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Judge Ilona Holmes, Criminal
Division, 17th Judicial Circuit
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Judge
Ilona Holmes, presently presiding on the criminal court bench of
Florida's 17th Judicial Circuit, was born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. "I'm originally from North Philly. We moved to
Deerfield Beach, Florida in 1974 after my father died. My mother had
family here including her mother Ella Nobles who lived to be 108 years
old!"
As
a child, Judge Holmes decided that she was going to be a lawyer. This
momentous revelation happened one evening while watching television
with her father.
"I
remember being 7 years old watching Perry Mason with my dad. I turned
to him and said 'Daddy, I can do that'. He looked at me and said 'Well
then, go on and do it'. That is when I decided that I was going to be a
lawyer".
Judge
Holmes always felt her parents' deep emotional support. "My dad
never finished high school though my mother did. They were hard working
people. We didn't grow up rich but we grew up happy."
Unfortunately,
that happiness was impacted by the death of Judge Holmes' father and
the family relocating to be with relatives in Florida. "I remember
when we moved to Florida, my sister and I didn't like it here. It was a
very different culture than our hometown. So my sister and I plotted to
run away and go back to Philly," she chuckles. "Now I can
tell you that I never want to live anywhere but Florida!"
Judge
Holmes received her B.A. degree in Political Science from Florida
Atlantic University and her Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern
University Thurgood Marshall School of Law.
The
summer before her third year of law school, Judge Holmes was already a
Certified Legal Intern working at the Miami-Dade State Attorney's
Office.
During
her internship, Judge Holmes received a call from then State Attorney
Janet Reno to come to her office. "I panicked and tried to think
of what I had done wrong. I waited outside her office for about 20
minutes before I was told to go in. I kept trying to think about any
errors and trying to come up with a defense. Then Ms. Reno said 'I have
been going over your work. Everybody including the judges you have
appeared before love your work. I am prepared to make you an offer to
come and be an Assistant State Attorney once you graduate."
"I
was so excited! It was unbelievable that I was actually getting a job
before graduation. I was the only 3L in my school who did not interview
because I already had a job."
"Once
I graduated, I packed my used 1980 Caprice Classic that I had purchased
for $400 and had a lot of miles on it. I packed all my stuff in it and
drove to Florida. It actually broke down in Bonifay, Florida, but at
least I got out of Texas!"
Judge
Holmes became an Assistant State Attorney at the SAO in July of 1982.
She remembers that Judge Ellen Morphonios, a Miami legal legend, swore
her in. Judge Morphonios then immediately made her pick two juries that
very day, even before she could go and celebrate with her proud family.
She
remembers the support and guidance that she received from State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "I remember that Kathy helped
me and she was instrumental in my growing at the SAO. I would go to her
office and she would answer all of my questions. I know that she went
to bat for me and I am grateful."
"I
always knew that Ilona would make a great judge," said State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "It wasn't just that she
worked hard as an ASA and was dedicated to the craft of being a lawyer.
It had more to do with her firm grasp of the concept that the law is
intended to serve the people, not the people intended to serve the
law."
Judge
Holmes also attended Florida Atlantic University/Florida International
University, Miami, Florida, from 1984-1987 taking courses toward a
doctorate (PhD.) in Public Administration.
She
served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1991 until being
appointed to the Broward County Court bench by Governor Lawton Chiles
in 1995.
From
May 1995 until June 3, 1998, Judge Holmes served as a County Court
judge. On June 3, 1998, she was appointed to the Broward Circuit Court
assigned to the Criminal Division. Judge Holmes served in the Civil
Division of the courts from 2003-2005 and has presided over many
multi-million dollar cases.
She
returned to the Criminal Division in 2005 where she served as
Administrative Judge over the Criminal Division from 2008-2010.
Currently Judge Holmes is assigned to the Criminal Division presiding
in the Extended Trial Division (ETD) trying murder, sexual battery and
robbery cases of persons incarcerated more than 750 days.
Judge
Holmes is heavily involved in judicial education. She is on the Florida
Court Education Council and the Education Committee for the Conference
of Circuit Court Judges as well as being on the faculty of Florida's
Judicial Colleges for Phase I (for newly appointed and elected judges)
and Phase II ( for newly appointed judges and for judges changing
division assignments). Judge Holmes has been reappointed as the
Criminal Track Head for Florida's College of Advanced Judicial Studies
(2013-present).
"I
also teach at The University of Ft. Lauderdale, which is fully
accredited, and where I am also chairperson of the board of trustees."
Judge
Holmes is always involved in the community. "It is the most
rewarding thing that I do outside of the courtroom," she admits.
"I always say that unless you get involved, don't complain."
"What
I can tell young prosecutors is to follow your passion. If you are at
the SAO, you will learn about the law and about justice. I am so glad
to know that State Attorney Fernandez Rundle has established a six week
training for new ASA's to teach them how to deliver true justice."
"I
also want them to know that Rules are there for a reason. Follow them
because when you cut corners, you earn a reputation that you cannot
live down."
Judge
Holmes has a passion for the law and for people. When she dismisses
individuals not selected to participate in juries, she does it
personally. "I get off the bench and go outside to the hallway and
thank them for being a part of the process."
When
trials are concluded, Judge Holmes personally gives each juror their
certificate and shakes their hand. "Juries remember me because I
make court interesting. I teach them about the process and value the
role that they play in it."
"I
am the only African American woman on the circuit bench in my circuit.
I tell the younger lawyers that my job has been to hold the door open
for them. And I've had to put up with a lot of stuff. I've been on the
bench for 20 years and I tell them they have to come up and take
over."
Although
she has had many accomplishments over the years, has received numerous
awards and is highly regarded in both the legal and overall civic
community, she remains a humble person. "I'm just a poor girl from
North Philly that God has tremendously blessed."
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