A Florida State University College of Law professor emeritus has been selected to receive the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society’s highest award, recognizing extraordinary contributions to the legal profession and to the Society’s mission of preserving Florida’s legal history.
The Society will present Charles Ehrhardt with the Susan Rosenblatt Lifetime Achievement Award during its annual dinner on January 16, 2025, at the FSU Dunlap Champions Club.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” Ehrhardt said. “This recognition reflects the incredible colleagues, students and mentors I have worked with over the years. I am grateful to the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society for this recognition, and I remain committed to continuing my work in legal education and service to the legal community.”
Ehrhardt, who joined the College of Law (FSU Law) in 1967 as the fourth faculty member, has made lasting contributions to the field of legal education and scholarship. A former trustee of the Historical Society for over two decades, he is widely regarded as one of the leading scholars in evidence law.
“We are incredibly proud of professor Ehrhardt, and I can’t think of someone more deserving of this recognition,” said Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law. “For more than 55 years, he has been an integral part of the law school, profoundly influencing the legal landscape in Florida and beyond. His contributions to legal scholarship and his mentorship of countless students have helped shape future generations of lawyers and judges. His legacy at FSU Law will endure for many years to come.”
Ehrhardt was named the Ladd Professor of Evidence in 1977 and was awarded emeritus status in 2007. His textbooks, “Florida Evidence” and “Florida Trial Objections,” are authoritative resources in the field, frequently cited by appellate courts—more than 500 times—making him one of the most influential voices in Florida law.
The Susan Rosenblatt Lifetime Achievement Award is named in honor of Susan Rosenblatt, a renowned Miami appellate attorney who passed away in 2021. The award was established to permanently honor her exceptional legal career and her tireless dedication to the mission of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society.
“We look forward to recognizing professor Ehrhardt with this well-deserved award,” said Historical Society President Fred Karlinsky. “As a 1992 graduate of the FSU College of Law, I can speak to professor Ehrhardt’s tremendous impact as a mentor to students, attorneys and judges throughout his career.”
For more information, visit law.fsu.edu.