by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
A ceremonial session of the Florida Supreme Court was held Thursday for Justice Major B. Harding at the Duval County Courthouse. Harding retired from the court in August. After each justice retires from the bench, a ceremony is held to honor that individual’s contributions. Harding served for 11 years.
“Every justice has made his or her mark,” said Ben Hill, president of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society. “We try to preserve the particular mark they make. A video was made and it will be preserved in our library for historical purposes to let the world know what it is they brought to the court.”
The Florida Supreme Court Historical Society is a non-profit organization whose goal is to preserve the state’s judicial heritage and educate the public about the importance of the role of the judiciary in government.
The program marked the 19th in a series that began in 1985. This particular one chronicled Harding’s most significant court decisions. It was sponsored by a cross-section of the legal community.
Speakers included Judge Susan H. Black from the 11th Circuit United States Court of Appeals, former 4th Judicial Circuit Judge Mattox Hair, Florida State University College of Law professor Charles Ehrhardt, Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles T. Wells and Dexter Douglass, former general counsel to former Gov. Lawton Chiles. Each spoke of Harding’s achievements and character.
Judge Black pointed out Harding’s involvement in the creation of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, one of the first of the American Inns of Court to be established in this country.
Ehrhardt expounded on the impact of Harding’s tenure, making reference to difficult cases involving issues such as strict interpretations of sentencing, juvenile searches without warrants and the constitutionality of legislators to override vetoes in regular sessions.
As presiding justice, Harry Lee Anstead concluded the program by bringing into focus the importance of sound decision-making on the bench.
“This country was founded on principles that we’ve given to the rest of the world,” remarked. “[Judges] are charged to breathe life into those principles.”
A dinner and roast honoring Justice Major Harding was held following the ceremony at the Omni.