Robert Diaz

You are here: Home » Our Team » Robert Diaz

Robert Diaz
Attorney
200 South Andrews Avenue, Suite 100
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Telephone: 954.351.7474
Email: rfd@500law.com

 

Retired Judge Robert F. Diaz is a highly skilled trial lawyer, qualified to help parties achieve resolution through settlement or jury trials. At 500law, Robert serves as an attorney in the Litigation Department, helping public and private clients find solutions to their legal problems.

As a lawyer, Robert tried more than 125 jury trials and countless non-jury trials. As a judge for 32 years, Robert presided over more than 500 jury trials and 100 bench trials. From this extensive experience as a trial lawyer and a judge, Robert has a unique perspective on how to achieve a positive result for clients.

CAREER
Prior to becoming a judge, Robert was an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County, from 1984 to 1992. In 1990, Robert was awarded the Public Defender of the Year Award for trying 25 jury trials to verdict in one year.

In 1992, Robert was appointed to the County Court bench in Broward County by then Governor Lawton Chiles. He was the first Hispanic judge to serve in Broward County in 20 years. Once appointed, Robert ran for election, thereafter, and won, with the largest number of votes ever obtained by a judicial candidate at the time. Robert was continuously re-elected, serving for a total of 32 years on the bench. Robert has been a member of the Board of Governors of Nova Southeastern University Law school for 25 years, and is a Law Professor at the school, as well. At Nova Law, he taught “Street Law” for 36 years, and he is still teaching “Trial Advocacy” to law students.

Robert also created and supervised the Summer Judicial Internship program for Nova Southeastern University Law School, giving law students a chance to intern with Broward judges and learn about the legal system. For the past 13 years, he supervised and advised 35-50 law students and facilitated bi-weekly lunch-and-learn sessions with practitioners in all fields of law.

Robert was also a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Attorneys (NITA) for 15 years. There, he taught lawyers how to effectively advocate at trial.

Robert founded and participated in “Lawyers for Literacy”, along with the Broward County Young Lawyers. For the past 13 years, he and the YLS members have read to elementary students monthly, helping enhance their reading and literacy skills.

AWARDS
Robert was awarded “Florida Law Related Education Committee Judge of the Year”, in 1997, for his work with the “Street Law” class, as well as the public-school community as a whole.

In 2018, Robert earned the “Harvey Ford Award” – the highest honor for a County Court Judge in Florida – for his work on the bench, in the community, and with the Conference of County Court Judges.

Also in 2018, Robert received the “Stuey” award from Nova Southeastern University Law School, for his work with the school and its students, as an “Outstanding Alumni”.

Robert also received the “Stuey” award for being “Outstanding Adjunct Professor of the Year” in 2019.

In 2024, Robert was granted the “Trailblazer” award by the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association, for championing Hispanic causes and working to better the Hispanic Legal community in Broward County.

Show Comments