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On Friday, Florida International University will graduate a new class of lawyers determined to make an impact. And they are being welcomed to the profession by two attorneys who have made their mark in public service: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Canady.
“These students are engaged and accomplished,” said FIU College of Law Dean R. Alexander Acosta of the Class of 2011. “Many of them have had an opportunity to see, firsthand, how the law can change a life, right a wrong and make a difference. Senator Rubio and Chief Justice Canady will inspire them to continue on this path.”
Class valedictorian Jarred Reiling was inspired by the law at an early age when he and his sister took steps that resulted in a judge putting him in foster care. Jarred finished high school, went to college, is graduating at the top of his class and is on his way to a coveted Presidential Management Fellowship.
“The law gives you the opportunity to change your own life,” said Reiling, 24. “The law empowers you and that’s something I want to share with others.”
Like Reiling, many of his 175 fellow graduates participated in law clinics and externships where they defended and prosecuted real criminal matters and worked on cases involving immigration, human rights, bankruptcy, investor advocacy, health, environment and family law.
FIU’s College of Law commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 27 at 10 a.m. at the U.S. Century Bank Arena on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 11200 SW 8th Street. The ceremony will feature Rubio and Canady as keynote speakers.
Senator Marco Rubio (photo courtesy of www.nwodaily.com)
Senator Rubio was elected to the United States Senate in 2010 to represent the State of Florida. He currently serves on the Committee of Commerce, Science and Transportation, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
From 2000-2008, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives, serving as Majority Whip, Majority Leader and Speaker of the House. At the end of his tenure as Speaker, Rubio resumed his law practice as a sole practitioner. He has also served as a visiting professor at FIU’s Metropolitan Center and as a political analyst for Univision during the 2008 election cycle.
Chief Justice Charles T. Canady (photo courtesy of www.floridasupremecourt.org)
Chief Justice Canady served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives, and from January 1993 to January 2001, he served four terms in the United States House of Representatives. Throughout his service in Congress, Justice Canady was a member of the House Judiciary Committee. For three terms, from January 1995 to January 2001, Chief Justice Canady was the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Upon leaving Congress, Chief Justice Canady became General Counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush. He was appointed by Bush to the Second District Court of Appeal for a term beginning November 20, 2002. On August 28, 2008, Chief Justice Canady was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Gov. Charlie Crist and took office on September 8, 2008.
Media Contact: Maydel Santana-Bravo at 305-348-1555.
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