About
Meet Renee Gordon
Candidate for Circuit Court Judge
“A lifetime in service. Committed to fairness. Guided by the law.”
For more than thirty years, Renee Gordon has served the people of Miami-Dade County in our courts. She has experience, sound judgment, and a strong command of the law. Renee believes a judge’s responsibility is clear: listen carefully, follow the law, and treat every person in the courtroom with dignity and respect.
Legal Experience
Decades of courtroom experience
Renee has spent the majority of her legal career serving the community as an attorney with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. As a courtroom attorney, she has litigated cases in many divisions of the court, including juvenile delinquency, misdemeanors and felony representations. Renee also regularly advocates in first appearance bond hearings, where individuals come before a judge shortly after an arrest. In these proceedings, Renee reviews the arrest affidavit or charging document, analyzes the legal elements of the charges, and presents legal arguments to the court.
Professionalism and fairness
Judges, attorneys, and court staff throughout Miami-Dade County know Renee as a prepared and thoughtful attorney who brings professionalism, passionate advocacy, and a strong command of the law to her work. She approaches every case with a clear sense of responsibility to the courts and to the people whose lives are affected by the justice system. Guided by a commitment to fairness, Renee believes every case deserves careful attention and that every person who enters the courtroom deserves to be heard.
Heart of Service
“Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth.”
For Renee Gordon, those words have always been more than just a quote. They describe how she has chosen to live her life.
Renee was born and raised in Miami and educated in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Her mother, a widow, served served as a public-school teacher who believed deeply in education and responsibility. From an early age Renee learned that success is not only about what you achieve, but also how you use your abilities to serve others.
Some of Renee’s most meaningful lessons came during summers spent on her grandparents’ working farm in rural Georgia. Life on the farm required discipline, hard work, and helping wherever you were needed. Those experiences helped shape Renee’s strong work ethic and her lifelong commitment to serving others.
After earning her law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1992, Renee had many professional opportunities available to her, but she chose a path of public service. She chose to use her legal knowledge and talents to help others and serve her community by working directly with young people as the manager of the Miami Halfway House, a Department of Juvenile Justice residential program. In that role, Renee worked closely with children who needed structure and encouragement. She saw their potential, believed in them, and was determined to help them achieve.
Renee’s leadership at the Miami Halfway House led the State of Florida to invite her to help develop the Department of Juvenile Justice Quality Assurance Program. In this role, Renee co-developed statewide standards designed to improve the care and safety of children in residential programs across Florida.
Renee later joined the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, where she began her work as a courtroom attorney serving the community. After several years, she opened her own private law practice, where she represented clients in probate, guardianship, and personal injury matters. During that time, she also worked with the Public Defender’s Office as a contract attorney, where her sole responsibility was helping young people facing transfer from juvenile court to adult criminal court. Years later, accepting another invitation from the Public Defender’s Office, Renee chose to close her practice and return to public service as a full-time Assistant Public Defender, where she continues to serve the community today. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Florida International University College of Law.
Renee’s knowledge of the law, passion for the work she does, and dedication to the community have earned her the respect of judges, attorneys, and court staff throughout Miami-Dade County. In recognition of her contributions to child welfare and juvenile justice, she received the John F. Balikes Award in 2016, and in 2017 she was honored for her leadership and commitment to service with the Mercedes R. Clark Trailblazer Award. Renee was also honored by the Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County with the 2019 Women of Impact Award.
“Mother Love.”
Around the courthouse, many people call Renee “Mother Love.” Renee’s kindness is balanced by wisdom, understanding, and the careful application of the law. She listens carefully and patiently. She knows the law and takes the time to assess situations and consider the circumstances before her. She treats everyone with dignity and respect.
After more than thirty years serving this community as an attorney, Renee still has more to give. She is running for Circuit Court Judge to continue a life of service. Renee will apply the law with fairness, careful judgment, and respect for every person who comes before the court.
Renee’s Commitment
If elected as Circuit Court Judge, Renee Gordon will:
- Apply the law fairly and consistently
- Listen carefully before making decisions
- Treat every person who enters the courtroom with dignity and respect
- Approach every case with wisdom, preparation, and careful judgment
Renee Gordon has spent her life serving this community. She is ready to continue that service on the bench.
