Former justice, Graham to help dedicate Stephen N. Zack Hall

September 9, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Stephen N. Zack – the immediate past president of the American Bar Association and University of Florida Levin College of Law alumnus – will be joined by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former Gov. Bob Graham and UF Law Dean Robert Jerry for the dedication ceremony of the Stephen N. Zack Hall.

The ceremony will be held at noon Sept. 12 at the hall, immediately following the inaugural Allen L. Poucher Legal Education Series lecture at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts. During the brief ceremony, the new lettering identifying the hall will be unveiled. The public is welcome to attend. The hall serves as one of the five buildings that make up the Levin College of Law campus.

The naming of Stephen N. Zack Hall follows a gift that will be matched by the Legislature and establishes the Stephen N. Zack Law Endowment. The income from the dean’s discretionary fund will be used to enhance academic programs – especially those involved with the education of law students in matters of legal ethics and professionalism – and to increase the diversity of the student body. The latter is a priority Zack championed during his term as ABA president and is part of the legal profession’s overall goal of increasing diversity.

“Stephen Zack is devoted to the judiciary and its role in guaranteeing the constitution rights of every citizen,” Jerry said. “We are proud to add the Stephen N. Zack Hall to the University of Florida law school campus and are grateful for his efforts to increase professionalism and diversity at the College.”

Zack, who moved to Cuba from Detroit with his parents at two months old, came back to the United States at the age of 14 and went to high school in Miami Beach. After earning his JD from UF Law in 1971, he immediately began working in Washington as Sen. Claude Pepper’s Legislative Aide. He returned to Miami and has been active in many civic and philanthropic organizations. He was the youngest person elected to be president of The Florida Bar (1989 – 1990).

During his presidency of the American Bar Association, he worked tirelessly to help gain equal access to justice for all segments of society, adequately fund the judiciary, ensure a proper civic education for young students, and establish a commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities.

Among Zack’s other accomplishments are working in 2000 as a trial attorney for Vice President Al Gore in Bush v. Gore, serving as general counsel to Gov. Robert Graham, serving as chair to the Florida State Ethics Commission, and serving on the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. Zack has been recognized by many organizations. He was named 2010 Latino Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association; he was honored by the American Jewish Committee with the 2010 Justice Learned Hand Award; he was recognized as a Legal Legend by History Miami and the 11th Judicial Circuit Historical Society; and the University of Florida awarded him with the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

He is also an emeritus member of the UF Law Center Association Board of Trustees. He is administrative partner with the firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP, in Miami, Fla.