS TAKEN SOME OF OUR MOST HEART-WRENCHING CASES IN ONE CASE ALONE SHE DEDICATED MORE THAN 500 HOURS, 500 HOURS TO HELP YOUNG TWO YOUNG SISTERS WHOSE YOUNG CHILDHOOD COULD ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A NIGHTMARE. THE OLDEST CHILD AT AGE 4 HAD BEEN THE ONLY TWONS A QUADRUPLE MURDER INVOLVING TORTURE FROM 1995 UNTIL THE TWO CHILDREN WERE ADOPTED IN 2002, THAT IS SEVEN YEARS, THE ATTORNEY WE ARE RECOGNIZING HERE TODAY FOLLOWED THE COMPLEX LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ENSNARED THESE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. RECENTLY THIS ATTORNEY WAS APPOINTED BY THE DEPENDENCY COURT IN MIAMI TO REVIEW OVER 100 FILES OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN WHO WERE OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS TO OVERSEE THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FOSTER CARE REVIEW. THESE ARE ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF MANY OVER THE PAST DECADE. AND WHAT I FOUND REMARKABLE IN READING THE NOMINATION IS THAT NOT ONLY HAS SHE WORKED ON INDIVIDUAL CASES, BUT, AND I SUSPECT SHE HAS DONE THIS IN HER COMMERCIAL PRACTICE AS WELL, SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FOSTER UNIQUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PARTY, FAMILY MEMBERS AND AGENCIES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN THOUGHTFUL, REALISTIC AND LONG-TERM RESOLUTION IN EVEN THE MOST CONTENTIOUS CASES. TO ME THAT IS A SIGN OF A GREAT LAWYER. AND THIS ATTORNEY HAS NOT RESTRICTED HER EFFORTS TO THOSE IN THE COURTROOM. SHE HAS VISITED CHILDREN INER IN-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND -- INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND RECRUITED RELATIVES FOR CHILDREN. I GUESS YOU'RE ALL WONDERING WHO THIS IS, MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW BY NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR'S REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL TO YOU, THIS YEAR'S AWARD RECIPIENT IS KATHERINE W. EZELL OF MIAMI. [APPLAUSE]

AS MS. EZELL WALKS OVER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MENTION AND I'M SURE SHE WILL THAT SHE IS A PARTNER WITH POTHHURST, -- ET CETERA, ET CETERA, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NAME IS TODAY, BUT, AND WHICH FIRM HAS HAD AN INCREDIBLE HISTORY OF PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING, I BELIEVE ANOTHER TOBIAS SIMON AWARD WINNER. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE, HONORABLE JUSTICES, PRESIDENT BOOKMAN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, I'M GRATEFUL, AWED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST A GLIMMER OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW TOBY SIMON BEFORE HE DIED. I REMEMBER HIS PASSION AND HIS FEARLESSNESS IN THE FACE OF SOMETIMES BEING RIDICULED OR BEING THE TARGET OF DISDAIN. A JUDGE I KNOW RECENTLY DESCRIBED HIM AS BEING A GRAND CHAMPION FOR GOOD. THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND THE CLIENTS HE SERVED ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF HIS COURAGE, DETERMINATION AND EXAMPLE. AT THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, MAY I INTRODUCE MY PARENTS DOROTHY AND BILL WORTHEN FROM GEORGIA, MY COUSIN MARTHA SHEPARD WHO IS SO GOOD TO ALL OF US, MY ELDER SON BOISE EZELL AND MY FIANC\'E WHO BOTH SAY ARE MY BIGGEST PAST AND FUTURE PRO BONO PROJECT. AND I'M ALSO SO HONORED TO HAVE HERE TODAY TWO OF MY PARTNERS, FIRST JOEL EATON, A PREEMINENT APPELLATE LAWYER OF WHOM WE'RE SO PROUD AND WHO IS NO STRANGER TO THIS COURT AND ALSO OUR NEWEST APPELLATE PARTNER, STEVEN ROSENTHAL WHO IS SO GIFTED AND SO COMMITTED WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM.

I WOULD NOTICE THAT MR. EATON DOESN'T SMILE WHEN YOU'RE INTRODUCING HIM. [LAUGHTER] YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY STAND UP SO THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED? [APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LEARNED ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE FROM MY PARENTS. MY FATHER IS A VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE. HE STARTED A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WORTHY STUDENTS AND OVERSAW IT FOR MANY YEARS. HE STARTED A NIGHT SCHOOL FOR ILLITERATE ADULTS AND TAUGHT REGULARLY AND FAITHFULLY. HE'S PROBABLY GIVEN MORE BLOOD THAN ANYBODY IN SOUTH GEORGIA. I MOTHER WHO TAUGHT AND LOVED SO MANY SECOND GRADERS IS STEADY SUPPORT MADE MY FATHER'S EFFORTS POSSIBLE AND WHO ENCOURAGED AND ASSISTED MY FRIENDS AND ME WHEN WE WERE ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD TO START A GOOD DEED CLUB WHEREBY WE WOULD SAVE OUR MONEY FROM OUR CHORES AND BUY CLOTHES AND SECRETLY SEE THAT NEEDY CHILDREN RECEIVE THEM. MY GIRL SCOUT LEADER ELOWIESE WHO TAUGHT ME THE SATISFACTION OF TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB EVERY DAY. MY FIRM WHO GRACIOUSLY ALLOW ME TO DO THE PRO BONO WORK, MY PARTNER, MENTOR, CONSPIT TORE IN TAKING ON MORE PRO BONO CASES THAN OUR PARTNERS WOULD LIKE, WHO WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, AND BOB, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, HAS HELPED MORE PEOPLE IN MORE WAYS THAN WE WILL EVER KNOW. OUR SENIOR PARTNER AND BENEVOLENT LEADER POTHHURT WHO -- POTHURST WHO SET SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE, MY ASSISTANTS WHOSE TEAM WORK AND REALLY HANDS-ON SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT IN MY PRO BONO CASES MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN. I WANT ALSO TO THANK ELAINE GOODER IN A PARTNER AT BALLARD WHITE WITH WHOM I'VE DONE MANY OF MY PRO BONO CASES. FINALLY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SHARON LANGER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC AID OFFICE. SHARON IS ONE OF THOSEVATION THEIRS WHO TO PARAPHRASE BOBBY KENNEDY DREAMS DREAMS AND SAYS WHY NOT AND GOES AHEAD AND WORKS HER MAGIC AND HER FINGERS TO THE BONE TO SEE TO IT THAT THOSE THINGS COME TRUE. SHE'S DONE THAT RECENTLY WITH THE GIRL'S ADVOCACY PROJECT HELPING GIRLS IN RETENTION AND CASA VOLANTINA THAT INVOLVES HAVING A HOME FOR GIRLS WHO ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE.

AND SHARON IS HERE TODAY IF SHARON YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. [APPLAUSE]

AND ALWAYS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH SHARON IS KAREN, SHE IS REALLY THE CHEERLEADER TO PUT SOMETHING BACK IN DADE COUNTY, SHE RECRUIT, TRAINS PRO BONO LAWYERS AND SOMEHOW GETS THEM TO KEEP COMING BACK. MY LOVING THANKS TO EACH OF YOU THROUGH SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION AND INDULGENCE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE OF SERVICE. WHEN I WAS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM YEARNING TO GET AWAY FROM "SESAME STREET" AND INTO THE COURTROOM, I WOULD SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE AT BEAU'S AND WILL'S CAREER DAY PROGRAMS TO SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN AS A LAWYER, AND I HAD A VERY SIMPLE MESSAGE AND IT HAD TO BE SIMPLE BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I HAD NEVER REALLY PRACTICED LAW, BUT MY MESSAGE TO THEM WAS THAT LAWYERS ARE PEOPLE WHO HELP PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS. AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT SIMPLE EXPLANATION IS TRUE TODAY. JOSEPH ALAGRETE SAYS IT MUCH MORE ELOQUENTLY IN HIS BOOK "THE LAWYER'S CALLING." LAWYERS ARE INVOLVED WITH THE DEEPEST CONCERNS OF HUMAN BEINGS, HOW TO LIVE TOGETHER, HOW TO RESOLVE SOCIAL DISPUTES PEACEFULLY, HOW TO ASSURE THAT BASIC RIGHTS ARE PRESERVED AND PROTECTED. FINALLY THERE IS USUALLY A HUMAN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN A LAWYER AND A CLIENT IN WHICH THE CLIENT, A PERSON OR AN INSTITUTION WITH A PROBLEM, COMES TO THE LAWYER FOR HELP AND MUST RELY UPON THE CHARACTER AND COMPETENCE OF THAT LAWYER. WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO HAVE ANSWERED THAT CALLING TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. I KNOW ALL OF YOU WHO ARE LAWYERS HERE WILL AGREE WITH ME WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYMORE CHALLENGING OR PERSONALLY REWARDING WORK. MOST OF MY PRO BONO CASES AS CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE NOTED HAD TO DO WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE STUCK IN THE QUAGMIRE OF OUR DEPENDANCY SYSTEM, I AGREE WITH MARIANNE WRIGHT EDELLMAN SAY WE DON'T HAVE A CHILD TO WASTE, ANY NATION THAT WILL ALLOW ITS CHILDREN TO BE THE POOREST OF ITS CITIZENS IS SPIRITUALLY IMPOVERISHED AND ALSO WITH SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY WHO REMINDED US THAT IF A FREE SOCIETY CANNOT HELP THOSE WHO ARE POOR, IT CANNOT SAVE THE FEW WHO ARE RICH. I'M NOT A VISIONARY LIKE THESE LEADERS, I'M A PLOTTER, JUST DOING WHAT I DO, CASE BY CASE AND CHILD BY CHILD. BUT I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT LIFE AND THE POWER OF THE LAW THROUGH THESE CASES THAN THROUGH A HUNDRED CLE COURSES. THERE WAS THE CASE AS CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE MENTIONED OF THE 4-YEAR-OLD WHO HAD WITNESSED THE GRISLY TORE CHURKS MURDER AND AFTER A LONG, LONG TIME WE WERE ABLE TO TERMINATE HER PARENTAL RIGHTS AND I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT THOSE CHILDREN HAVE HAD A HAPPY HOME NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND THE LITTLE 4-YEAR-OLD IS ALMOST AN ADULT. IT WAS A FRAIL LITTLE BOY WHO WAS CONTINUALLY ILL BECAUSE HIS MOTHER HAD ONE CHILD BY PROXY AND THAT ENDED UP BEING ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL P.P.R. LAST YEAR HAD ANOTHER FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO HELP AN 18-YEAR-OLD WITH AN 18-MONTH-OLD BABY. THE MOTHER WAS TRYING TO TRANSITION FROM FOSTER CARE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING ON THE MEAGER STIPEND OF $1823 A MONTH WHICH I UNDERSTAND WILL PROBABLY REDUCED WITH THAT SHE HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL, MANDATED THERAPY, TRY TO ESTABLISH A HOME AND STRUGGLE TO RAISE THESE CHILDREN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT. AND THIS CHILD HERSELF TRYING TO RAISE CHILDREN BEFORE THE END OF MY WORK WITH HER SAW THAT HER OWN CHILDREN BECAME WARDS OF THE STATE. BUT THEN THERE ARE THE HAPPY CASES. AND ONE I WITNESSED A MOTHER WHO WHEN SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO OUR HEARINGS WAS MORE LIKE A WILD ANIMAL THAN A HUMAN BEING. HER -- SHE HAD TWO VERY NEUROLOGICALLY DAMAGED TWINS WHO HAD BEEN LANGUISHING IN THE SYSTEM FOR EIGHT YEARS AND WE WERE DETERMINED TO TRY TO TERMINATE HER PARENTAL RIGHTS TO SEE THAT THEY COULD BE GIVEN SOME PERMANENT, SOMEWHERE. JUST BEFORE TRIAL I NOTICED HER DEPOSITIONED AND WHEN I SHOWED UP THERE I FOUND A CALM WOMAN READING A BOOK AND WRITING POETRY. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME PERSON. THIS WOMAN HAD GOTTEN HERSELF THROUGH REHAB, HAD GOTTEN A JOB AND MANAGED TO REESTABLISH HER CONNECTION WITH HER CHILDREN. THEN THERE WAS THE SWEET FAMILY OF NATIVE PERUVIAN PARENTS WHOSE CHILD WAS ACCIDENTALLY INJURED IN THEIR PERFORMING A FOLLOWING MEDICINE RITUAL, -- FOLK MEDICINE RITUAL, THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE TAKEN AWAY AS A RESULT, AND THEY DID EVERYTHING, JUMPED THROUGH EVERY HOOP, MET EVERY CHALLENGE. FINALLY THE MOTHER WAS FORCED TO LEARN ENGLISH VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE HER SON HAD BEEN PLACED FOSTER CARE IN AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING HOME, NOT A SPANISH-SPEAKING HOME, BUT THEY DID THAT AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT FAMILY HAS BEEN REUNITED. IF WITH THE POWER OF THE LAW AND DEDICATED JUDGES, WISE CO-COUNSEL, DILIGENT CASE WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS I WAS ABLE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE AND OTHERS LIKE THEM WORK THROUGH THEIR PROBLEMS. IT IS A GIFT I'D BEEN GIVEN GLADLY BEING BLESSED TO RECEIVE SO MUCH MORE IN IN RETURN. I ASKED JUDGE TO TELL ME ABOUT TOBIAS SIMON. HE NEVER LECTURED OR BULLIED, HE WOULD CALMLY SIT AND REASON WITH HIS OPPONENT. AND BOB BELIEVES THAT PROBABLY NO ONE EVER LITIGATED AGAINST TOBY SIMON WITHOUT SITTING DOWN FINALLY AND HAVING A CUP OF COFFEE AND A CONVERSATION WITH HIM. TOBY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MONEY, POWER OR FAME, BOB SAID. ALL HE WANTED WAS FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING TO BE FREE TO DO WHAT HE WANTED AND HAD THE RIGHT TO DO, OR TO HAVE WHAT HE WAS ENTITLED TO HAVE UNDER THE LAW. IT IS MY HOPE THAT IN ACCEPTING THIS AWARD I WILL REMEMBER TO TRY TO BE MORE LIKE TOBIAS SIMON. INDEED, I HOPE WE ALL WILL. AS LAWYERS IN A FREE SOCIETY, WE HAVE INUMERABLEABLE CHOICES OF WAYS THAT WE CAN SERVE. AND JOSEPH ALAGRETE REMINDS US, IT IS NOTE AS IMPORTANT WHAT WE DO IS THAT WE DO SOMETHING. JUSTICE, AFTER ALL IS A BIG COUNTRY, THERE ARE MANY ROADS THAT LEAD THERE, HOWEVER, WE SHOULD MAKE AN INTENTIONAL DECISION TO OPEN OURSELVES TO THE NEEDY SO THAT JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF THE DISADVANTAGED AND MARGINALIZED BECOMES INTEGRATED INTO OUR OVERALL VISION OF OUR WORK SO THAT THEY BECOME PART OF WHO WE ARE AS LAWYERS AND PERSONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU FOR THOSE STIRRING WORDS AND FOR THOSE REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES. I HOPE NOT ONLY WILL YOU CONTINUE TO DO WORK FOR YOURSELVES, BUT INSPIRE OTHERS TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. I HOPE THOSE HERE TODAY WILL TAKE HEED FROM YOUR WORDS AND YOUR DEEDS. LAST YEAR THE COURT ADDED A NEW AWARD TO RECOGNIZE A STATE COURT JUDGE FOR WORK THAT WAS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AS IT RELATES TO PRO BONO WORK BY LAWYERS. AFTER ALL, WE JUDGES ARE LEADERS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WE OUGHT TO BE LEADERS IN THE PRO BONO EFFORTS OF OUR LAWYERS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS AWARD HONORS THE JUDGE WHOSE WORK BEST EXEMPT FACE TO THE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS DESCRIBED IN THE COMMENTARY TO CANNON 4B TO THE CODE OF JUSHL CONDUCT, THE COMMENTARY SAYS SUPPORTIVE PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES BY MEMBERS OF THE BENCH IS AN ACTIVITY THAT RELATES TO IMPROVEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE COMMENT GOES ON TO SAY THAT JUDGES MAY ENGAGE IN A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ATTORNEYS TO PERFORM PRO BONO SERVICES. IN KEEPING WITH THIS ASPIRATION THAT WE AS JUDGES COLLECTIVELY SHARE, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO ANNOUNCE THE SECOND RECIPIENT OF FLORIDA'S DISTINGUISHED JUDICIAL SERVICE AWARD, AND I SEE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, I KNOW HE'S HERE JUDGE BILL VAN NORWICK WHO WAS WAS THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED JUDICIAL SERVICE AWARD. THIS AWARD GOES TO A JUDGE WHOSE PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS BEGAN LONG BEFORE THE DAYS HE WORE A ROBE AND FREQUENTLY GAVE PRO BONO SERVICES AS A MEMBER AND PAST PRESENT OF THE TALLAHASSEE BAR ASSOCIATION. THE TALLAHASSEE BAR ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE FEW VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATIONS WITH A MANDATORY PRO BONO SERVICE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A TRIBUTE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF ATTORNEYS SUCH AS JUDGE FRANCIS. -- I GAVE IT AWAY ALREADY. OH, WELL. JUDGE, FRANCIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MANY DISTINGUISHED ATTORNEYS WHO HE HELPED GUIDE IN THEIR PRO BONO ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE TALLAHASSEE'S LEGAL AID FOUNDATION MANDATORY PRO BONO SERVICE PROGRAM. HIS COMMITMENT TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE OF ACCESS TO THE COURTS HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS ONLY TWO OF WHICH I'LL MENTION. HE IS A MEMBER OF WHAT MANY OF US NOW CALL THE A-TEAM. THIS WAS A GROUP OF JUDGES LED BY SUSAN SHAFER WHO HELP GUIDE THE COURTS THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST PERILOUS RECENT CHALLENGES, THE IMPLEMENT OF BUDGETARY UNIFICATION OF THE COURT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND NOW HE IS BUSILY AT WORK ON THE NEXT GREAT FONT TIER WE FACE IN THE 21st CENTURY, HOPE IT WON'T GO INTO THE 22nd CENTURY, THE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIFICATION OF OUR STATE JUSTICE SYSTEM. HE'S ACCOMPLISHING THIS THROUGH HIS WORK AS CHAIR OF THE ARTICLE V TECHNOLOGY BOARD. SO AS YOU SEE, THE THEME OF JUSTICE FRANCIS' CAREER HAS BEEN ONE OF GUARANTEEING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN BOTH WAYS GREAT AND SMALL. AND HIS COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY IN THIS CIRCUIT, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE MAKES HIM ONE OF THE SHINING STARS IN THE JUDICIARY AND AN EXAMPLE THAT ALL OF US STRIVE TO EMULATE, THE COURT NOW RECOGNIZES THE HONORABLE CHARLES A. FRANCIS, CHIEF JUDGE OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT TO APPROACH THE BENCH, RECEIVE THE AWARD AND THEN MAKE SOME REMARKS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. [APPLAUSE]

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, JUSTICE PARIENTE, FELLOW JUSTICES, PRESIDENT BOOKMAN, I KNOW WE HAVE PRESIDENT-ELECT COXE, ALL THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND FRIENDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AND TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD. THIS IS A MUCH MORE PLEASANT EVENT THAN SOME OF THE EVENTS WE'VE HAD TO PRESENT AT THIS WEEK IN OUR SERVICES. THIS AWARD AS I SEE IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN -- I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW JUDGES, ACTUALLY AND THOSE JUDGES ACROSS THE STATE. BY MY FELLOW JUDGES BY ALLOWING ME AS CHIEF TO FACILITATE THE OBTAINING OF MONEY AND SERVICES AND HELPING THE LEGAL AID GROUPS THAT WE HAVE AND THE LURES TO -- AND THE LAWYERS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE GIVE ME THE TIME TO DO IT WHILE THEY'RE WORKING THE GRUNT DOCKETS AT THE COURTHOUSE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT. BUT THE REAL AWARD, I WANT TO THANK MY LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THE NOMINATIONS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THEIR RECOMMENDATION ON THIS. BUT THIS AWARD I TAKE ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THOSE WHO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK AND THOSE HERE TODAY TO REALLY BE HONORED AND THOSE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD LIKE MS. EZELL WHO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY HANDLE THESE CASES. ALL WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS TRY TO FACILITATE THE OBTAINING OF FUNDS, SERVICES, FACILITIES AND TRY AND ALL I DO IS TRY TO KEEP THE COMMISSION MY SIX COUNTY COMMISSIONS AND THOSE ELSEWHERE CONVINCED AND THOSE IN THE LEGISLATURE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A WORTHWHILE SERVICE AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, A LITTLE BIT OF COORDINATION THAT THESE PEOPLE OUT THERE OPERATE ON SHOESTRINGS EVERY DAY PROVIDE AN NORMS SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHO GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURT SYSTEM. WE ALL KNOW AND THOSE IN THE BUSINESS KNOW THAT THE NEED IS STILL VERY, VERY GREAT. I KNOW WHEN I CALLED UPON OUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION ALONG WITH LEGAL SERVICE NORTH FLORIDA, BETWEEN THOSE WE HAVE THE LEGAL AID FOUNDATION AND NORTH FLORIDA SERVICES AND THEY COORDINATE A MASSIVE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES WHO GIVE HOURS AND HOURS VOLUNTARILY, WE KNOW OURS IS MANDATORY, BUT WHEN YOU JOIN YOU DO SO KNOWING YOU'LL HAVE A MANDATORY SERVICE. AND THEY'VE TAKEN VOTES ON AND ON AND REAFFIRM THAT IS THE MOST WORTHWHILE FUNCTION OF THAT BAR AND THEY COORDINATE THAT SERVICE WITH NORTH FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES AND WE DELIVER A REAL SERVICE. BUT WHEN THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAMS THEY HAD TO WITHDRAWAL FROM REPRESENTING CHILDREN CAUGHT UP IN ABUSIVE DISSOLUTION CASES WHICH THEY'RE NOT REPRESENTING STATEWIDE, I CALLED UPON OUR LOCAL BAR AND LOCAL NORTH FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM AND TRY TO FILL THAT VOID, YOU KNOW, HAVING REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN NOT A DEPENDANCY PROCEEDING BUT ARE CAUGHT IN VERY ABUSIVE DISSOLUTION PROCEEDINGS AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THEY'RE THERE AND IT HAPPENS QUITE REGULARLY AND NO ONE IS SPEAKING FOR THESE CHILDREN AND CAUGHT IN THIS FIGHT AND THEY STEPPED UP AND ARE HANDLING ALMOST EVERY ONE WE HAVE IN THE CIRCUIT AND WITH VERY FEW DOLLARS AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET THEM MORE MONEY. BUT THAT IS WHO DESERVES ALL THE RECOGNITION AND HONOR AND I'M JUST ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD JOB THAT ALLOWS ME TO SPEAK EVERY NOW AND THEN AND HELP THEM. AND FOR THAT, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR SERVICE, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUDGE FRANCE EXIST IN YOUR NORMAL HUMBLE WAY FOR NOT TAKING CREDIT FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO. WE'RE ALSO HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE A LAW FIRM FOR A DISTINGUISHED PRO BONO CONTRIBUTION. THIS IS A PARTICULAR HONOR BECAUSE THIS AWARD IS NOT GIVEN EVERY YEAR, BUT ONLY WHEN A TRULY DESERVING LAW FIRM IS RECOGNIZED. AND THIS IS AN AMAZING FIRM. IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT A LAW FIRM RENOWN FOR ITS WORK IN COMPLEX FINANCIAL LITIGATION INVOLVING THE GIANTS OF THE FINANCE INDUSTRY, YET THIS FIRM ALSO MAKES A NAME FOR ITSELF SUING LOCAL POLITICIANS ON BEHALF OF POOR MINORITIES. THAT MUST BE A TOUGH ONE. IMAGINE THAT THIS FIRM VOLUNTEERS ITS SERVICES AND SUCCESSFULLY SEEKING THE CERTIFICATION OF A CLASS ACTION ALLEGING THAT MINORITY STUDENTS ARE NOT RECEIVING EQUAL TREATMENT IN THEIR EDUCATION. FURTHER, IMAGINE, THIS FIRM'S CLIENTS INCLUDE FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EVICTED FROM PUBLIC HOUSING BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES. AND CONSIDER THIS THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THIS FIRM'S CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE AVAILABLE. IN THE SPIRIT OF PRO BONO CLEARLY SHINES THROUGH WHEN A FIRM THAT DEALS WITH HIGH FINANCE ALSO COMMITS ITSELF TO TAKE ON THE CAUSES OF THOSE WHO MAY BE POOR AND UNPOPULAR. WITH 34 LAWYERS IN BOTH CLEARWATER AND TAMPA, THE COURT NOW RECOGNIZES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FIRM OF JOHNSON, POPE, BOKOR, RUPPEL AND BURNS TO PROCEED TO THE BENCH, SHAKE OUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME REMARKS. I HOPE THERE ARE SOME REPRESENTATIVES HERE. OKAY. [APPLAUSE]

NOW I JUST ALSO HEARD, MR. POPE YOU WERE JUSTICE ANSTEAD'S FRATERNITY BROTHER IS THAT CORRECT?

WE DON'T REVEAL THAT --

THAT'S TRUE, WHEN I WAS IN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL WITH JUSTICE WELLS AS WELL, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO CAME UP WITH US TODAY, MY PARTNER OF 32 YEARS, TIM JOHNSON, JOAN VEKIOLI, STEVE WEINBERGER, STEVE ZACH. WHEN WE STARTED DOING PRO BONO WORK THE FIRST THING WE DISCOVERED WAS THERE IS NO MONEY IN IT. BUT WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IT COMES WITH ITS OWN FORM OF COMPENSATION. AND THAT IS DEEP SATISFACTION IN DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE THEY NEED HELP. WE'VE BEEN WELL-COMPENSATED FOR OUR PRO BONO WORK AND I CONSIDER THIS AWARD TODAY TO JUST BE A BONUS ON TOP OF THAT SUBSTANTIAL COMPENSATION. SO WE THANK YOU AND WE PLEDGE TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. [APPLAUSE]

I'M GOING TO CALL YOU AFTERWARDS AND GET SOME STORIES ON MY COLLEAGUES TO EITHER SIDE, OKAY.

ASK HIM IF HIS ORAL ARGUMENT COULD BE --

YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT ONE. DID YOU HEAR THAT FROM JUSTICE ANSTEAD? I'LL REPEAT IT THEN FOR YOU, HE ASKED IF YOUR ORAL ARGUMENTS COULD BE AS BRIEF. [LAUGHTER]

BREVTY IS THE --. [ INAUDIBLE SPEAKER ]

I THOUGHT AS MS. EZELL WAS UP HERE, HE WAS SAYING HOW COME SHE GET TO TALK FOR TEN MINUTES WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. EACH YEAR THE COURT ALSO RECOGNIZES A VOLUNTARY BAR ASSOCIATION FOR ITS OUTSTANDING PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS YEAR OUR WINNER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE I'VE SEEN NOT ONLY FOR ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT FOR THEIR YOUTH. AND COMPARED TO PREVIOUS WINNERS THEY ARE MOST UNUSUAL IN ANOTHER SENSE. THEY'RE ALL LAW STUDENTS. WORKING THROUGH GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES AND THE CLEARWATER BAR ASSOCIATION, THIS ORGANIZATION OF 30 SPANISH-SPEAKING LAW STUDENTS PAIRED UP WITH PRACTICING PRO BONO ATTORNEYS. THEY HAVE WORKED WITH RESIDENTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY WHO CHIEFLY SPEAK SPANISH PERFORMING INTAKE WORK AND SERVING AS TRANSLATORS AS THE PRO BONO CLIENTS INTERACT WITH ENGLISH-ONLY ATTORNEYS. I MUST TELL YOU THIS REMARKABLE COMMITMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF PRO BONO BY THOSE WHO HAVE YET TO BE BEGIN THEIR LEGAL CAREER IS INSPIRING AND IT SHOULD INSPIRE ALL OF US. THE COURT WILL NOW RECOGNIZE VANESSA DUROSA AND ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SPIS HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW TO APPROACH THE BENCH AND RECEIVE YOUR AWARD. [APPLAUSE]

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE, HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT, HONORABLE GUESTS, PRESIDENT BOOKMAN. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION AT STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, WE THANK YOU. TOBIAS SIMON IS KNOWN FOR HIS WORK WITH VARIOUS LEGAL RIGHTS LEADERS. IN THE 1960s TOBIAS USED HIS LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TO HELP PAVE THE PATH IN OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS, AREAS SUCH AS SEGREGATION AND VARIOUS INEQUALITIES. IN 2006 AS OUR COUNTRY BECOMES INCREASINGLY MORE MULT TIE CULTURAL, WE'RE FACED WITH A NEW BARRIER, A LANGUAGE BARRIER. THE RECIPIENTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY HELP REPRESENT THE THOUSANDS OF LAWYERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE IMPORTANT TASK OF MAKING LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD THEM. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WILLING ATTORNEYS CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEIR HELP? THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT THE HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION WORKS TO RESOLVE. THROUGH ITS CONTINUING WORK WITH GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES AND THE TAMPA BAY AREA, H.B.A. IS COMMITTED TO HELPING OVERCOME THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. IT STANDS BETWEEN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEED PRO BONO HELP AND THE LAWYERS WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP THEM. I'LL END THON NOTE, WE DID NOT BECOME LAWYERS ON OUR OWN. WE ALL HAD HELP. WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH THE PARENTS THAT RAISED US, THE TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT US OR THE MENTORS WHO ENCOURAGED US, WE HAD HELP. AND JUST AS OTHERS HELPED US, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER TO HELP OTHERS. WHETHER IT IT BE WITH OUR LEGAL SKILLS, OUR LANGUAGE SKILLS OR A COMBINATION OF THE BOTH. I THANK YOU AGAIN AND I ESPECIALLY THANK GULF COAST LEGAL SERVICES FOR THEIR CONTINUING HELP AND WE ARE HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD. [APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU, VANESSA FOR THOSE WORDS AND THE COMPOSURE WITH WHICH YOU DELIVERED THEM IN FRONT OF THE COURT. I'M SURE YOU HAVE A GREAT LEGAL FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR BAR ASSOCIATION FOR THIS TREMENDOUS AWARD AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER LAW SCHOOLS TO GET THEIR BAR ASSOCIATIONS INVOLVED IN LEGAL SERVICES AND MAKE IT A HAS BEENIT BEFORE THEY EVEN BECOME LAWYERS. I WILL NOW ASK ALAN BOOKMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA BAR TO PRESENT THE FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENT'S PRO BONO SERVICE AWARDS. AND AS ALAN COMES UP, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A REAL PLEASURE WORKING WITH ALAN THIS YEAR. HE'S JUST A GENTLEMAN IN EVERY WAY, BUT HE'S ALSO A MAN OF ACTION AND THE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE OF YOU WHO READ THE FLORIDA BAR NEWS REMEMBER THE STORY WHEN ANGELA ORANGIN WHO IS AHEAD OF THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM KEEPS FIGURING OUT WAYS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS, ESPECIALLY ATTORNEYS TO BE GUARDIANS AD LITEM AND SHE WENT OVER AND TALKED TO MR. BOOKMAN AND BY THE TIME SHE LEFT HIS OFFICE, HE HAD VOLUNTEERED. AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO REPORT YET ON THROUGH IS GOING, BUT I THINK THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT AREA IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD BE COMMENTED FOR. MR. BOOKMAN.

THANK YOU, MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE, OTHER HONORABLE JUSTICES ON THIS COURT. MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR, SPECIAL GUESTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED HONOREES. I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN STAND UP HERE AFTER YOU GAVE THOSE REMARKS, I'LL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU. IT IS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MOST HONORABLE CEREMONY AND ON BEHALF ON PRESIDENT-ELECT COXE, PRESIDENT-ELECT DESIGNATE ANGONES AND MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA BAR, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR EACH ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS TODAY. TODAY IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY NOT ONLY FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS COURTROOM, BUT FOR THE MANY THOUSANDS OF FLORIDIANS WHO RECEIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH VOLUNTEER PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES EVERY DAY. AS CHIEF JUSTICE PARIENTE INDICATED IN HER OPENING REMARKS AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, I AM VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT FLORIDA LAWYERS LAST YEAR CONTRIBUTED ALMOST $3.8 MILLION TO LEGAL AID SERVICES AND VOLUNTEERED MORE THAN 1 1/2 MILLION HOURS OF PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES TO FLORIDIANS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE WHO NEED LEGAL SERVICES, WHO NEED ACCESS TO THE COURTS AND DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO GET TO THE COURTS. THIS REPRESENTS A CONTINUED INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEARS IN BOTH TIME IN DOLLARS. FLORIDA LAWYERS ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE WORK BEING DONE BY SOME OF OUR RECIPIENTS TODAY. HELPING TO PASS LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF FOSTER CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY TO PROTECT THEIR ALLEGATIONS, OBTAIN ACCESS TO RECORDS, DEDICATEDDING FOUR YEARS OF APPEALING A CASE OF A YOUNG MAN GRANTED A NEW TRIAL AND RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER SERVING 13 YEARS FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT. PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO HURRICANE VICTIMS BY PROTECTING FAMILIES FROM LANDLORD'S REFUSAL TO RETURN SECURITY DEPOSITSES IN THE THREAT OF EVICTION. AND REPRESENTATIVING 1200 CUBANS WHICH RESULTED IN THE 11th CIRCUIT'S COURT-POINT COUNSEL UNDERSTAND THE HABEAS CORPUS AND PETITION MATTERS AND SPENDING UNTOLD HOURS AND EVENINGS IN FREE LEGAL CLINICS AND PRESENTING PROGRAMS ON PRO SE PROGRAMS. AND SEVERAL SERVE AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND ATTORNEY AD LITEM AND ADMINISTERING GUARDIANSHIP FOR INDIGENT WARDS AND WORKING TO PROTECT THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED. JUSTICE PARIENTE, OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COURT, WE READ IN THE PAPER EVERY DAY ABOUT LAWYERS WHO WIN BIG CASES FOR CLIENTS, WE READ IN THE PAPER EVERY DAY ABOUT CLIENTS WHO STEAL MONEY FROM THEIR CLIENTS. WE DON'T READ IN THE PAPER OF THE FINE WORKS THAT THESE ONON -- HONOREES RECEIVE AND THAT IS A SHAME, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE TRUE HEROES OF THE FLORIDA BAR AND I HONOR YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL EACH OF YOU UP AND PRESENT YOU WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD. FROM THE FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, MICHAEL STEBBINS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE SECOND CIRCUIT, GWENDOLYN ADKINS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE THIRD CIRCUIT, JOHN CONTEND ROR. -- JOHN KENDRON. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE FOURTH CIRCUIT, JOHN MILLS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE FIFTH, MARY STEDDOM. [APPLAUSE] AND FROM THE 6th CIRCUIT, ELISE WINTERS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 7th, JULIA SOERPEBOEL. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 8th CIRCUIT, AUSE BROWN JR.. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 9th CIRCUIT, MATTHEW BRENNER. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 10th, STEVEN SENN -- STEPHEN SENN. [APPLAUSE] SOMEONE WHOSE LAW FIRM WON AN WAYWARD LAST FROM THE 11th CIRCUIT, JOHN KOZYAK. FROM THE 12th CIRCUIT, JOSEPH SUMMONTE. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 13th, CHARLIE SCRUGGS. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 14th AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS BOARD WITH ME 25 YEARS AGO, DOUG SALE. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 15th, LARRY DONNIE MURRELL. FROM THE 17th CIRCUIT, HOWARD TALENFELD. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 18th, THOMAS FREEMAN JR.. [APPLAUSE] FROM THE 20th, JANEICE MARTIN. [APPLAUSE] AND OUR OUT OF STATE WINNER, BRYANT RICHARDSON. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING PICTURE AFTERWARDS, I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU PERSONALLY. I THINK COLLECTIVELY AS YOU READ AND I URGE EVERYONE TO READ THE BACKGROUND OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ARE TRULY SPECIAL, NOT JUST FOR TODAY, MANY OF THEM HAVE LIVED THEIR WHOLE LIVES IN THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION TO PRO BONO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE POOR AND THE DEFENSELESS IN OUR STATE, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NOW IS THERE SOMEONE YOU FORGOT?

YES, MA'AM, IF I COULD JUST BEG THE COURT'S INDULGENCE FOR JUST A SECOND. IN PREPARING FOR MY REMARKS TODAY GOING THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE TOBY SIMON AWARD, I CAME ACROSS A GENTLEMAN WHO WON THE AWARD FROM THE FOURTH CIRCUMSTANCE KNIT 1985, 21 YEARS AGO, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN COURT-FOIND A CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL AND THE JUDGE REQUIRED HIS PRESENCE AT THE TRIAL AS OPPOSED TO HIM COMING TO TALLAHASSEE TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD. WHILE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR HIM TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE PRESIDENT-ELECT HANK COXE.

WHO WAS THAT JUDGE THAT WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO COME? YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL US. IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE GO FROM THOSE WE HAD LAW STUDENTS, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE BAR THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE BAR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE JAMIE BILLOT MOSES WHO IS -- BILLOTTE MOSES TO PRESENT AN AWARD ON BEHALF OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND THAT ORGANIZATION, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THE YOUNG LAWYERS HAS DONE MORE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS TO REALLY PROMOTE PRO BONO AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO COME UP HERE JAMIE AND PRESENT YOUR AWARD.

GOOD AFTERNOON AND MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT. IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE THAT I'M HERE TODAY TO AWARD JOSEPH F.SUMMONTE JR. YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION PRO BONO AWARD. HE WAS BORN IN NEW JERSEY AND MOVED AND ATTENDED STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW. SHE PRACTICES IN SARASOTA AT JUDD OL RICK, SCARLET AND DEAN AND PRACTICES IN THE AREA OF CIVIL TRIAL WORK, COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION AND CONDOMINIUM AND HOME OWNER'S ASSOCIATION LAW. HE IS HERE TODAY WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE MADELEINE. AS WE ALL KNOW THE HURRICANES OF 2004 REQUIRED THE LAWYERS OF FLORIDA TO TRIES THE OCCASION TO HELP THOSE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN NEED OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE. JOE FULLY AND ZEALOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN -- PARTICIPATED IN THE DISASTER LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAM BY AGREEING TO TAKE SEVEN CASES AND EXPENDING OVER 90 HOURS ON THOSE CASES. TWO, IN FACT ARE STILL ONGOING A YEAR AND A HALF LATER AFTER THE HURRICANE SEASON OF 2004. JOE'S SELFLESSLY REPRESENTED CLIENTS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, NOT JUST NEAR HIS HOME IN SARASOTA, BUT IN ORLANDO AND JACKSONVILLE AS WELL. JOE VOLUNTEERED TO REPRESENT TENANTS IN DISPUTES WITH THEIR LANDLORDS. HE DIDN'T JUST MAKE A CALL OR TWO AND ENDED THE CASE. HE TOOK DEPOSIT POES, PROPOUNDED DISCOVERY, HAD HEARINGS AND ATTENDED MEDIATIONS. JOE ZEALOUSLY REPRESENTED THESE VICTIMS WHEN THEY NEEDED IT MOST. AN EXAMPLE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS THAT JOE PUT INTO THESE EFFORTS IS A CASE HE HANDLES ON BEHALF OF A TENANT LIVING IN A WEEKLY RENTAL MOBILE HOME IN ORLANDO. THE TRAILER THE CLIENT RENTED HAD VARIOUS STORM-RELATED DAMAGE, INCLUDING BROKEN DOORS AND WINDOWS AND ALSO SUFFERED FROM GENERAL DISREPAIR AND LACK OF MAINTENANCE SUCH AS MOLD, ROACHES, LEAKY WINDOWS AND A BROKEN STOVE. WHEN JOE WAS RETAINED HE DEMANDED REPAIR OF THESE ITEMS AND THE TENANT STOPPED PAY. ASK THE LANDLORD SUED FOR EVICTION AND JOE FILED THAT THE LANDLORD DID NOT FILE PROPER PROCEDURE AND AN AWARDED FEES. THE PARTIES EVENTUALLY SETTLED AT MEDIATION. JUST SUCCESSING IN THE CASE WAS ENOUGH, BUT WHAT WITH JOE DID IN THE CASE IS TRULY AMAZING. TOOK IT AS FAR AS HE COULD KNOWING THAT NEITHER HE NOR HIS FIRM AS A FEMA REFERRAL COULD KEEP A SINGLE FEE FROM THE CASE. HOWEVER, HE WAS AWARDED $4,000 AND GAVE IT TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. BECAUSE OF THAT, SORRY, I'M EMOTIONAL, I CRY EVERY TIME I'M HERE, AND NOT EVEN WHEN I'M ARGUING. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE JOE HELPED BY GETTING THE FEE AWARD AND BY GIVING IT TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. BUT THAT IS WHAT JOE DID. JOE'S EFFORTS BROUGHT GREAT EXPOSURE TO FLORIDA LAWYERS WHEN BOTH JOE AND I APPEARED ON FOX TELEVISION TO EXPLAIN THE LEGAL AVENUES FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE HOTLINE. I BELIEVE THE PRACTICES OF LAW IS A PRIVILEGE AND FAILING TO USE THE PRIVILEGE TO DO GOOD IS AN ABUSE OF THE PRIVILEGE. JOE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD IN THIS PROFESSION. JOE REPRESENTS HIS NON-PAYING CLIENTS AS ZEALOUSLY AS HIS PAYING CLIENTS. HE DOESN'T DO THE MINIMUM FOR HIS CLIENTS HE DOES THE MAXIMUM. HE DOESN'T STOPN FIGHTING BECAUSE IT WOUSH CONVENIENT FOR HIM, HE KEEPS FIGHTING BECAUSE IT IS THE TO DO. IT IS OFTEN SAID TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED. JOE IS FAR EXCEEDED WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF HIM AS A HOTLINE VOLUNTEER. HE'S A TRUE ADVOCATE FOR VICTIMS AND A GREAT VOLUNTEER FOR THE FLORIDA BAR. I AM HONORED TO PRESENT JOSEPH F.SUMMONTE WITH THE 2006 YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION PRO BONO AWARD. [APPLAUSE]

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT, DISTINGUISH GUESTS, JUSTICES OF THE COURT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE YOUNG LAWYER'S DIVISION, OF COURSE, THIS AWARD FOR THE COURT, WANT TO THANK MY LAW FIRM FOR ENCOURAGING THE EFFORTS AND THANK MY WIFE MADELEINE FOR ALL OF HER LOVE AND SUPPORT AND I WANT TO THANK THE ABA AND THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION FOR SETTING UP THIS PROGRAM TO REMIND US THAT THE BEST PARTS OF THE PRACTICE OF LAW HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH BILLABLE HOURS. I WILL CLOSE WITH ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE CASE THAT JAMIE MENTIONED THE UNREASONABLE LANDLORD IN ORLANDO TOLD ME ON THE DAY OF MEDIATION HE WOULD HAPPILY WRITE ME A CHECK FOR $4,000 THAT DAY IF I WOULD STAY ON MY SIDE OF THE STATE, SO I'VE DONE THAT AND I'VE HONORED HIS WISHES, SO THANK YOU, AGAIN. [APPLAUSE]

AND I'M SURE THAT WAS VERY SATISFYING TO HEAR THAT. I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD BE UPLIFTING TODAY AND I HOPE THOSE THAT ARE HERE AND ARE LISTENING ARE INDEED HAVE RENEWED ENERGY AS WE GO INTO THE COMING YEAR. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HONORED TODAY FULFILL THE HIGHEST CALLING OF OUR PROFESSION BY ENGAGING IN PRO BONO WORK. YOU HAVE RECOGNIZED AS WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID THAT YOU MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT YOU GET, THAT YOU MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE. OR A QUOTE THAT WAS USED TO DESCRIBE DOUG BRINKMEYER A ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER HERE IN TALLAHASSEE OWHO JUST PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 56 AND WHO DEVOTED HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO APPELLATE ADVOCACY TO THE POOR, THEY SAID HIS LIFE WAS ENRICHED BY ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OTHERS. IT REALLY IS NO GREATER CAUSE THAN SERVING JUSTICE EVEN WHEN IT MEANS THAT YOU MUST PLACE YOUR SELF--- YOURSELF BETWEEN THE JUST CAUSES OF THE POOR AND OPPRESSED AGAINST THE UNJUST OPINIONS OF THE POWERFUL. AS A PROFESSION, I ASK THAT WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO OUR OATH OF OFFICE AS LAWYERS NOT ONLY ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, BUT EVERY DAY, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE GREATNESS OF OUR COUNTRY LIES IN THE PRESERVATION OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. IN MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL, NOT JUST THE POWERFUL AND THE MIGHTY, BUT THE POOR AND THE WEAK IN PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL THAT OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON, EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. AS THE QUOTE THAT IS IN THE NEW BROCHURE BY THE PRO BONO COORDINATOR'S ASSOCIATION SAYS, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST QUOTES BY JUSTICE LEWIS POWEL AND IT SAYS "IT IS FUNDAMENTAL THAT JUSTICE SHOULD BE THE SAME IN SUBSTANCE AND AVAILABILITY WITHOUT REGARD TO ECONOMIC STATUS" THAT IS THE IDEAL THAT WE SEEK. THAT IS THE IDEAL THAT THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS WE WORK TOWARDS. AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY FAR SHORT OF THAT IDEAL IN THIS STATE AND WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO REST ON OUR LAURELS. WE HAVE TO COMBINE THE ENERGY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS COURTROOM AND ALL THE GOOD WORKS AND ALL THE GOOD INTENTIONS TO FIGURE OUT HOW NEXT YEAR WE CAN DO BETTER. WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN, WE OWE IT TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE. WE OWE IT TO EACH OTHER AND WE OWE IT TO OUR SOCIETY. IT IS -- IF IT IS THE MEASURE OF THE GREATNESS OF A SOCIETY HOW WE TREAT THE LEAST AMONG US, THEN WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO. JOIN ME ON THE JOURNEY TO MAKE EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL, EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL, MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE EACH AND EVERY DAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU OUT THERE IN THE ROTUNDA FOR THE RECEPTION FOLLOWING AND ALSO FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE COURT IS ADJOURNED. [APPLAUSE]

GOVERNOR BUSH: I THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE, THERE WAS A DEATH AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATING THIS.