Former Bar President Burton Young passes away at 96
Burton Young
Burton Young, who served as president of The Florida Bar in 1970-1971, passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday, March 30.
He was 96.
Young, the Bar’s first Jewish president, was elected president-elect of The Florida Bar in 1969 without prior experience on its Board of Governors.
His work with the organized Bar began when he served as chair of a grievance committee in the 11th Circuit and increased when he also served on a circuit committee investigating the unauthorized practice of law.
When Young was sworn in as Bar president in June of 1970, at the age of 42, the Bar had just broken the 11,000 lawyer member barrier.
Upon taking office he said: “It is my expressed view that the organized Bar must be more responsive to its members — and to its almost holy commitment to do service to the public trust.”
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Miami Beach, Burton broke down barriers throughout his life. Aside from being the first Jewish Bar president, Young was instrumental in the creation of Florida’s nominating system for appointed judges.
Young thought it was important for judges to be free from political influence.
Gov. Reubin Askew and Burton Young promote Law Day in 1971.
“[W]e have not overlooked the fact that a sensible merit selection plan must operate to induce that special high quality lawyer we seek to come to the bench. Absent a merit selection plan, he will stay away from judicial office because his keen intellectual sensitivity will not tolerate the rough and tumble political game,” Young said in 1970.
He was also a pioneer in the field of family law, earning an international reputation for ethics and excellence.
He was fiercely passionate in the pursuit of justice for all peoples, generous with all he came across, and consistently philanthropic.
He continued caring for his clients well into his 90s.
When asked in 2018 how he would like to be remembered as a lawyer and a former Bar president, Young said:
“As a lawyer I would like to be remembered as a person who, regardless of the personal cost, would stand up, speak up, and take such action necessary to help protect our administration of justice stay free and independent. Since our judiciary is the only guaranty of our democracy, it must be kept free from politics . . . as far as Heaven is from Hell. As a former Bar president, I would hope to be remembered as one of the grassroots lawyers of Florida who successfully challenged the ‘establishment’ and brought a new era to The Florida Bar to better serve our profession and the needs of our fellow Floridians — rich and poor alike, regardless of race or gender.”
Those who knew him say Young always maintained a strong sense of humor and was a mentor to hundreds of younger lawyers and judges.
He was equally devoted to his family. His wife of 52 years, Sheila Young, predeceased him. He is survived by his son, Judge David Young (Judge Scott Bernstein), his daughter, Franci Leon (Scott Leon), his grandson, Jacob “Jake” Leon, his granddaughter, Madison “Madi” Leon, his longtime companion, Sonny Malnik, and many nieces and nephews.
He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami in 1967, which replaced his Bachelor of Laws Degree or LL. B., conferred in 1950.
Funeral services will be conducted at Temple Beth Am on Tuesday, April 2, 5950 N. Kendall Drive, Pinecrest 33156. The suggested arrival time is 11 a.m. The service will promptly begin at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Burton Young Endowed Fellowship at the University of Miami School of Law. Arrangements by Levitt-Weinstein Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel (305) 932-2700.
