Former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Arthur J. England Jr. of Miami has been awarded The Florida Bar Foundation’s 1983 Medal of Honor, conferred annually for demonstration of courage and commitment to improve the administration of justice.
While on the court, England authored the landmark judicial opinions which established the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts Program in Florida – an innovative funding mechanism for providing legal aid to the poor and generating money for other public interest projects. Since Florida became the first state with such a program, in 1981, more than 10 other state jurisdictions have initiated so-called IOLTA programs patterned after British and Canadian models that inspired the Florida program.
England currently practices law in Miami with the Steel, Hector and Davis firm. He is vice president and a member of the Board of Directors of The Florida Bar Foundation and served as special counsel to Governor Askew. He remains active in the national promotion of IOLTA programs and has authored numerous articles on law and justice. England is a member of both The Florida Bar and the New York Bar.
The award was presented to England at the Foundation’s annual meeting on Friday, June 17, held in conjunction with The Florida Bar Annual Convention at Walt Disney World.
