Judge Fred Seraphin: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Fred Seraphin (Ret.) was a judge for the Miami-Dade County Court in Florida. Seraphin was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jeb Bush on October 15, 2001, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of the Hon. Kevin M. Emas to the 11th Judicial Circuit Court. He retired in 2023.

Over the course of his judicial career, Seraphin has taught as a faculty member at the Florida Judicial College and the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies.

Seraphin earned a bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York. He then completed a J.D. at Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

After graduating from law school, Seraphin began his legal career as an assistant public defender for the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office in 1986. He worked in that capacity for several years, eventually leaving to open his own private practice (1991 to 1995). Seraphin later returned to the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office.

His memberships have included the Florida Supreme Court’s Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity. He is also a founding member of Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, and he is an active member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Seraphin lost his father to Tonton Macoutes during the rule of Francois Duvalier. His family left Haiti and sought refuge in the United States. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children.