Henry Latimer (judge)
Encyclopedia
Henry Latimer was the first African-American circuit court judge
in Broward County, and was in line to become the first African-American president of the Florida Bar when he was killed in a car accident
in South Florida. At the time, he was an attorney for the firm of Greenberg Traurig
, a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Miami
, and a visiting professor who taught Alternative Dispute Resolution
in the Florida International University College of Law
.
Latimer was born in Ocilla, Georgia
, and grew up amidst segregation
in Jacksonville, Florida
. He received his bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University
and a master's degree from Florida Atlantic University
. After a brief stint as an investigator for the United States Department of Labor
he went to law school
, becoming one of the first African-Americans to graduate from the University of Miami Law School.
Latimer was appointed to Broward Circuit Court by Governor Bob Graham
in 1979. He was retained in that seat in an election the following year. He died in Broward County, Florida
, when his car collided with debris on the road.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in Broward County, and was in line to become the first African-American president of the Florida Bar when he was killed in a car accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
in South Florida. At the time, he was an attorney for the firm of Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig LLP and Greenberg Traurig PA is an international law firm based in Miami, Florida.The firm has approximately 1,800 attorneys and governmental professionals in 32 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Its founding office is in Miami, Florida with its largest office in...
, a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, and a visiting professor who taught Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
in the Florida International University College of Law
Florida International University College of Law
The Florida International University College of Law is the law school of Florida International University, located in Miami, Florida in the United States...
.
Latimer was born in Ocilla, Georgia
Ocilla, Georgia
Ocilla is a city in Irwin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,270 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Irwin County.Ocilla is part of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and grew up amidst segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. He received his bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
and a master's degree from Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
. After a brief stint as an investigator for the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
he went to law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
, becoming one of the first African-Americans to graduate from the University of Miami Law School.
Latimer was appointed to Broward Circuit Court by Governor Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
in 1979. He was retained in that seat in an election the following year. He died in Broward County, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, when his car collided with debris on the road.