from staff
Students from Florida Coastal School of Law honored Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy A. Quince during the school’s annual Law Week Banquet at the Hyatt on March 15. During the reception Quince was presented with Coastal Law’s Justice Raymond Ehrlich Award.
“As someone who knew Justice Ehrlich and what he stood for, I must say that is an incredible honor,” said Quince. “I thank you.”
The Ehrlich Award is presented annually to a member of the legal community who is not only a pioneer in their professional life, but also a great humanitarian. The selection committee criteria included a review of the nominee’s professional accomplishments, community involvement, ethical standards and the embodiment of Florida Coastal student ideals.
Coastal Law students organized the banquet, which was sponsored by last year’s winner Wayne Hogan of Terrell Hogan as well as Foley & Lardner, Hathaway & Reynolds, The Florida Coastal Alumni Association, Coastal Law 2004 alum Tim Dewitt, Bailey Publishing, Milam Howard Nicandri Dees & Gillam, and Driver, McAfee, Griggs & Peek.
“Lawyers are what make the system work,” Ehrlich once said. “The Bill of Rights, which means so much to all of us, wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s written on except for a vigilant and strong Bar. If somebody thinks his rights have been violated, he can find a good lawyer who will challenge it in the courts. And that’s the way it should be.”