This video captures a deeply personal and professional tribute delivered by Edward Blumberg, past president of the Florida Bar and a partner at Deutsch Blumberg & Caballero, P.A., at the investiture of Judge Javier Enriquez. Blumberg recounts meeting a young Javier Enriquez 25 years prior, a classmate of his children, who at a young age expressed his ambition to become a lawyer driven by a belief in “right and wrong” and a desire to “help people.” Blumberg recognized Enriquez’s exceptional character instantly, advising his own children to befriend and emulate him. The speech details Enriquez’s impressive trajectory, including breaking community service records, excelling in moot court, achieving a master’s degree in public administration, and serving as a justice on the student bar association’s supreme court.
Blumberg further highlights Judge Enriquez’s distinguished professional career, noting his dedication to family law in private practice and, notably, his transformative tenure as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Children and Family Services. Blumberg praises Enriquez for actively trying cases across the state, leading by example, and setting a new standard that resulted in the agency’s “best years in recent memory.” He expresses immense pride for Miami-Dade County in gaining a judge who will rule “fairly and without fear and without favor.” The speech concludes with Blumberg, on behalf of the Florida Bar, presenting Judge Enriquez with a special gavel—a rare honor—symbolizing the judiciary’s vital role as the “guardian of the United States Constitution” and the “glue that holds our democracy together,” a fitting start to what Blumberg predicts will be a “stellar career” on the bench.