--- title: "William Thomas | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # William Thomas Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court ยท Circuit Civil Judge, CA 27 ## Profile - Court: Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court - State: Florida - Role: Circuit Civil Judge, CA 27 - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - On November 14, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Thomas to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to replace Judge Adalberto Jordan - In 2005, Thomas was chosen as a judge on the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, presiding over both civil and criminal cases - Federal Public Defender in Miami-Dade County, 1997-2005 - In 1997, he became an assistant federal public defender in the Southern District of Florida - Began his legal career as an assistant state public defender in Miami-Dade County in 1994 ### Education - Temple University Beasley School of Law in โ€” J.D. (1994) - Washington & Jefferson College in โ€” B.A. (1991) ### Additional information - He was re-elected in 2011 without opposition - representing defendants in complex federal cases, including drug conspiracies, Hobbs Act robbery, and fraud - His civil docket included complex medical malpractice, business litigation, tobacco litigation, eminent domain, and wrongful death cases, while his criminal docket included death penalty, murder, robbery, and rape cases. - Growing up in a challenging environment, including living in housing projects, Thomas was instilled with a strong emphasis on education and perseverance. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic courtesy copies Scope: judge specific Judge Thomas does not use paper courtesy copies or binders for motion calendar; supporting documents are uploaded through courtMAP. Evidence excerpt: We do not use binders. All supporting documents must must be uploaded through courtMAP. [William Thomas, Judicial Section Details](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### media and still photography Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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 allowed [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18) - [Official roster](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18) - [Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court official judicial roster](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18) - [Judicial Directory](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/About-the-Court/Judges/Judicial-Directory) - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) - [William Thomas, Judicial Section Details](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18) - [Judge-Details](https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas", "name": "William Thomas | KnowJudges", "description": "William Thomas, Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas#judge", "name": "William Thomas", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas", "jobTitle": "Circuit Civil Judge, CA 27", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Judge-Details?judgeid=820§ionid=18" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Florida", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/florida" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Thomas", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-thomas" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-f9444c394a89ab9f4ffde994) โ€” 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](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450). Collected 2026-07-26.