James Lawrence King

James Lawrence King (December 20, 1927 – May 2, 2026) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and one of the longest serving federal judges in the United States.

Early life and career King was born in Miami, Florida, on December 20, 1927. He graduated from Redland High School in 1945. He received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Florida in 1949 and a Bachelor of Laws from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the same institution in 1953. There, he was a member of the Florida Law Review and Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1955 in the Judge Advocate General's Department as a first lieutenant. He was in a private law practice in Miami from 1953 until 1964 when he became a member of the Florida Board of Regents. From 1964 until 1970, he was a circuit judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

Federal judicial service 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 established by 84 Stat. 294. 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 from 1984 to 1991, assuming senior status on December 20, 1992.

Later life On April 30, 1996, the United States Congress renamed the Federal Justice Building at 99 N.E. 4th Street in Miami the James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building. King died at his home in Pinecrest, Florida, on May 2, 2026, at the age of 98.