The University of Florida honored one of its longest-serving professors Thursday at a Levin College of Law ceremony.
Professor Emeritus Fletcher Baldwin has been teaching law at the University of Florida since 1963. Baldwin was honored at the 50th anniversary of the Gideon v. Wainwright decision, which established the right to counsel in individual states.
Dean Robert H. Jerry led the ceremony honoring Baldwin with a speech and a commemorative plaque. Baldwin has seen the Levin College of Law progress significantly in his 50-year tenure.
"We just produced lawyers for Florida to an international law school," Baldwin said.
Baldwin said that he has stuck with UF for so long because of the freedom they granted him to teach the way that he wanted to teach.
He switched from practicing law to teaching because of his experience with constitutional law.
"The reason I went into teaching is I could practice constitutional law and I could also impart my views in teaching constitutional law," he said.
Baldwin is still teaching constitutional law and he has no plans for retirement: "My body will tell me when to retire."