Hon. John Thornton (Ret.) is our latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Hon. John Thornton (Ret.) from JAMS!

Recently retired Judge John Thornton is speaking at our upcoming 13th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp, which is scheduled for May 21 and 23, 2024.  Judge Thornton will be commenting throughout Part 2, on May 23rd. If you are interested in attending the program, you can register at the link above. You can also view it OnDemand or order a Recorded Package download at the same link.

At this program attendees will learn everything from complaint strategies to depos and discovery, to case management conferences, motions, and the pre-trial tasks that occur before you are in trial (or settle).

John W. Thornton, Jr., Retired Judge 11th Judicial Circuit, joins JAMS after serving for more than 12 years in the civil, criminal and circuit court appellate divisions. Mr. Thornton headed the complex business litigation division for five years, including four years as the International Commercial Arbitration Division judge. He has presided over more than 100 jury trials. During his time on the bench, Mr. Thornton handled a range of complex matters involving commercial and contractual disputes, class actions, insurance, real estate, construction, health care, professional malpractice, personal injury and complex business law.

Before his appointment to the circuit court in 2007, Mr. Thornton was in private practice, where he was a founding partner of Thornton & Rothman, P.A., a Miami-based defense firm, where he represented individual and institutional clients, including the University of Miami and the Archdiocese of Miami. One of Florida’s first board-certified criminal trial lawyers, he tried to verdict more than 100 jury trials. Prior to establishing the firm, Mr. Thornton served as an assistant state attorney, including as a division chief, for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

In addition to his commitment to the practice of law, Mr. Thornton has dedicated himself to bar activities and pro bono causes, among them serving as chair of the Board of Directors of Camillus Health Concern, a private, nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive health and social services to homeless people in Miami-Dade County. He was a member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors for 10 years; president of the Florida Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of The Florida Bar; and president of the Miami Dade County Bar Association. He has participated in countless seminars and panels, and has taught in the University of Miami School of Law’s Litigation Skills programs for 28 years.

We are excited to have him join us!