Randall C. Berg Jr. (January 17, 1949 – April 10, 2019) was an American lawyer and civil‑rights advocate best known for founding and leading the Florida Justice Institute (FJI). Over four decades he used litigation, public education and organizational leadership to press for improved conditions, medical care and legal access for people in Florida correctional facilities.
Career and advocacy
In 1978 Berg helped establish the Florida Justice Institute and served as its executive director from its founding until his retirement in 2018. Under his direction the organization pursued class‑action and civil‑rights litigation, monitored jails and prisons, and provided legal representation to incarcerated people. He combined courtroom work with policy advocacy to highlight systemic problems in the state prison system and to push for reforms.
Major themes and methods
- Legal representation: using federal civil‑rights statutes to challenge unconstitutional conditions.
- Organizational leadership: building a sustained public interest law center focused on incarceration issues.
- Prison reform: advocating for safer, more humane living conditions and access to health care in state correctional institutions.
- Statewide impact: influencing conversations about incarceration across Florida.
Background and other roles
Berg grew up in Jacksonville and trained as an attorney before committing to public interest law. He also served as president of the Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and was active in statewide efforts to protect individual rights and improve legal access for marginalized populations. His work earned recognition from peers in the civil‑liberties community and beyond.
Legacy and significance
Observers remember Berg for combining sustained legal strategy with public advocacy. The FJI became a persistent watchdog on correctional conditions in Florida, and his leadership helped train and inspire a generation of public interest lawyers. His career illustrates how non‑profit legal organizations can use the courts and public scrutiny to seek systemic change.
Personal life and death
Berg was married to Carol and they had a son, Randall Challen Berg III. He retired from the Florida Justice Institute in 2018 and died on April 10, 2019, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Tributes and remembrances noted his decades of commitment to prisoners' rights and civil liberties; statements and notices about his work appeared in multiple forums, including organization pages and local coverage announcing his retirement and remembrances. For additional overviews and archival material see a brief professional profile, organizational history of the FJI, and local biographical resources from Jacksonville or statewide summaries on prison reform and Florida corrections. For a contemporary obituary notice consult an obituary source or institutional memorial posted by civil liberties groups.