Judicial Candidate Bonita Jones-Peabody Discusses The Lasting Impact of Service and Her 35 Years of Practice

By N. Street

Bonita Jones-Peabody is a candidate for Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge, Group 69. With more than 35 years of legal experience, she has practiced criminal, civil, family, juvenile, probate, immigration, personal injury, and complex litigation. A former Senior Supervising Attorney, she trained and mentored lawyers, taught college English, and served through ministry. Endorsed by the South Florida AFL-CIO and South Florida Council of Fire Fighters, she believes, “The robe is not a reward—it is a responsibility.”

Jones-Peabody responded to Hy-Lo News’ candidate questionnaire, sharing insights into her legal experience, judicial philosophy and the qualities she believes she would bring to the bench. Here’s what she had to say. 

What judicial group are you running for?

Circuit Court, Group 69, Ballot #129

When is your election date?

August 18, 2026

In plain language, what kinds of decisions would a judge in this position make? How could those decisions affect the daily lives of local residents—even people who never enter a courtroom?

A Circuit Court Judge decides some of the most significant cases affecting individuals, families, businesses, and our community, including felony criminal, family, juvenile, probate, guardianship, and major civil matters. A judge’s duty is to apply the law fairly and impartially, protect constitutional rights, ensure every party has a meaningful opportunity to be heard, and decide each case based solely on the law and the evidence.

These decisions can have lasting effects on people’s lives, businesses, and the community by protecting families and children, enforcing contracts, resolving disputes, safeguarding individual rights, and promoting public safety. Even those who never enter a courtroom rely on a justice system that is fair, efficient, and impartial. When courts apply the law consistently and treat everyone with dignity and respect, they strengthen public confidence, support economic stability, and help communities thrive.

How long have you been a lawyer, and what kinds of legal work have you done (prior to this campaign)?

I have been a lawyer for more than 35 years, representing individuals, families, businesses, and government entities in a wide range of legal matters. My experience includes criminal, civil, family, juvenile, probate, immigration, personal injury, and complex litigation. As a former Senior Supervising Attorney, I also trained, mentored, and supervised new lawyers while handling serious felony cases and extensive courtroom litigation. Throughout my career, I have appeared before judges in numerous divisions, giving me a broad understanding of the legal issues that come before the Circuit Court. This breadth of experience has prepared me to approach every case with fairness, sound judgment, and respect for the rule of law.

List 2 cases where you were lead or co-counsel and why they are significant.

Two matters stand out in my career. I served as co-counsel with H.T. Smith in a complex Bridgestone/Firestone product liability rollover case involving a North Carolina accident, Georgia residents, and Florida-based counsel, raising significant multi-state jurisdictional issues. The case involved a severely injured college-bound student whose arm was initially at risk of amputation; through litigation and advocacy, she ultimately retained her arm and completed college. I also served as lead counsel in a termination of parental rights case in which a young mother was wrongfully accused of injuring her newborn. After intensive evidentiary hearings and trial advocacy, the court ruled in her favor, preserving her parental rights and reuniting her with her child.

How would you or do you make sure every person has a fair chance to be heard?

A fair hearing begins with listening. Every person who comes into my courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and patience, and to have a meaningful opportunity to be heard. My 35 years of practicing law have taught me that careful listening is essential to understanding both the facts and the people before the court. Being heard does not mean everyone gets the outcome they want. It means everyone knows they were listened to, treated fairly, and that the decision was based on the law and the facts. That is how I believe public confidence in our courts is earned.

What community service, volunteer work, teaching, mentoring, or other activities have helped you understand the people this court serves?

Throughout my career, I have been committed to serving my community beyond the courtroom. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Brownsville Civic Neighborhood Association, the League of Women Voters, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, and the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Black Lawyers Association. I have also served on The Florida Bar’s Legal Needs of Children Committee, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Criminal Procedure Rules Committee. These experiences, together with my work as a mentor, educator, minister, and founder of Education Means More Access (E.M.M.A.), have given me a deeper understanding of the diverse people our courts serve and an appreciation for how judicial decisions affect individuals, families, and communities from every walk of life. They have reinforced my commitment to treat every person with dignity, fairness, and respect while ensuring each has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Judges must sometimes make decisions they personally dislike. Please give an example of a time when you followed the law or your professional duties even though you had personal concerns

Throughout my career, I have handled many cases where the law or my professional obligations required a course of action that was personally difficult. As an attorney, my responsibility was not to substitute my personal views for the law, but to faithfully fulfill my ethical duties, advocate within the bounds of the law, and respect the legal process. Those experiences reinforced an important lesson: our justice system depends on professionals who honor their oath, even when the outcome is not the one they would personally prefer. That same principle would guide me as a judge. My duty would be to set aside personal opinions and decide every case based solely on the Constitution, the law, and the facts presented in court.

List current memberships in civic, social, business and social organizations.

Brownsville Civic Neighborhood Association, Florida Association of Criminal Lawyers, League of Women Voters, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association, Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Association, Virgil Hawkins Bar Association, order of The Eastern Star, Mt Sinai Chapter

Is there anything you would like to share with voters that we did not ask?

I would simply ask voters to look beyond campaign slogans and consider who is truly prepared for the work of a Circuit Court Judge. My career has given me experience across criminal, civil, family, juvenile, probate, and other areas of law, along with decades of mentoring lawyers, teaching, and serving our community. That breadth of experience has prepared me to serve every person who comes before the court with fairness, dignity, and impartiality. The robe is not a reward—it is a responsibility, and I am prepared to fulfill it from day one.

Why do you deserve the vote? Please answer with references to your experience and public record, not endorsements.

I have spent my career preparing for this responsibility. For more than 35 years, I have served the people of Miami-Dade as a trial attorney, mentor, educator, community leader, and public servant. My experience spans the broad range of cases that come before our Circuit Court, and I understand both the law and the profound impact judicial decisions have on people’s lives. I believe the robe is not a reward—it is a responsibility. If entrusted with the privilege of serving as a Circuit Court Judge, I will approach every case with integrity, independence, humility, and respect for every person who enters the courtroom. My commitment is simple: to uphold the Constitution, faithfully apply the law, and ensure that every person receives a fair hearing.

Hy-Lo News wanted to help South Florida residents understand the experience, public record, and responsibilities of candidates seeking judicial office. Judges matter, and impact the day-to-day life of everyone in our community. All candidates in groups 5, 11, 12, 35, 52, and 69 were invited to participate and were given adequate time to reply. If a candidate did not submit responses, they were not included in our coverage.

Due to ethical constraints set by Florida law, incumbents are able to speak about their cases, and therefore were given three additional questions to speak directly to their own records.

Each candidate has their own profile. Please check them all out. This is a nonpartisan candidate profile and not an endorsement from this outlet.