Attorneys

Mr. Harris has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education since 1987. He is a former prosecutor and frequent lecturer, practicing law in Federal and State Courts throughout the country with major emphasis in felony trial litigation and criminal appeals. He has been in private practice in Broward County since 1978, defending many high profile homicides, narcotics, and white collar cases primarily in the tri-county area. While a majority of his practice emphasizes felonies, Mr. Harris also has an extensive background in criminal appeals and misdemeanors. Mr. Harris has been court qualified as an expert witness in criminal law by numerous judges, enjoys Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating and is listed in “Who’s Who in American Law” and “Who’s Who International”.   He is death certified by the Florida Supreme Court for capital homicide cases.

Mr. Harris has been recognized as “Preeminent Lawyer” by the Bar Register Preeminent Lawyers. He was also chosen as an “exceptional” criminal defense attorney by the Consumer Guidebook of law and leading Attorneys and he was recognized as being one of “Florida’s Top Lawyers” by The Miami Herald and selected one of the best criminal defense attorneys by the Florida Super Lawyers Magazine.

Mr. Harris was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1972 and in Florida in 1975. He is also admitted to the United States Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, Federal Southern District Court of Florida, and Northern District Court of Illinois.  He received his B.A. at Southern Illinois University in 1967; and his J.D. From the University of Oklahoma; De Paul University in 1971. He was a member of the Phi Delta Phi, and recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award. He was an Assistant State Attorney in Cook County, Illinois from 1974-1976 and in Broward County, Florida, 1976-1978; he was the Chief Assistant, Habitual Offender Unit, 1977-1978; Adjunct Professor, Nova Southeastern University Broad Sheppard College of Law, 1982-1983, and 1986-1995; Instructor, Nova University College of Law, Intensive Trial Program in 1993 and 1996; Instructor. Prosecutor/Public Defender Trial Training Program, 1984, 1993. He was a lecturer at the International Academy of Polygraph, and faculty instructor at the University of Florida College of law for the Prosecutor/public Defender Trial Advocacy Program.

Mr. Harris is a member of the Broward County Bar Association where he served on the Broward Bar Legislative Committee in 1993, Chairman of the Criminal Law Section (2008) and Co-Chair of the Bar Bench Committee 1997, Chair, 1998; the American Association ; The Florida Bar, where he served on the Criminal Law Board Certification Committee from 1990 -1992; served on the Evidence Rules Committee 2002-2005; and was Vice-Chairman (1989) and Chairman (1990) of the Grievance Committee and is currently serving on the Executive Council of the Criminal Law Section. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he has served on the Board of Directors since 1989, and was Vice-President in 1992 and President from 1993-1994. He is Past President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2007) where he has served on the Board of Directors since 1992. His peers have presented him with an award for professionalism and excellence in the field of criminal law by awarding him the prestigious Harry Gulkin award. The national rating service of attorneys (Martindale-Hubbell) has given him their highest “AV” rating since 1978.