Senate President Simpson presented the Bar’s 2022 Legislative Award
Senate President Wilton Simpson and Chief Justice Charles Canady at the Bar’s Annual Convention in Orlando.
Chief Justice Charles Canady presents Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, with The Florida Bar Legislative Award at the 2022 Annual Convention in Orlando.
“In recognition of all of his service to the people of Florida, and his support for the judicial branch of Florida, it’s my honor to present him with this award today,” Canady said.
Canady noted that he represented Trilby when he served in Congress from 1993 to 2001. Canady said Simpson has been a consistent supporter of court funding requests, including appropriations for new judges, an appellate case management system, and two years of funding for a Pandemic Recovery Plan. But he said Simpson’s support for his top legislative priority — pay raises for trial court judges — was pivotal in the last regular session.
“President Simpson provided absolutely critical support for addressing the need to increase the compensation of our trial court judges throughout Florida,” Canady said, and jokingly referred to Simpson as the ‘but for cause’ that the appropriation was successful. Simpson, an egg farmer and business owner, thanked his hosts and said the courts are key to Florida’s future.
“Fair application of the law, and the appropriate administration of justice help provide an environment where business owners feel confident investing their time and their money,” Simpson said.
