Florida Supreme Court Justice
James E.C. Perry addressed Stetson University College of Law graduates on Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. at 1401 61st St. S. in Gulfport. Justice Perry, who assumed office in March 2009, is only the fourth African-American justice to serve on Florida’s high court. In 2000, he was the first African-American judge appointed to Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit.
Justice Perry has a history of dedication to civil rights work, youth mentoring and civic activity. As founder of the Jackie Robinson Sports Association, Justice Perry built the nation’s largest baseball league for at-risk youth. Perry worked for an economic development corporation in Seminole County's African-American community before going into private law practice.
Perry has received numerous awards for his community contributions, including the Seminole County NAACP Humanitarian Award, the Orange County Chapter NAACP Paul C. Perkins Award, and the 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for Social Justice.
Perry was one of four individuals profiled in the 2005 United Negro College Fund’s national broadcast of An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence. His hometown of New Bern, N.C., gave him the key to the city in 2005. The Brevard and Seminole County Bar Associations presented Perry with the 2006 Williams-Johnson Outstanding Jurist of the Year Award. For more information, please see Justice Perry's Florida Supreme Court bio page.
The graduating law class included 11 students who have earned a joint J.D./M.B.A. degree and nine part-time students who have earned a J.D. degree. LL.M. degrees were presented to eleven students. Eight students earned their LL.M. in elder law and three in international law.