Comments of James A. Urban, President of The Florida Bar Foundation, in announcing selection of Reubin O’D Askew as the 1979 recipient of the Medal of Honor:
It is with great personal pleasure and professional pride that I announce the selection of Reubin O’D Askew as this year’s recipient of The Florida Bar Foundation’s Medal of Honor.
Reubin Askew is one of Florida’s most distinguished citizens who, over a long period of time, has made many significant contributions to this State and its people. The purposes of The Florida Bar Foundation include the improvement of the administration of justice. Governor Askew is a monumental contributor to the improvement of the administration of justice in Florida.
As a member of the Florida legislature, he was a stalwart supporter of reforms designed to make the justice system more readily available to all citizens. Upon becoming governor, and working with The Florida Bar, he voluntarily agreed to appoint to the bench only men and women who has been screened by judicial nominating commissions and found qualified to serve as judges. Later, he supported adoption of revised Article V of the Florida Constitution, which now provides for judicial nominating commissions.
I believe that the judicial nomination commission system is working well in Florida and that Governor Askew’s participation in its establishment and early implementation contributed significantly to its initial success. Governor Askew’s appointees to the courts of Florida, including women and minorities, have been personal possessing demonstrated legal ability and high standards of ethical conducts. His judicial appointments have been acclaimed by members of the legal profession who are in the best position to evaluate the quality of judicial appointments.
The members of The Florida Bar Foundation are proud that Reubin Askew is a member of the legal profession. We consider it a privilege to present to him the Foundation’s 1979 Medal of honor.
