Stephen H. Grimes

Stephen Henry "Steve" Grimes (November 17, 1927 – September 10, 2021) was an American lawyer and jurist. He served as a justice of the Florida Supreme Court from 1987 to 1996, including as chief justice from 1994 until 1996.

Early life and education Grimes was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Henry H. and June K. Grimes. He graduated from Lakeland High School in 1945. He joined the United States Merchant Marine and served after World War II. At University of Florida, Grimes was president of Alpha Tau Omega. He was a member of Florida Blue Key, Phi Delta Phi legal honor society and the Order of the Coif and served as editor-in-chief of the Florida Law Review.

Career Grimes served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1951 to 1953, where he served as an operations officer on an attack transport in the Atlantic Ocean during the Korean War era. As an ensign, he was stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia and was assigned to the USS Hollis.

After military service, he then moved to Bartow, Florida and joined the law firm of Holland & Knight. He became the head of the firm's litigation department. Grimes served as president of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Bar Association in 1966 and became a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1971.

Grimes was appointed to the Florida Second District Court of Appeal in October 1973, serving as chief judge from 1978 to 1980.

He died in Tallahassee at the age of 93.