Stetson Lawyer; 1976 vol. 19 no. 1 August

STETSON EiWrYER Stetson University College of Law Volume 19, Number 1, August, 1976 SEBRING COURTROOM DEDICATION NOV. 12 AT HOMECOMING Construction of the Harold L. Sebring Courtroom, begun in February, is expected to be completed in time to be dedicated on Nov. 12 at the Stetson Lawyers Association Homecoming. The new courtroom is a memorial to the late Harold L. "Tom" Sebring, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida and dean of Stetson College of Law from 1955 until his death in July, 1968. A plaque, to be installed in the Courtroom, will give special recognition to the numerous alumni and friends of the college who have participated in this tribute to the man whose leadership had a significant impact on the growth and development of the college during its formative years on the St. Petersburg campus. The Building Committee comprised of Board of Overseers members, Carl Kuttler, Jr., '67, and William J. Clapp, with advice on interior decor from two of Justice Sebring's close friends, fellow Florida Supreme Court justice, E. Harris Drew, '23, and trial lawyer, Perry Nichols, '37, has approved plans which call for a total renovation of the old courtroom. At one point during construction, four walls were all that remained of the existing structure. The architects have designed a courtroom which will be appropriate for civil and criminal trials but is easily converted to an appellate courtroom. The curved bench will be designed to accommodate the Supreme Court of Florida sitting en banc, or panels can be installed for an appellate court of three judges, or for jury trials with a single judge. The walls and bench will be oak paneled with black marble behind the bench. The ceiling will be gold grid with dimmer-controlled lighting. Persimmon colored carpet and gold- toned upholstered seats for nearly 100 spectators will complete the decor. Built into the room will be a conduit system for audio-visual equipment cables so that microphones and cameras can be placed at key locations and the proceedings recorded on video or audio tapes. The old jury room will become judges' chambers and a new jury room, added. Outside, a covered walkway with wooden beams and a red tile roof will lead from the arcade between the courtroom wing and Eleanor Dana Hall to the Great Hall. In the courtroom foyer a portrait of Justice Sebring will hang and memorabilia will be displayed from his distinguished career which included his appointment as a member of the Nazi War Crimes Tribunals at Nuremberg by President Harry S. Truman and 12 years as Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida including two terms as Chief Justice. In 1955 Justice Sebring retired to become dean at Stetson and to teach and write in his favorite fields of state constitutional law, legislation and state taxation. At Stetson one year after the college moved from DeLand, Justice Sebring served as the impetus behind growth and development of the St. Petersburg campus. During his 13 years as dean, the main portion of the library, the classroom building and the administration building were constructed. In addition to his contributions as judge and dean, Justice Sebring helped to bring about much-needed judicial reform in Florida; he drafted the Appellate Rules of Florida and helped draft the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure; he was a member of three committees on Florida Constitutional revision, and a lecturer at state trial judges' seminars. Harold L. Sebring Mrs. Harold L. Sebring and Harold L. Sebring, Jr., will be guests of honor at the courtroom dedication ceremonies along with justices of the Supreme Court of Florida. In addition to the dedication, the Stetson Lawyers Association Homecoming will include a seminar and the traditional dinner. A schedule of Homecoming events with specific dates and time will soon be complete and will be mailed to each Stetson lawyer. COLLEGE OF LAW STARTS SEVENTY-SEVENTH YEAR Stetson College of Law will begin its 77th year of operation on August 31 with 17 full time and 12 adjunct professors, the largest complement of instructional personnel in the history of the college. Dean Richard T. Dillon announced the appointment of six new full time professors and Adjunct Professor James T. Russell, state attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit, who will teach the Prosecution Clinic. Full time appointments went to D. Fenton Adams, Jon William