00:00:13.440 - 00:00:33.160

it is a special pleasure to join the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society and distribute to Judge. Rosemary Bar kept one of the most challenging assignments of any chief executive is selecting people for judicial service. In my eight years as Florida's governor, I took this duty very seriously.

00:00:33.840 - 00:00:53.650

But when one is presented with judicial candidates of the caliber of Rosemary Barkett, bringing people to the bench is much more than a duty of office. It becomes an honor. When the Founding Fathers carefully constructed our government of co equal branches, they took great pains to provide for an independent judiciary.

00:00:54.340 - 00:01:15.360

They realized that such a judiciary would rise or fall with the caliber and the character of its jurist. I have no doubt the judge, Rosemary Barkett, is the kind of individual that they hoped would take on the awesome responsibilities of the bid. She is highly intelligent and compassionate.

00:01:16.040 - 00:01:37.650

She is thoughtful and decisive. She brings extensive nonjudicial life experience to the court. She embodies the diversity that makes our country strong. It was an honor for me to appoint Rosemary Barkett to the state Circuit Court in 1979 and to the state court of appeals in 1984.

00:01:38.040 - 00:01:57.660

It was an even greater honor for me to appoint her to the Florida State Supreme Court in 1985 and then to watch her become chief justice seven years later. And it was an honor for all Floridians when she was nominated by the president of the United States to the United States Court of Appeals in 1994.

00:01:58.440 - 00:02:13.850

Today it is our turn to honor her. Because of her many years on the bench, Rosemary Barkett has continually honored the mission and the vision of our Founding fathers. Thank you and good evening.