Welcome to our Profiles in Service series, where we invite you to get to know the judges of your Miami-Dade Courts.
Today, #GetToKnow Judge Daryl Trawick of our Circuit Civil Division.
A New Jersey native, Judge Trawick graduated from Plainfield High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Miami, and received his law degree from Howard University School of Law.
Judge Trawick’s distinguished career reflects a lifelong commitment to public service.
A decorated veteran, he served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force—both active duty and reserve—as a Judge Advocate General or “JAG,” the service term for a military lawyer. In 1991, he volunteered for activation during Desert Storm, selflessly leaving his civilian position to step in for stateside personnel deployed overseas.
Before joining the Bench, Judge Trawick served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, handling major cases including among others narcotics, money laundering, public corruption, hijacking, bank robberies, other violent crimes and counterfeiting. He eventually became Chief of the Special Prosecutions Section, supervising 22 attorneys and staff.
In 1997, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed him to the Eleventh Circuit County Court, where he served in the Domestic Violence Division. In 2000, Governor Jeb Bush elevated him to the Circuit Court, where he served in both the Criminal and Family Divisions, in addition to the Circuit Civil Division, where he currently presides. He also serves as the Administrative Judge of the Appellate Division.
In 2008, he received a temporary appointment to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, authoring several appellate opinions.
In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Trawick contributes to the legal community through service on Florida Supreme Court and Florida Bar committees, involvement with voluntary bar associations, and teaching as an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College and St. Thomas University College of Law.
He also contributes to our community through organizations such as the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project and the 100 Black Men of America, South Florida Chapter. He is currently the president of the Miami chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Judge Trawick is guided by a favorite quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Recently, Judge Trawick was surprised during a University of Miami football game when the University recognized him as one of our “Hometown Heroes.”
Please enjoy this video clip of UM’s celebration of Judge Trawick as a Miami-Dade Hometown Hero and join us in recognizing our distinguished judge for his unwavering commitment to justice and to the community he proudly serves.
https://vimeo.com/1140985597?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci