Two eminent scholar chairs created at UF by estate of Justice Ehrlich

December 13, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The memory of the late Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Raymond Ehrlich, who died in July, will live on and support faculty at two colleges at the University of Florida thanks to provisions made in his estate.

Eminent scholar chairs in UF’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law and in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have been established in the name of Justice Ehrlich and his late wife, Miriam, to honor his parents, Ben and Esther Ehrlich.

“Justice Ehrlich was truly a visionary for higher education in realizing the importance of supporting the faculty,” said UF President Bernie Machen. “We are honored to have the legacy of such a distinguished alumnus and jurist represented this way.”

Ehrlich, a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Fla., earned a bachelor’s degree in 1939 and a law degree in 1942, both from UF. After serving in the Navy from 1942 to 1946, Ehrlich began practicing law in Jacksonville. In 1981 he was named to the Florida Supreme Court by Gov. Bob Graham, and served as chief justice from 1988 to 1990.

The law chair will support a faculty position in United States Constitutional Law, while the chair in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will be in the political science department.

“Justice Ehrlich was a giant in the legal profession,” said UF’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law Dean Robert Jerry. “His wisdom and insights will be impossible to replicate, but his commitment to professionalism will resonate with our students for generations to come. Our alumni and all those who practiced law with Justice Ehrlich throughout his long career know that this expression of care for future students is how he wanted to be remembered.”

“Establishing an Eminent Scholar Chair in Political Science is a fitting way to honor Justice Ehrlich’s long and distinguished record of public service to the state of Florida, and it will go a long way in enhancing the visibility of our program,” said Philip Williams, chairman of UF’s Department of Political Science.