Affiliate Trial Consultant
Joseph P. Farina is an affiliate FLC trial consultant. Farina brings to FLC specialized insight into juror cognition and the jury deliberation process derived from his over 30 years on the bench. Farina uses his trial experience and expertise to assist in trial advocacy, pretrial jury research, and jury selection. Specifically, Farina assesses the persuasiveness and viability of arguments made during mock trial exercises; makes recommendations as to persuasively communicating case theories and facts; improves attorney advocacy; and ferrets out prospective juror authenticity and bias in jury selection. Farina also regularly serves as a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator and arbitrator.
Prior to affiliating with FLC, Farina served as a Circuit Court Judge in the Circuit Civil Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida. From 1995 to 2009, Farina served for 14 years as Chief Judge and supervised the full operations of the Miami-Dade Court system, which is comprised of 123 judges, 15 general magistrates, 20 traffic hearing officers, and more than 500 administrative court staff serving in 10 courthouses.
Farina has presided over 3,500 cases, including complex business and financial disputes, class actions, product liability claims, significant personal injuries, including death claims, and a substantial number of commercial and residential foreclosure cases together with a civil docket involving claims in excess of $15,000. Notably, Farina presided over the nation’s first Chinese drywall jury trial, which involved class certification, constitutional challenges, the economic loss rule, fairness hearings, Frye hearings, and motions in limine. Additionally, Farina has extensive experience presiding over trials involving breach of contract and indebtedness, civil forfeitures, commercial foreclosures, corporate and business governance, declaratory judgments, discovery disputes, fraud, factoring and financing, indemnification and contribution, injunctive relief, insurance claims, partnerships/joint ventures, premises liability, replevin, shareholder disputes, trade names, unfair/deceptive business practices.
Farina has been recognized by many national, state, and local organizations for his leadership, professionalism, and accomplishments. During his more than 30 years on the bench, Mr. Farina was consistently rated one of the top judges in bar association polls. Additionally, Farina received the “OSCA” award for Outstanding Leadership and Inspired Vision for Florida’s Judicial Branch, presented by the State Courts Administrator, as well as a proclamation by Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, establishing Joseph P. Farina Day on June 17, 2009 in honor of his service to the community.
Farina received his B.A. from George Washington University and his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1970. Prior to taking the bench in 1979, Farina was the Mayor of Miami Shores from 1977 to 1979.