Celebrating Black History Month - Federal Judge Darrin Gayles Visits St. Thomas Law

On Tuesday, February 16, St. Thomas Law was honored to welcome United States District Judge, the Honorable Darrin Gayles to our campus. Judge Gayles visited as a part of the Black History Celebration at the invitation of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and the LAMBDA Law Society.

The visit took on a town hall format whereby Judge Gayles spoke candidly to the audience of law students, staff and faculty about his path to the federal bench and what the keys were to his success.  Students had the unique opportunity to ask questions, speak about their professional aspirations and seek career advice.

Judge Gayles speaks with St. Thomas Law students and faculty

Judge Gayles began his career as an Assistant State Attorney in the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office from 1993 to 1997. From 1997 to 1999, he served as an Assistant District Counsel at the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. From 1999 to 2004, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Judge Gayles was joined by panelists from the LAMBDA Law Society and BLSA. Pictured from left:
2L studemt Cortney Walters (BLSA), Judge Darrin Gayles,2L Evan Phoenix (LAMBDA Law Society), and 2L Amal Uthman

In 2004, Gayles became a judge, serving as a County Judge in Miami-Dade County within the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. From 2011 to 2014, he served as a Circuit Court Judge on the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

Audience of St. Thomas Law students and faculty

Judge Gayles with members of the Black Law Student Association

On February 6, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Gayles to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to the seat vacated by Judge Patricia A. Seitz, On June 17, 2014 the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 in favor of final confirmation, making Gayles the first openly gay African-American man to be confirmed as a U.S. federal judge. He received his judicial commission on June 19, 2014.