James Dean

James Dean (February 14, 1858 – 1914) was the first black judge elected in Florida after Reconstruction. Dean was born in Ocala, Florida. He graduated from Cookman Institute and Howard University and actively participated in the politics and in his religious faith. He was a county judge in Monroe County, Florida, until Florida governor Francis P. Fleming removed him from office. He was removed from office without a hearing He was restored in good standing posthumously in 2002 by Florida governor Jeb Bush.

Early life James Dean was reportedly born into slavery in Ocala, Florida February 14, 1858. Although no certain conclusions can be drawn about Dean's parentage, census records suggest that Kelly Dean and Minton Young Dean (married July 22, 1869) were Dean's father and mother. Dean and his family were relocated to Wellborn in Suwannee County during Dean's childhood where he grew up attending the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church

Political involvement Dean's life was one of politics and religion during an era of segregation and Jim Crow laws. He was a Republican activist who served in many offices over the course of his life. In 1879 Dean was introduced to local and state politics through his federal job in Key West serving as the special inspector of customs for the city. During his studies of law at Howard University, Dean worked as a clerk in the Office of the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post Office Department.

Dean especially emphasized the importance of education and desired to allocate slavery reparations to the funding of Florida public schools. This conference was held at a time in Florida's history where educational reforms were taking place to close the discrepancy between the proportion of the Black and White population who were illiterate. While educational reforms had been made at this time for African American children, literacy rates of Black people still lagged behind the White population.

In October of the same year Dean presided over the State Conference, he was admitted to the District of Columbia's bar of the Supreme Court, and in 1888 Dean was elected as a County Judge. Portrait of Francis P. Fleming, governor of Florida January 8, 1889 – January 3, 1893

Judgeship Dean was appointed a Monroe County Judge in November 1888 and took office January 1889, an illegal practice at the time. Dean's removal was met some protest. On August 1, 1889, about 800 citizens of Monroe County gathered together regardless of race, nationality, or political affiliation, to sign a petition for Governor Fleming to suspend the executive order which removed Dean from office until he was tried by a fair judge and jury. Dean wrote a second letter to Fleming one month after his first one again stating again that he would not step down, but this time cited that Governor Fleming had overstepped his powers given to him by the Florida Constitution and so had no authority to remove him from office. Dean even appealed to Florida's Supreme Court to question the legality of the executive order and to sue Angel De Lono (his successor), He also became involved in the affairs of Black businessmen, even overseeing the newly organized Florida chapter of the National Negro Business League

Given the controversial nature of his removal as county judge, his judgeship was reinstated long after his death. This act was performed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on 26 February 2002. It was decided that the marriage performed was indeed lawful. It was also remarked that the state Senate's adjournment on June 5, 1891 – without having removed Dean from office – meant he should have retained his position.