Meet Judge Zach James
Judge James was born and raised in Miami, the youngest of four children. Following his graduation from Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Judge James earned his Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Texas at Austin, and then he returned home to attend law school at the University of Miami, where he graduated with high honors.
Before his appointment to the bench, Judge James was a seasoned litigator. He worked in both the criminal and civil arenas, and in both the public and private sectors. As a litigator, he tried more than 30 jury trials and 100 bench trials to verdict.
Most recently before his appointment, Judge James was a litigation partner with Meland, Russin & Budwick, P.A., an AV-rated law firm, where he concentrated on complex business litigation, financial fraud, and Ponzi scheme-related litigation. Before joining the firm, Judge James was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California. And prior to his service as a federal prosecutor, Mr. James was a state prosecutor in Florida and a trial attorney for the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on prosecuting human rights violations with the Human Rights Law Section. During his governmental career, Judge James investigated and tried high-profile cases involving human rights violations, major felony crimes, and homicide extradition proceedings. Additionally, he presented more than 100 cases for indictment to federal grand juries, authored numerous appellate briefs, and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Judge James is also involved in various professional and charitable organizations, and he is a former marathon runner and triathlon competitor.
Before his appointment to the bench, Judge James was a seasoned litigator. He worked in both the criminal and civil arenas, and in both the public and private sectors. As a litigator, he tried more than 30 jury trials and 100 bench trials to verdict.
Most recently before his appointment, Judge James was a litigation partner with Meland, Russin & Budwick, P.A., an AV-rated law firm, where he concentrated on complex business litigation, financial fraud, and Ponzi scheme-related litigation. Before joining the firm, Judge James was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of California. And prior to his service as a federal prosecutor, Mr. James was a state prosecutor in Florida and a trial attorney for the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on prosecuting human rights violations with the Human Rights Law Section. During his governmental career, Judge James investigated and tried high-profile cases involving human rights violations, major felony crimes, and homicide extradition proceedings. Additionally, he presented more than 100 cases for indictment to federal grand juries, authored numerous appellate briefs, and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Judge James is also involved in various professional and charitable organizations, and he is a former marathon runner and triathlon competitor.
Community InvolvementDade County Bar Association: Board of Directors (2017-2019); Executive Committee (2018-2019); Professionalism Committee (2017-2019); Legal Aid and Office of Public Service Committee (2017-2019).
Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists: Member and Certified E-Discovery Specialist (certification received in 2016; latest recertification in 2021). National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA): Volunteer Faculty for Trial Skills Program (2020). Dade Legal Aid: Advisory Board Member (2018-2019). University of Miami School of Law Alumni Association: Judicial Director on Board of Directors. KidSide, Inc.: Member of Judicial Advisory Board. Cuban American Bar Association: Member. Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association: Member. Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association: Member. Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Miami-Dade Chapter: Member. University of Miami School of Law Business Law Review: Advisory Board Member (2015-2018) Bankruptcy Bar Association: Member; Chair, Young Lawyers Section (2014-2015); Chair, Brown Bag Committee (2013-2014). American Bar Association State Attorneys General and Department of Justice Issues Committee: Founding Member. Florida Bar, Business Law Section: Member. Federal Bar Association: Member of Federal Litigation and Bankruptcy Law Sections. American Inns of Court, Women of Distinction Gala 2019: Member of Awards Selection Committee for Government Service Award. Bet Shira Congregation: President-Elect (2017-2018); Vice President of Membership (2015-2017); Board of Directors (2014-2020). Drug Free Youth In Town: Member of Steering Committee (2015). CLE Lecturer: Dade County Bar Association, Bench & Bar Conference – View From the Bench on Domestic Violence During the Pandemic (2021). CLE Lecturer: South Miami Kendall Bar Association – View From the Bench on the Role of the Guardian ad Litem and Attorney ad Litem (2021). CLE Lecturer: National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Trial Skills Program (2020). CLE Lecturer: Dade County Bar Association Bench & Bar Conference – Pro Bono Representation of Children (2019). CLE Lecturer: Best Practices in Pro Bono Asylum Representation (2018). CLE Lecturer: Jury Selection Seminar (2014). Volunteer Judge: University of Miami School of Law’s Annual Appellate Oral Arguments (2012-2018). Volunteer: Kozyak Tropin Black Law Student Mentoring Program (2018). Volunteer: Miami-Dade Public Defender Summer Scholars Program (2016). Volunteer Coach: University of Florida College of Law Trial Team (2006-2007). Trained Attorneys on Various Topics Throughout Career, Including Jury Selection, Trial and Evidence Skills, Criminal Sentencing, Professionalism, Immigration Law, Protection Law, and Human Rights Law. Humane Society of North Central Florida: Vice-President (2005-2007); Board of Directors (2004-2007). |
EducationJuris Doctor, magna cum laude, University of Miami School of Law (2004)
Legal Employment
Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge (2020-present)
Miami-Dade County Court Judge (2019-2020) Meland, Russin & Budwick, P.A. (2011-2019) United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California (2010-2011) United States Department of Homeland Security (2007-2010) Office of the State Attorney, Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida (2004-2007) |
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