Judge William Thomas
Circuit Court Judge, Division CA 27
Conexión con Miami
As a Circuit Judge in Division CA 27 at the Miami-Dade Justice Center, Thomas oversees critical civil cases impacting local businesses, healthcare, and property rights in South Florida. His long tenure since 2005, handling high-stakes litigation like tobacco cases and eminent domain, ensures efficient justice administration in Miami-Dade County, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit's core. His public defense background and barrier-breaking profile as an openly gay African American judge promote diversity and fairness in Miami's courts.
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Born in 1967, William L. Thomas earned a BA from Washington & Jefferson College in 1991 and a JD from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1994. He began his career as an assistant state public defender in Miami-Dade County in 1994, advancing to assistant federal public defender in the Southern District of Florida in 1997, handling complex federal cases like drug conspiracies and fraud. In 2005, he was elected as a Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge, presiding over civil matters such as medical malpractice and business litigation, as well as serious criminal cases including death penalty and murder trials. He was re-elected without opposition in 2011. In 2012, President Obama nominated him for U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, though the nomination was returned unconfirmed in 2013. He continues his service deeply rooted in Miami's judicial system.