Judge Richard William Ervin, III

Richard William Ervin, III, of Tallahassee peacefully passed away on October 22, 2024, surrounded by his wife and children. “Dick” was born in 1934 in Palatka, FL, and later moved to Tallahassee with his parents, Richard and Frances Ervin, where he was raised and stayed throughout his life. Dick graduated from Leon High School in 1953 and then graduated from Florida State University, summa cum laude, in 1957. He received his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1960 and then began a distinguished career of public service in the State of Florida.

Dick began his public service career as an assistant US attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Following that, he served as the public defender for Leon and surrounding counties from 1963 to 1977 and was then elected as a judge on the First District Court of Appeal in 1977 to 2007 located in Tallahassee. He served as chief judge of the court from 1983 to 1985. He was the last popularly elected appellate judge before merit retention took effect. After his retirement from the court in 2007, Ervin went into private practice working on worker’s compensation appeals.

In 1963, in a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court decided Gideon v. Wainwright, a case out of Florida, holding that the government must provide legal counsel for criminal defendants who could not afford an attorney. As a result, public defender’s offices were established throughout the states and Dick was appointed by Governor Farris Bryant to serve as the first public defender in Leon County. At the time he assumed office, the thought of using taxpayer dollars to pay for an attorney for people accused of crimes who could not afford counsel was not a popular concept. Even in the face of stiff opposition, Dick successfully convinced local officials and the legislature to fund the public defender’s office.

Dick continued his career in public service as the last elected district court of appeal judge before Florida changed to the governor appointing appellate judges. As a judge on the First District Court of Appeal, he was known for his scholarly and well-reasoned decisions in the areas of worker’s compensation and administrative law. Ervin was well-respected throughout the legal community as an outstanding jurist.

Dick was a man of faith and a dedicated family man. He was a faithful follower of Christ and a member of Christ Church Tallahassee. Dick married his wife, Carol, in 1970 and they had five children who were all raised in Tallahassee.

Dick was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, Kappa Alpha fraternity, Pi Sigma Alpha (political science honorary fraternity), former member of Exchange, Elk's and Toastmasters Clubs. He was also formerly an avid golfer.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, his son, Richard Ervin IV and wife Emily and their two daughters, Elena and Anna; his daughters Frances Ervin and Tina Ervin; his son, Phillip Ervin and wife Jennifer; and his sister, Eve Ervin Ivory. He is predeceased by his father, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Richard W. Ervin, his mother, Frances Baker Ervin, and his son, Baker Ervin.

A Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home on Timberlane Road. A visitation will be held at 10:00 AM with the funeral service and reception to follow.

Interment will be held at Roselawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Christ Church Tallahassee, 1400 Village Square Blvd., Ste. 3-114, Tallahassee, Florida 32312.