Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association News

Be Informed: Judicial Candidates, Justices, & Judges on the November 2024 Miami Ballot

Dwayne Robinson — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:29:56 GMT

Floridians Will Vote on a Majority Basis
Whether to Retain and Keep on the Bench
These Two of the Seven Florida Supreme Court Justices

Justice Meredith Sasso

Justice Sasso was raised in Tallahassee. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 2005 and her law degree from the University of Florida in 2008. She began her career in private practice representing clients in negligence and complex commercial claims in state and federal courts at trials and on appeal.

She also has served as guardian ad litem, representing abused or neglected children. She was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Justice Renatha Francis

Justice Francis is the 92nd Justice of the Florida Supreme Court as appointee of Governor Ron DeSantis. She previously served as a circuit judge in Palm Beach County from 2019 to 2022 after serving as a judge in Miami-Dade County. Justice Francis was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, where she operated small businesses while being a full-time student.

She attended the University of West Indies, receiving her bachelor’s of science magna cum laude in 2001. Her second career as a lawyer came after graduating from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville. Justice Francis previously clerked at the First District Court of Appeal for six-and-a-half years before she joined the firm of Shutts and Bowen. There, she was a member of the mass litigation and class action practice group, representing large corporate clients. She is the first Jamaican-American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court.

Miami Voters Will Vote on a Majority Basis Whether to Retain and Keep on the Bench These Three Judges on Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, Which Handles Appeals from Miami-Dade County and Monroe County

Judge Kevin Emas

Judge Emas has served on the Third District Court of Appeal since his appointment by former Governor Charlie Christ in 2010. He also is a former Chief Judge of the Third District Court of Appeal. Previously, he was a judge on the circuit court bench for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for Miami-Dade County. Former Governor Jeb Bush made that initial appointment. Prior to that, Judge Emas served on the county court for Miami for about five years. He received his bachelor’s of arts from the University of Florida in 1979 and his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. There, he served as editor of chief of the Miami Law Review and was member of the law school Honor Court.

Judge Ivan Fernandez

Judge Fernandez has served on the Third District Court of Appeal since 2011 after his appointment by former Governor Rick Scott. Before then, Judge Fernandez served on the circuit court for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in and for Miami-Dade County since 2003. Judge Fernandez served in the dependency, criminal, civil, and family divisions. He also is a former prosecutor and civil trial lawyer after serving as a police officer and detective with the City of Miami Police Department. He attended the University of Miami School of Law.

Judge Norma Shepherd Lindsay

Judge Lindsay has served on the Third District Court of Appeal since her appointment by former Governor Rick Scott in 2017. Prior to that appointment, Judge Lindsay had served as an associate judge on Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal, which handles appeals for southeastern counties north of Miami-Dade County. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Lindsay practiced commercial litigation, served as the executive director of Florida Growth Management Study Commission, and was associate general counsel for Boys & Girls Club of Miami. Judge Lindsay earned her law degree at University of Miami School of Law.

Miami Voters Will Have the Opportunity to Elect a County Court Judge in a Race between Attorney Christopher Benajmin and Attorney Alina Restrepo

Christopher Benjamin

Mr. Benjamin finished first in the three-person primary election for this county court seat in Miami. Mr. Benjamin is Of Counsel at International Law LLP. In addition to serving as a panelist with the ADR firm Salmon & Dulberg, Attorney Benjamin carries over 20 years of experience as a general litigation attorney. He has served as an arbitrator, mediator, special magistrate, real estate broker, and title agent, representing countless individuals and businesses in various legal matters. A certified mediator and arbitrator for 15 years, he was appointed as a Hearing Officer in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court’s Traffic Division from 2010 to 2020, and he has acted as a Special Magistrate for code enforcement across South Florida for over a decade. Since 2009, he has also served as an arbitrator with the Financial Industry Regulatory Agency (FINRA). In 2020 and again in 2022, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives for District 107, bringing his extensive legal expertise to the legislative arena. Additionally, Mr. Benjamin is a past president of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association.

Alina Salcines Restrepo

Ms. Restrepo is a candidate for election for judge of the Miami-Dade County Court in Florida. She received her bachelor’s of business administration from Florida International University 1996 and her law degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1999. She is the managing partner of the law offices of Alina Salcines Restrepo PA. She has a 25-year career of practicing law. She has handled estate planning and probate matters.

The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association Mourns the Loss of the Hon. Marcia Cooke

Dwayne Robinson — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 16:09:31 GMT

In Honor of Judge Cooke _ Wilkie D Ferguson Jr Bar Association.pdf

MIAMI, FL – January 28, 2023

Miami’s historic Black lawyers bar association, the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association mourns the passing of the Honorable Marcia G. Cooke. Judge Cooke served this community with distinction for nearly two decades on the federal bench as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida. But to the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association, she was family.

We share our heartfelt condolences to Judge Cooke’s family as well as to her past and current law clerks, judicial assistants, interns, colleagues, mentees, and loved ones near and far. Judge Cooke defied the odds throughout her life, including as early as last year. She has now been called home to her heavenly home. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and all those mourning her loss.

Judge Cooke presided over a number of high-profile cases during her 18-year tenure. Those cases included a lawsuit over the seizure of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez from a Miami home to the prosecution of Jose Padilla, a convicted terrorist. Notably, Judge Cooke acted with integrity and independence in those and all her cases, even when it was not politically expedient to do so.

Judge Cooke served at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse, the federal courthouse in Miami whose namesake was her predecessor. Judge Cooke succeeded Judge Ferguson, who, like her, died while in service to this community. The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Judge Cooke to the bench in 2004. She was the first Black woman ever to ascend to the federal bench in the State of Florida, a trailblazer whose legacy lives on through all of those who follow in her footsteps or trek through the terrain she pioneered.

The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association calls on our members and allies to join us in tribute to an esteemed jurist and cherished friend. Association president Christopher Lomax, Esq. remarks that “Judge Cooke’s legacy will remain forever present in our hearts and minds. She represents the best of us, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones.”

Formerly known as the Black Lawyers of Miami, for more than thirty years, the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association has served the Miami-Dade community by cultivating excellence and inclusion in the legal profession, promoting diversity in legal education through financial assistance and mentorship, and advocating for equal access, equal opportunity, and equal justice in the legal system.

2021 Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Foundation Scholarship Application Available

Trelvis Randolph — Thu, 06 May 2021 17:55:22 GMT

WDFJBA - Scholarship Application 2021.pdf

2020-2021 WDFJBA Board Announced

Trelvis Randolph — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 13:33:19 GMT

Pro Bono Legal Services Project

Trelvis Randolph — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 12:39:52 GMT

2020 Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Foundation Scholarship Application Available

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 09:35:31 GMT

WDFJBA - Scholarship Application 2020 rev 2.pdf

Summer 2020 Intern Posting - Miami Immigration Court

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:57:02 GMT

Summer 2020 MIA Legal Internship Posting.pdf

2019-2020 WDFJBA Board Announced

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 23:20:24 GMT

WDFJBA Gala featured in Flava Magazine

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 22:34:39 GMT

The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association's Legacy Ball was featured in the 4th of July edition of Flava Magazine!

If you missed this year’s “Legacy Ball: A Celebration of our Living Legends”, make sure you purchase your tickets early for our 2020 Scholarship Gala! It will surely be an event you won’t want to miss.