TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- April 22, 2012

When Govs. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist overstepped their legal authority, both ran into the same obstacle -- Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte.

The 78-year-old Florida State University president emeritus and former American Bar Association president won state Supreme Court rulings that stopped both governors in their tracks.

Those are two in a series of high-profile cases D'Alemberte has handled in recent years, most without charging a fee. And he shows no signs of slowing down.

To honor his commitment, the inaugural Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte Commitment to Justice Award will be presented Friday in Miami by the Innocence Project of Florida. D'Alemberte helped found the organization that works to free people who have been wrongly convicted.