Background
King, James Lawrence was born on December 20, 1927 in Miami, Florida, United States. Son of James Lawrence and Viola (Clodfelter) King.
King, James Lawrence was born on December 20, 1927 in Miami, Florida, United States. Son of James Lawrence and Viola (Clodfelter) King.
Bachelor in Education, University Florida, Gainesville, 1949. Juris Doctor, University Florida, Gainesville, 1953. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), St. Thomas University, Miami, 1992.
Born in Miami, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida in 1949 and an Bachelor of Laws from the University of Florida College of Law in 1953. 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 United States. 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 overruled 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 Cuban 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.
Member state executive council University Florida, 1956-1959. Member Board Control Florida Governing State Universities and Colleges, 1964. Served to 1st lieutenant United States Air Force, 1953-1955.
Member Florida Bar Association (president junior bar 1963-1964, board governors 1958-1963, Merit award young lawyer section 1967), American Bar Association, American Law Institute, Institute Judicial Administration, Florida Blue Key, Pi Kappa Tau, Phi Delta Phi.
Married Mary Frances Kapa, June 1, 1961. Children– Lawrence Daniel, Kathryn Ann, Karen Ann, Mary Virginia.