James A. Edwards at a glance
- Current role
- District Court of Appeal Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Florida · State
- Judicial service
- Active
James A. Edwards
District Court of Appeal Judge · Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
Biography
Professional career
- Judge of the Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal, appointed in 2014, and currently serves as Chief Judge since July 1, 2023
- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, 1986-2003
- Trial Judge, Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, 1973-1986
- Official site: Fifth District Court of Appeal – Judge James A. Edwards Fifth District Court of Appeal
Education
Additional information
- Chief Judge: Assumed this role on July 1, 2023
- Before joining the court, Edwards had 35 years in private practice in Florida and the Caribbean
- overseeing administrative matters such as budgeting, scheduling, and bench–bar relations
- Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist (Inactive) and held the role of a neutral mediator in state and federal cases.
- handling litigation and appeals in areas such as products liability, pharmaceuticals, legal malpractice, complex commercial issues, railroads, banking, bail bonds, trucking, auto accidents, and insurance.
- His appellate work included cases before all five Florida district courts of appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits Fifth District Court of Appeal
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Media And Still Photography
Statewide
Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration.
Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowedFlorida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Florida appellate courts official judge directories official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida appellate courts official judge directories official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗