It is impossible to tell the story of Miami’s legal history without mentioning Judge Jose Rodriguez. Known for "holding court" with a cigar in hand across the street from the courthouse , Judge Rodriguez has been a fixture of the community for over three decades.

In this episode, we celebrate his "transition" (don't call it retirement!) as he moves from the bench to the world of mediation with JAMS. Judge Rodriguez opens up about his humble beginnings as a Cuban immigrant who worked as a welder making garbage containers in Hialeah before applying to law school on a whim during a dinner conversation.

We also dive deep into the cases that defined his career, including the agonizing decision behind a life sentence in a tragic domestic murder trial and the marathon 8-month trial that resulted in a historic $521 million auditing malpractice verdict.

In this episode, we cover:

The "Transition": Why Judge Rodriguez refuses to "fade away" and his move to JAMS.
The Hialeah Years: His early life working as a welder and learning to work with aluminum.
Judicial Philosophy: Why he believes you must "know your judge" and why credibility is the one thing a lawyer can never lose.
The Big Cases: Inside the $521 million verdict and the emotional toll of high-stakes criminal sentencing.
Life Advice: Why opposing counsel should become your best friends.

Quotes from the Episode

"It's not retiring. It's transitioning."
"One thing you never lose when you become a lawyer is your credibility with the court. Do not ever do that... Clients come and go, you stay."
"I've been on a 32-year vacation... It wasn't work to me."

Guest Information

The Honorable Jose Rodriguez (Retired) Former Circuit Court Judge (11th Judicial Circuit of Florida) Mediator/Arbitrator at JAMS

Judge Jose Rodriguez, Miami Law, Goldberg & Rosen, JAMS, Mediation, Legal Career, Hialeah, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Florida Bar, Legal Legends, $521 Million Verdict.

Ep.7 From Welder to the Bench: Judge Jose Rodriguez on 32 Years of "Holding Court," $521M Verdicts, and Life After the Robe

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