James Lawrence King
Encyclopedia
James Lawrence King is the senior United States federal judge
in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and one of the longest serving federal judges in the entire United States
.
Born in Miami, Florida
. He received a B.A.
from the University of Florida
in 1949 and an LL.B. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1953. There, he was a member of the law review
and Phi Kappa Tau
Fraternity.
King served in the United States Air Force
from 1953 to 1955 and was in a private law practice in Miami, Florida
from 1953 until 1964 when he became a member of the Florida Board of Regents
. From 1964 until 1970, he was a circuit judge in the 11th Judicial Court of Florida. In 1965, he was an associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court
and was an associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeals of Florida in 1966 and 1967.
On October 7, 1970, King was nominated by President Richard Nixon
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
. Although King was a lifelong Democrat, the Republican Nixon was forced to agree to appoint King as a precondition to other nominees' approval by the Senate. King was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 19, 1970. He served as chief judge of the district from 1984 to 1991, assuming senior status
on December 20, 1992. On April 30, 1996, the U.S. Congress renamed the United States Courthouse
in Miami the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building.
King has presided over some remarkable cases during his tenure. In 1981, he over-ruled the State of Florida in determining that treasure hunter Mel Fisher
was the rightful owner of treasure salvaged from the 1715 wreck of a Spanish
galleon
, in the Cobb Coin case. In 1999 he ruled that relatives of the Brothers to the Rescue
pilots shot down by the Cuba
n Air Force
could sue Cuba
for wrongful death. He also dismissed challenges to Florida's felony disenfranchisement
law and Florida's prohibition against homosexual adoption. King was ultimately affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit in both cases.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and one of the longest serving federal judges in the entire United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Born in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. He received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in 1949 and an LL.B. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1953. There, he was a member of the law review
Law review
A law review is a scholarly journal focusing on legal issues, normally published by an organization of students at a law school or through a bar association...
and Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
Fraternity.
King served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1953 to 1955 and was in a private law practice in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
from 1953 until 1964 when he became a member of the Florida Board of Regents
Florida Board of Regents
The Florida Board of Regents was from 1965 to 2001 the governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities in the state of Florida, United States. It was created to replace a predecessor body called the Florida Board of Control, which had existed from...
. From 1964 until 1970, he was a circuit judge in the 11th Judicial Court of Florida. In 1965, he was an associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
and was an associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeals of Florida in 1966 and 1967.
On October 7, 1970, King was nominated by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
. Although King was a lifelong Democrat, the Republican Nixon was forced to agree to appoint King as a precondition to other nominees' approval by the Senate. King was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 19, 1970. He served as chief judge of the district from 1984 to 1991, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on December 20, 1992. On April 30, 1996, the U.S. Congress renamed the United States Courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
in Miami the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building.
King has presided over some remarkable cases during his tenure. In 1981, he over-ruled the State of Florida in determining that treasure hunter Mel Fisher
Mel Fisher
Mel Fisher was an American treasure hunter best known for finding the 1622 wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha named after a shrine in Madrid for protection. He discovered the wreck July 20, 1985...
was the rightful owner of treasure salvaged from the 1715 wreck of a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
, in the Cobb Coin case. In 1999 he ruled that relatives of the Brothers to the Rescue
Brothers to the Rescue
Brothers to the Rescue is a Miami-based activist organization headed by José Basulto. Formed by Cuban exiles, the group is widely known for its opposition to the Cuban government and, then President, Fidel Castro...
pilots shot down by the Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n Air Force
Military of Cuba
The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces consist of ground forces, naval forces, air and air defence forces, and other paramilitary bodies including the Territorial Troops Militia , Revolutionary Armed Forces , and Youth Labor Army .The armed forces has long been the...
could sue Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for wrongful death. He also dismissed challenges to Florida's felony disenfranchisement
Felony disenfranchisement
Felony disenfranchisement is the term used to describe the practice of prohibiting people from voting based on the fact that they have been convicted of a felony or other criminal offence...
law and Florida's prohibition against homosexual adoption. King was ultimately affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit in both cases.