Franklin H. Williams Bust Unveiling
Ceremony

Felipe Morales, left, who is the artist, and Anthony Suárez on the right, former Commissioner of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, who commissioned the bust of Franklin H. Williams, the civil rights attorney in whose honor the Commission is named. (Monivette Cordeiro/Orlando Sentinel)

On Friday, March 26, 2021, Anthony Suárez, a former Commissioner of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, along with the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and other co-sponsors, hosted a ceremonial unveiling of the bust of Franklin H. Williams.  This event honored Ambassador Williams for his contributions to the history of the State of Florida.  The bust is to be displayed at Florida A&M Law School in Orlando, Florida, and eventually at the Wells’ Built Museum of African American History and Culture, where Ambassador Williams stayed during his work on the Groveland case.  The PBS documentary “A Bridge to Justice: The Life of Franklin H. Williams” was presented during the March 26th ceremony, followed by a number of distinguished speakers, including Enid Gort, Ph.D. anthropologist, biographer and former Director of the Phelps-Stokes Institute, and Mr. Anthony Suárez, Esq., former Commissioner of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. Link to recording of ceremonial bust unveiling: VIDEO LINK VIA FACEBOOK

Biographical information on Anthony Suárez, Esq.
Anthony Suárez is the President of the Suárez Law Group P.A. and the Legal Services Clinic of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Barry University School of Law since 2001, teaching legislation and election law. A former military intelligence officer he retired as a captain with the 351 psychological operations company in NYC, Mr. Suárez served as legal counsel to the New York State Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic legislative caucus in 1988, honing his skills as an elections lawyer in New York.

In 1996, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton as a United States delegate to the Guatemala Peace Accords. In Florida, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1999, after having served for two terms with the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 18th Judicial District, having been appointed to that Commission by Gov. Lawton chiles and thereafter reappointed by Gov. Jeb Bush. While in the legislature, Representative Suárez voted for the creation of Florida A&M School of Law in 2000.

Mr. Suárez is admitted to the bar of the States of New York and Florida, as well as to several federal district courts around the nation. He has litigated several high-profile criminal matters. Mr. Suárez is a known radio and television personality hosting his own radio show since 2001. He also is a frequently invited political commentator on several local stations.

Honors and Awards
Mr. Suárez is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including Distinguished Military Graduate of the United States Army in 1974; Distinguished Service Award by Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus in 1986; Businessman of the Year Award by New York City Mayor Ed Koch in 1989; Legislator of the Year by the Classroom Teachers Association of Florida in 1999; Honored Citizen Award by the City Of Orlando by City Councilwomen Daisy Lynum in 1999; Attorney of the Year Award by “The Paoli Awards” in 2006; and the Citizens Award by Central Florida State Legislators in 2015.

Mr. Suárez was also the recipient of the Distinguished Floridian Award by Congressman Bill Posey in 2015; Man of the Year Award by La Prensa Newspaper in Orlando, Florida, in 2019; Lifetime Achievement Award Casa De Puerto Rico in 2019. He was appointed Commissioner of Orange County Charter Review Commission 2019.

Mr. Suárez received his B.A. in 1974 from Fordham University (New York), his J.D. from St. John’s University (New York) in 1977 and his M.P.A. from Jacksonville State University (Florida) in 1978.

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