Selig I. Goldin
(1939–1980)
Those few words, spoken at Selig Goldin’s funeral by his brother, Philip, capture what members of the criminal defense bar knew of this young Gainesville lawyer who died of cancer before his time — that he was a man of great ability and great compassion. His career was cut short, yet he left his mark not only with those he defended, but with those judges before whom he practiced and those lawyers who were his adversaries in the courtroom and his friends when the trials were over.
To honor the memory of this young man, who none doubt would have reached the top of his profession, the Criminal Law Section each year distinguishes one member of The Florida Bar for displaying the talents and compassion possessed by Selig I. Goldin.
His path is not an easy one to follow. He graduated high school at 16, college at 20, and law school at 23. His list of honors is remarkable for one so young. By age 24, he was well-regarded within the Gainesville legal community as a man who would not turn down a case because the client could not afford to pay nor because the client’s cause was unpopular.
As a member of the Executive Council of the Criminal Law Section, he displayed the same zeal and dedication to justice that was his trademark in the courtroom. He was, as many have said, a lawyer’s lawyer, a man who possessed the best attributes of the profession — competence, service, compassion.
Philip remembers: As Selig began working on his goals, he touched many lives. From judges and attorneys to moonshiners, from clergy to ex-convicts, from athletes and coaches to doctors and nurses, from architects to plain, simple folk, he touched their lives in his own special way. Selig accomplished his goals and always did it his way.
2026 Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award Recipient—Michael J. Satz (Bar News article)
Michael J. Satz, a native of Pennsylvania, is a graduate of the University of Miami’s School of Law. Following graduation, Mr. Satz became an assistant prosecutor in Broward and quickly developed a reputation as a tough courtroom litigator.
In 1976, he was elected State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County, and was re-elected in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016.
As State Attorney, Mr. Satz has responded to Broward’s diverse crime problems by instituting and expanding specialized prosecution units that focus on cases such as sexual battery and child abuse, domestic violence, public corruption, and organized crime, to name just a few.
Mr. Satz, recognizing the needs of crime victims, instituted a Victim Advocate Unit to provide counseling and assistance to victims. For his efforts, he received the 2004 President’s Award from the Broward Victim’s Rights Coalition.
Concerned about issues and institutions that affect the people of Broward, Mr. Satz initiated grand jury investigations into Pain Clinic ‘Pill-Mills,’ Broward County School construction, Youth Gang organizations, Foster Care, Organized Crime activity, the Broward Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Mental Health Services, and Child Abuse Protections. In 1995, Mr. Satz sponsored the Broward County Elder Abuse and Exploitation Seminar, and in 1999, organized Broward’s first Foster Care Summit.
In 2020, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association presented Mr. Satz with the Eugene Whitworth Memorial Award. In 2015, Mr. Satz received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the B’nai B’rith Justice Unit #5207 and the Broward Victim’s Rights Coalition. The Broward County Crime Commission presented Mr. Satz with the Justice Leadership Award in 2013. Leadership Broward presented Mr. Satz its annual “Profiles in Leadership” award in 2006. And in 2005, the National Association of Social Workers honored him with the Elected Official of the Year Award.
Mr. Satz was honored with the “Community Safety Award” by Legal Aid of Broward County in 2003, and the Broward County Bar Association Board of Directors presented him with the Government Lawyer award the very same year.
In 2001, the Broward County Bar Association presented Mr. Satz with the Lynn Futch Professionalism in Practice award. He has also received the “Heart Award” from the Broward County Children’s Consortium in 2000. He proudly accepted the 1998 Sharon Solomon Advocate Award in commemoration of Broward’s late child advocate, Sharon Solomon.
Mr. Satz has been recognized by the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Sexual Assault Treatment Center of Broward County, which he helped create.
Previous Selig Goldin Award Winners
2025 – Peggy A. Quince
2024 – Stanford Blake
2023 – James E. Felman
2022 – Jennifer Zedalis
2021 – Benedict P. Kuehne
2020 – No Recipient
2019 – Larry Turner
2018 – C. Richard Parker
2017 – Thomas Petersen
2016 – Nancy Daniels
2015 – Honorable Charles D. Edelstein
2014 – Charles B. “Chuck” Morton Jr.
2013 – James T. (Jim) Miller
2012 – Robert C. Josefsberg
2011 – Henry M. Coxe, III
2010 – Barry E. Krischer
2009 – The Honorable O. H. Eaton, Jr.
2008 – Seymour Gelber
2007 – Albert J. Krieger
2006 – Neal R. Sonnett
2005 – Honorable Lou Frost
2004 – Honorable Susan R. Schaeffer
2003 – Professor Charles W. Ehrhardt
2002 – Honorable Bennett H. Brummer
2001 – Honorable Janet Reno
2000 – Professor William R. Eleazer
1999 – Honorable Ben F. Overton
1998 – Professor John F. Yetter
1997 – Honorable Stanley R. Morris
1996 – Robert E. Jagger
1995 – Professor Steven M. Goldstein
1994 – Professor Gerald T. Bennett
1993 – William J. Sheppard
1992 – Professor Paul Barnard
1991 – T. Edward Austin, Jr.
1990 – Honorable Marvin U. Mounts, Jr.
1989 – Honorable Edward D. Cowart
1988 – Honorable Gerald Kogan
1987 – Honorable James C. Adkins
1986 – Honorable Phillip A. Hubbart
1985 – Honorable Benjamin M. Tench
1984 – Honorable Richard E. Gerstein
1983 – Albert J. Datz
1982 – Tobias Simon