E.J. retained this position in 2000. During his career as a prosecutor, he was elected four times as the State (Prosecuting) Attorney for Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Additionally, E.J. served as president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and vice president of the National District Attorneys Association, which awarded him its 1974 Special Merit Award as one of the outstanding prosecuting attorneys of this nation.

 

In 1979, E.J. was knighted by King Juan Carlos of Spain into the Royal Order of Queen Isabella. E.J. received the President’s Distinguished Citizen Award from the University of South Florida in 1993, and the City of Tampa recognized E.J. as Tampa’s Hispanic Man of the Year. In 1996 he received the Distinguished Service Award for his years as trustee of the USF Foundation.

 

In addition to his professional accomplishments, E.J. has received numerous awards from civic groups and bar associations, including five awards of merit from the Florida and American Bar Associations, for outstanding community service.