The Bench Matters: Why African American Judges Remain Essential to Justice in Miami-Dade County

Justice is often portrayed as blind, but it should never be disconnected from the community it serves. Public confidence in our courts depends not only upon the faithful application of the law, but upon the belief that every citizen stands equal before it. That confidence is strengthened when the judiciary reflects the diversity, experiences, and talent of the community it serves while remaining unwavering in its commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.

The history of African American judges in Miami-Dade County is not merely the story of individuals who achieved historic firsts. It is the story of institutions becoming stronger because barriers were removed and excellence was finally given an opportunity to flourish.

For much of the twentieth century, African American attorneys faced obstacles that extended well beyond the courtroom. They were denied opportunities at many law firms, overlooked for judicial appointments, and excluded from positions of legal leadership. Segregation reached into every corner of American life, including the institutions charged with administering justice.

That history began to change in 1950 when Judge Lawson E. Thomas became Miami’s first African American judge. His appointment to the Municipal Court at Overtown’s Historic Black Police Precinct and Courthouse represented far more than a personal achievement. It marked the beginning of a new era in which African Americans could aspire not only to practice law but to interpret and administer it. Judge Thomas later became the first African American to serve on the Metro-Dade Circuit Court, establishing a foundation upon which generations of judges would build. Today, his restored law office in Overtown stands as a reminder that progress is achieved through perseverance, courage, and public service.

Progress, however, came slowly.

More than thirty years later, Governor Bob Graham appointed Judge Leah Aleice Simms to the Dade County Court, making her the first African American woman to serve as a judge anywhere in the State of Florida. Her appointment shattered both racial and gender barriers and forever altered the trajectory of Florida’s judiciary. Judge Simms proved that judicial excellence is measured not by race or gender, but by integrity, scholarship, and fairness. She inspired countless young lawyers who, for the first time, could envision themselves wearing a judicial robe.

Another extraordinary pioneer soon followed.

Judge Melvia B. Green assembled one of the most distinguished judicial careers in Florida history. In 1980, she became the first African American woman to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. In 1989, she again made history as the first African American woman appointed to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida. Five years later, she became the first African American woman to sit on Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, where she authored more than one thousand appellate opinions. Her career demonstrated that breaking barriers is meaningful only when accompanied by sustained excellence, intellectual rigor, and a deep commitment to justice.

No discussion of African American judicial leadership in Miami-Dade County would be complete without Judge Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Raised in Miami by Bahamian immigrant parents, Judge Ferguson became one of Florida’s most respected jurists. He was the first African American appointed to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the first African American to serve on Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, and later a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. Beyond his judicial accomplishments, he became a mentor to generations of lawyers and judges, demonstrating that humility, scholarship, and compassion are as important as legal knowledge. His enduring influence is reflected in the naming of Miami’s federal courthouse in his honor.

That tradition continued with Judge Rodney Smith. After serving with distinction on both the Miami-Dade County Court and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, he was appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. His appointment reflected the continued evolution of a judiciary increasingly defined by merit and excellence rather than barriers of the past.

The story extends beyond the bench itself. In 2023, Markenzy Lapointe became the first African American and first Haitian American to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. As the chief federal prosecutor for one of the nation’s most important judicial districts, his appointment represented another milestone in South Florida’s legal history and reinforced the principle that leadership within our justice system should reflect the extraordinary talent found throughout our diverse community.

Taken together, these pioneers (and many other Black jurists in Miami-Dade) transformed institutions. They demonstrated that excellence is strengthened—not diminished—when opportunity is expanded. They opened doors that once seemed permanently closed and created pathways for the judges, prosecutors, and attorneys who followed.

Today, Miami-Dade’s judiciary includes accomplished African American jurists serving with distinction in County Court, Circuit Court, appellate courts, and the federal judiciary. Their service reflects decades of progress while reminding us that the pursuit of equal justice is never complete. Every generation inherits both the achievements and the responsibilities of those who came before.

For me, this history is more than academic. It is personal.

For more than two decades, I have devoted a meaningful part of my civic life to helping elect qualified African American judges. In some cases, I have worked directly with candidates through campaign strategy, voter outreach, and community engagement. In many others, I have worked to encourage African American voters to participate in judicial elections and to carefully evaluate candidates from all communities based on their qualifications, integrity, experience, and judicial temperament.

My purpose has never been to elect judges simply because they are African American.
Rather, it has always been to ensure that exceptionally qualified lawyers receive a fair opportunity to serve.

One of the great ironies of judicial elections is that many of the finest lawyers are often the least prepared to run political campaigns. They devote their careers to mastering the law, protecting constitutional rights, advocating for clients, and earning the respect of their peers—not raising campaign contributions, building campaign organizations, or introducing themselves to thousands of voters.

The qualities that make someone an outstanding lawyer are not necessarily the qualities required to win an election.
That reality has shaped much of my own work.

I have always believed there should be a bridge between legal excellence and electoral success. If I could serve as that bridge—connecting exceptional attorneys with voters seeking fair, thoughtful, and independent judges—then I believed I was contributing to a stronger judiciary.

Strong courts require more than qualified judges.

They require informed voters.
Judicial elections are among the least understood contests on the ballot. Unlike races for mayor, governor, or Congress, judicial campaigns receive relatively little public attention. Many voters arrive at the polls knowing very little about the candidates who seek to decide matters affecting their constitutional rights, their families, their businesses, their homes, and, in some cases, their freedom.

That is why civic education matters.
Bar associations matter.

Community organizations matter.
Faith institutions matter.

And informed citizens matter.

The strength of our judiciary depends upon all of us.

This election cycle presents another opportunity to continue a proud tradition of judicial leadership. Attorneys Renee Gordon, Bonita Jones-Peabody, and Arthur LeMar “Marty” McNeil have each stepped forward to seek election to the Miami-Dade bench (disclaimer: I have no role in their campaigns at this time). Like every judicial candidate, they should be evaluated on the qualities that define an outstanding judge: legal ability, professional experience, integrity, impartiality, sound judgment, judicial temperament, and an unwavering commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.

Their candidacies also remind us that the story of African American leadership within Miami-Dade’s legal community is still being written.

Every generation has produced pioneers willing to accept the responsibility of public service.

Judge Lawson E. Thomas opened the door.
Judge Leah Aleice Simms proved that no barrier of race or gender could withstand excellence.

Judge Melvia B. Green established one of the most extraordinary judicial careers in Florida history.

Judge Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. elevated Miami-Dade’s judiciary onto the national stage while mentoring generations of lawyers who followed.

Judge Rodney Smith carried that tradition of excellence to the federal bench.

United States Attorney Markenzy Lapointe demonstrated that the highest levels of federal law enforcement should reflect the diversity, talent, and aspirations of the community they serve.

Each built upon the accomplishments of those who came before.

Each expanded opportunity for those who would come after.

That is how institutions endure.

History teaches us that the advancement of a people is not measured solely by the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals. It is measured by the institutions they build, the doors they open, and the opportunities they leave behind for future generations.

The judiciary is one of those institutions.
Its legitimacy depends upon public trust.
Its strength depends upon excellence.
Its future depends upon our willingness to recognize talent wherever it is found and to ensure that every qualified lawyer has an opportunity to serve.

The remarkable history of African American judges in Miami-Dade County is therefore about far more than representation.
It is about strengthening one of the most important institutions in a democratic society.
It is about preserving public confidence in the administration of justice.

It is about ensuring that every child who dreams of becoming a lawyer can also dream of becoming a judge.

Most importantly, it is about honoring the enduring promise engraved above courthouses across America: Equal Justice Under Law.

That promise is not self-executing.

It depends upon judges of integrity.

It depends upon citizens who participate.

It depends upon communities willing to invest in excellence.

And it depends upon each generation accepting the responsibility to leave our courts stronger than we found them.
The story of African American judges in Miami-Dade County is not simply Black history.

It is Miami-Dade history.

It is Florida history.

It is American history.

And it is a reminder that justice is strongest when opportunity is broad, excellence is recognized, and the bench reflects the very best our community has to offer.