Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, filed a proposal last week that would honor the late Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Leander Shaw Jr.
Shaw, who spent his early years in Jacksonville, died Dec. 14 at age 85.
Shaw’s youngest son, Sean, said his father was in “great shape” before having a stroke in October 2014. Even after that stroke his motor skills were fine, the younger Shaw said.
Several months later, though, the former justice had a much more debilitating stroke.
Shaw, who served on the Supreme Court from 1983 to 2003, was the court’s second black justice and its first black chief justice.
Joyner filed a resolution to be considered during the legislative session that starts Jan. 12.
The proposal, in part, says Shaw “will long be remembered as a trailblazer in the practice of law and as a calm, insightful jurist and teacher.” It also cites Shaw as an outspoken critic of the electric chair as a means of execution.
Shaw worked in private practice and as a prosecutor and public defender in Jacksonville. Former Gov. Bob Graham appointed Shaw to the 1st District Court of Appeal in 1979 and to the Supreme Court four years later. He was chief justice from 1990-92.