The Hon. James E.C. Perry (Ret.) was a justice of the Florida Supreme Court. He was appointed to the seat by former Governor Charlie Crist in 2009. Perry retired in 2016.
He began his judicial career as a judge for the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Brevard County after receiving an appointment by former Governor Jeb Bush in 2000, becoming the first African-American appointed to its bench. During his tenure there, Perry served as Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit for two years beginning in 2003.
Prior to his appointment, he was a senior partner at Perry & Hicks, P.A., where he specialized in civil and business law.
Perry received a B.A. in business administration and accounting from Saint Augustine’s University in 1966. He then served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army (1966 to 1969) before completing a J.D. at Columbia Law School in 1972.
Perry was a founder and past president of the Jackie Robinson Sports Association, a baseball league designed for at-risk boys and girls. He was also captain of the Heart of Florida United Way Campaign and was involved through his law firm with the Florida Chapter Branches of the NAACP. In addition, Perry sat on the Board of Trustees at Saint Augustine’s University and served as a member of the Carter CME Tabernacle Church of Orlando.
Among his numerous awards, he received the 3rd Annual Puerto Rican Bar Association’s Moot Court Competition Award (2014), the Florida Memorial University’s President’s Award (2014), the North Brevard County Branch NAACP’s Award for Appreciation (2014), and the Seminole County NAACP Humanitarian Award.
Perry is a native of New Bern, North Carolina. He and his wife, Adrienne M. Perry, Ph.D., have three children, two of which became attorneys.