Randall C. Berg Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randall Challen Berg Jr.
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| Born | January 17, 1949 |
| Died | April 10, 2019 (aged 70) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Executive Director of the Florida Justice Institute |
Randall Challen Berg Jr. (born January 17, 1949 – died April 10, 2019) was an American lawyer. He dedicated his life to fighting for fairness and justice for people who needed help. He is best known for starting the Florida Justice Institute, an organization that works to protect people's rights.
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Early Life and Education
Randall Berg Jr. grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He finished high school in 1967. After high school, he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned a degree in political science in 1971.
After college, Berg served for three years in the United States Navy. He was stationed in California and reached the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. Later, he went to law school at George Mason University School of Law, graduating in 1978.
Fighting for Justice
In 1978, Randall Berg Jr. moved to Miami with his wife, Carol. There, he started the Florida Justice Institute (FJI). This organization is a special kind of law firm called a public interest law firm. It means they work to help people and make society better, not just to make money.
As the leader of the Florida Justice Institute, Berg worked on many important cases. He often helped people in Florida's prisons and jails. His goal was to make sure these places were safe and fair for everyone. He was involved in many class action lawsuits, which are legal cases brought by a group of people who have similar complaints.
Protecting Rights
Randall Berg Jr. was a strong supporter of civil rights. He was the president of the ACLU of Florida. The ACLU is an organization that works to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
He also advised Florida's Governor on issues related to criminal justice. He taught law at the University of Miami School of Law. He also helped run a program for volunteer lawyers at the U.S. District Court in Florida.
The IOLTA Program
One of Berg's big achievements was helping to create the first Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) program in the United States. This program helps collect money from special bank accounts where lawyers hold client funds. This money is then used to provide legal help for people who cannot afford it.
Thanks to IOLTA programs, billions of dollars have been raised across the country. This money mainly helps people who are poor get the legal services they need.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2018, Randall Berg Jr. and the Florida Justice Institute were recognized for their important work. They helped prisoners with hepatitis C get the treatment they needed. This showed how dedicated they were to public interest law.
Berg retired at the end of 2018 because he was diagnosed with ALS, a serious illness. He was very proud of his 40 years of work. He always fought "for the rights of the downtrodden, disabled, disenfranchised and even the despised."
Randall Berg Jr. passed away on April 10, 2019, due to complications from ALS. His work at the Florida Justice Institute continues to help many people in Florida.
