Judge King turned 97 last month

 97!

Here's an email that Judge Moreno sent to him, which he graciously shared with the blog:

Larry, tomorrow is your 96th birthday . That, in and of itself, is an accomplishment. Your contributions to the law are incredible, not only as the longest serving district judge (appointed by President Nixon in 1970 after your service as a Florida Circuit judge when there were only a few in Dade County) but also as a lawyer when your fought segregation in Southern “Miamuh.” You had one trial after another in the 70’s and 80’s, a record that rivals if not surpasses Judges Marcus, and Scott then and Altonaga, Middlebrooks and Martinez. I remember trying the murder of an agent along with other cases before you and a score of other jury trials. Even when you took senior status soon after my arrival in 1990 you kept a 100 per cent caseload, like Chief Judge Altonaga now does. So when you were replaced by Judge  Lenard, our district got two judges, your replacement and you. We called ourselves the lonely 11 due to the delay in confirmations. You were my first Chief followed by Chief Judges Roettger, Davis, Zloch, Moore and Altonaga. And at the end of your seven year term you kept on working, and finally began traveling with your wonderful wife before her untimely passing. You planned and worked hard to get King and Atkins buildings (subsequently Moore and Altonaga got the Ferguson and the Ft: Lauderdale courthouses). Your son, as a Florida judge, and daughter and son in law as AUSAs, followed in your footsteps serving the community.  Now that you are recovering from your fall, I know you will have time for your children and grandchildren. You certainly deserve a break. You have a building named after you (at Notre Dame only canonized saints or those who fund the $40 million dollar cost get that.) Plus you received the prestigious Devitt Award given by Justice Ruth Ginsburg. So now you can relax, enjoy your golden years and let the active judges handle our present load. I know you converted to Catholicism so you know of many other ways to serve. You are a big Gator so I will work on you becoming a Fighting Irish fan. Thank you and happy birthday. Fred