Belvin Perry graduated from Tuskegee University in Alabama in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in History. He then sought and earned his Masters of Education Degree in 1974, again, from Tuskegee University and immediately, he was accepted into the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University in 1977. With his educational pursuits satisfied, the respected attorney soon became a respected judge when he served as Osceola County, Florida Circuit Judge in 1989 and 1990. Soon after, he became an Administrative Circuit Judge in Osceola County and then, a Circuit Judge in Orange County for several years during the 1990s. As the new millennium neared, Judge Perry became Chief Judge Perry for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Fast forward to 2010, when he found himself at the center of the Casey Anthony murder trial when another judge recused himself. Judge Perry is making history, even if he remains humble and dismisses that statement with a wave of the hand. “I know what's relevant,” he told a reporter earlier this year. “I've never been shy in not speaking up”. That's exactly what everyone's banking on.
While his contemporaries say his is kind and even-keeled, he didn't mince his words during the jury selection process and a young woman in the galley spoke up and announced the defendant “already killed somebody”. While Judge Perry could have sentenced the woman six months in the county jail for contempt of court, he made his point when he instead sentenced her to two days. Judge Perry is not one to be underestimated and don't confuse his good nature with an easy mark. He's having none of it. For him, it's about justice, ensuring the defendant receives a proper, fair and ethical trial and in the end for this Florida judge, it's about being able to sleep at night. We're sure he rests well.
For more information on Judge Belvin Perry, visit the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida website at NinthCircuit.org.
