South Florida, one of the busiest criminal jurisdictions in the nation, has a new United States District Attorney.
As regular readers of Poder will know from our article 'The Enforcer' in April, the new man on the hot seat, Wifredo Ferrer, is a widely admired product of Miami's Cuban exile community. His packed swearing in Friday in Miami's downtown federal justice building, was attended by U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, as well as former Attorney General, Janet Reno, and a long line of previous holders of the district office. A devoted family man, the invocation was delivered by his wife Adabel Diaz and their two sons, Antonio and Lucas.
Several speakers testified to Ferrer's astonishing track record, from high school valedictorian in Hialeah, to first in class at the University of Miami and president of the student body at the University of Pennsylvania law school.
Here are some of comments by speakers:
Judge Stanley Marcus (for whom Ferrer clerked 20 years ago): "Willy is a superb choice … the very soul of integrity …. What Willy has is a heart of gold."
John Hogan, partner Holland & Knight: "Everything he does he has excelled at. Did he ever not do anything perfectly?"
Eric Holder: "This is a very special day. We are pleased to see how far he has come. We are confident he will do a good job .. [making sure that] .. our nation is more just and our people more secure."
Ferrer: "The only reason that I am standing here is because of my mentors. Miss Reno … you gave me the chance of my lifetime. You have touched my life .. you have been a source of inspiration from the beginning."
Regarding his parents: "You taught us to be proud of our Hispanic culture and heritage .. and to give back."
"Haz el bien" (Do what is good): the last words spoken to Ferrer by his father, who died in 1995. "There's not a day goes by that I don't recall those words," says Ferrer.
