From Fields To Courts

From Fields to Courts was written to inspire and inform its readers that regardless of the challenging circumstances and adversity in your life, whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve.  The book is about how a poor black country boy in the segregated South was inspired by his grandparents and many others to become the first member of his family to graduate from college, finish law school, become an attorney, and be appointed as a judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Pinellas and Pasco County.  From Field to Courts is a remarkable and galvanizing true story about a person overcoming adversity, learning the value of education, and refusing to accept failure over success.

Judge James V. Pierce is an acting Circuit Court Judge in the UnifiedFamily Court Division for the 6th Judicial Circuit where he presidesover cases involving juveniles, child abuse, adoptions, divorces, child custodyand guardianships.  He was appointed toserve as a Pinellas County Judge in 2006 by former Governor Jeb Bush.
In 2010 Judge Pierce organized and presided over Florida's First Homeless Courtsessions in an effort to prevent minor criminal cases from standing in the wayof defendants' efforts to emerge from homelessness.  In 2016, Judge Pierce organized the 6thJudicial Circuit's first Boy's Court that targets male juvenile delinquents toB_uild O_ptimal Y_outh S_uccess through character development, enlighteningspeakers, mentoring, community service, tutoring and academic enrichment.
Judge Pierce received the followingawards and honors:  May - 2016 FreshStartInnovative Mentorship Beacon of Light Award for exemplifying extraordinarycommunity service;  May -2013 John U.Bird Award from Clearwater Bar Association in grateful recognition ofExtraordinary Service on the bench; May - 2013 Law Day Recipient of St.Petersburg Bar Association Judicial Appreciation Award for continuingcommitment to improve the quality of justice in the 6th Judicial Circuit.
Judge Pierce is a 1980 graduate ofBethune - Cookman College now University where he received a Bachelor of ArtsDegree in Political Science. In 1983 he received his Juris Doctorate Degreefrom Stetson University College of Law.His legal practice included the 6th Judicial Circuit PublicDefender's Office from 1984 -1996 and Claim Litigation Counsel for State FarmInsurance Company from 1996 -2006. He is an Adjunct Professor at St. PetersburgCollege in the Paralegal Studies Department and presides over student trials atStetson University College of Law Trial Advocacy Courses.