Sunday, January 31, 2021

RIP Judge Peter T. Fay

Judge Fay had just turned 92.  He was beloved in the SDFLA and the 11th Circuit. He was appointed to our District in 1970 by President Nixon and to the 11th Circuit by President Ford.  Interestingly, Jeb Bush pushed his father to appoint Fay to the Supreme Court.

St. Thomas recently renamed its law school the Peter Fay School of Law.

A former clerk emailed me that he was the first person to master barefoot water skiing.  In fact, he was inducted into the Rollins sports Hall of Fame for water skiing, basketball, and football.

He was known for his civility and wonderful demeanor.  He will be missed.  

Please feel free to use the comments to tell stories and remember Judge Fay.

UPDATE WITH COMMENTS:

Here's Judge Federico Moreno:

Pete Fay’s five decades as a magnificent judge is well known. But his humility, faith and generosity with his time is his legacy. He was a true American hero, who never forgot what it was like to be a trial lawyer. FAM



 

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2 comments:

  1. Unknown9:55 AM

    Argued a criminal appeal where the trial had occurred in the Mobile courthouse, and Judge Fay was on the panel. The main issue was whether the trial judge erroneously restricted cross-examination, and the Govt's position on appeal was the error was harmless as the defense had otherwise impeached the witness' credibility. Judge Fay innocently said to the AG " I've never tried a case in the Mobile courthouse. Is there some kind of bell or buzzer that goes off when a witness' credibility has been destroyed, and any further cross is redundant, so a defense lawyer knows he can sit down."
    Conviction was reversed. He was a welcome panel member IF you had a case.

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  2. Anonymous3:16 PM

    Would have made a great FBI director

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