ORLANDO, Fla.
The Florida A&M College of Law officially re-opened its doors last month following a public program and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as the keynote speaker.
The law school was closed down by the state in 1968, a year after Florida State University's College of Law opened (see Black Issues, June 20).
"Re-establishing FAMU's College of Law has restored to this university its tradition of having operated the first and only historically Black law school in Florida. Once again, a new generation of lawyers throughout our state will be proud to call the law school at FAMU their alma mater," said Bush, who signed the legislation re-establishing the school in 2000.
Although classes began in August, officials wanted to formally introduce the school to its surrounding community, says law school Dean Percy R. Luney Jr.
"We wanted to hold a grand opening program to announce to the downtown, Greater Orlando, Central Florida and statewide communities that we are here and ready to make a difference," Luney says. Eighty-nine students make up the college's 2002 inaugural class.
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