Candidate Profile: Kafi Kennedy

INSERT VOXPOPULI INTRO ...

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

My professional experience has prepared me for the bench by providing me with a well-rounded perspective on the justice system through service as a prosecutor, public defender, legal educator, and law practitioner. Throughout my career, I have been entrusted with responsibilities requiring sound judgment, integrity, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

For more than seventeen years, I have practiced law in Central Florida. I currently serve as Of Counsel with Having an Attorney When It Matters, where I represent clients in criminal, family, and personal injury matters, conduct court hearings and trials, draft and argue dispositive motions, and mentor attorneys and staff. This work has strengthened my ability to evaluate legal issues objectively, communicate effectively, and ensure that every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

My service as an Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit provided invaluable leadership and courtroom experience. As Director of Pretrial Diversion and Chief of the Booking Release Center, I supervised attorneys and staff, managed court operations, created office-wide training manuals, made charging decisions in misdemeanor and felony cases, and collaborated with judges, law enforcement, corrections officials, and community partners to improve the administration of justice. In addition to prosecuting cases, I handled motions, bond hearings, post-conviction matters, and other court proceedings, experiences that reinforced the importance of fairness, discretion, and accountability.

Before serving as a prosecutor, I spent more than seven years as an Assistant Public Defender in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. I represented hundreds of clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges, conducted jury and bench trials, litigated complex motions, researched and authored appellate briefs, and advocated for clients at every stage of the criminal process. Representing indigent clients taught me the importance of ensuring that every person--regardless of background or circumstance--receives meaningful access to justice and a fair hearing.

My commitment to the legal profession extends beyond the courtroom. I currently serve as a Faculty Member at Florida A&M University College of Law, where I teach Introduction to Analytical Skills. Legal Analysis, and serve as a Bar Coach. I have also taught trial advocacy, training future attorneys in motion practice, courtroom advocacy, witness examination, evidentiary foundations, and ethical legal practice. Teaching requires patience, objectivity, and the ability to explain complex legal principles clearly--qualities that are equally important for a judge.

Earlier in my career, I had the privilege of serving as a judicial intern with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where I researched legal issues, drafted memoranda and proposed orders, and observed the judicial decision-making process firsthand. That experience provided an early appreciation for the responsibility, impartiality, and discipline required of members of the judiciary.

Collectively, these experiences have given me a comprehensive understanding of our justice system from nearly every perspective. I have advocated for the State, defended the constitutional rights of individuals, educated future lawyers, supervised legal professionals, and observed the work of the federal judiciary. Those experiences have prepared me to approach every case with an open mind, apply the law faithfully, treat every person with dignity and respect, and render decisions that are fair, impartial, and based solely on the facts and the law.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Judges take an oath to uphold the Constitution and apply the law fairly and impartially, regardless of their personal beliefs, political views, or life experiences. Every litigant deserves the confidence that his or her case will be decided based on the facts presented, the applicable law, and the governing legal precedent--not on the personal preferences of the judge.

At the same time, a judge must not remember their humanity and show humility, respect, patience, and compassion. These are essential to influence how litigants are treated ensuring that every person is heard, treated with dignity, and afforded due process.

My experience as both an Assistant Public Defender and an Assistant State Attorney has reinforced the importance of setting aside personal opinions and objectively evaluating each case on its own merits. As an attorney, I was ethically obligated to advocate for my client while respecting the law. As a judge, that responsibility shifts to serving as a neutral arbiter who faithfully applies the law equally to all parties.

Personal values should not play a role in the judicial decision-making process as a Judge is to ensure that justice is administered fairly, impartially, and consistently, thereby preserving public trust in the judicial system and the rule of law.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

Legal precedent is fundamental to our legal system because it promotes consistency, stability, and predictability in the law. Judges have a duty to faithfully apply binding precedent established by higher courts, even when societal views evolve or personal opinions differ. Adherence to precedent ensures that like cases are treated alike and that the judiciary remains faithful to its constitutional role.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

Judges must not only be impartial but must also avoid the appearance of impropriety. I believe that transparency, ethical vigilance, and adherence to the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct are critical to preserving the integrity of the courts.

If elected, I would carefully review each case for any actual or potential conflict, including prior involvement as an attorney, personal or professional relationships with parties, attorneys, or witnesses, or any financial or other interests that could reasonably call my impartiality into question. When appropriate, I would promptly disclose any potential conflict on the record and, when required under the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, recuse myself so that every litigant has complete confidence in the fairness of the proceedings.

Ultimately, protecting the integrity of the judiciary is more important than presiding over any individual case. By adhering to the law and erring on the side of transparency when questions arise, I will ensure that every person appearing before me can trust that their case is being decided by a fair, impartial, and independent judge.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

One barrier to justice in our court system is delay. As Orange County continues to experience significant population growth, the volume and complexity of cases have increased substantially, placing tremendous demands on the court. Delays in resolving cases can create uncertainty for victims, defendants, families, and businesses while increasing costs for everyone involved. I

Another significant barrier is unequal access to the legal system. Many individuals appear in court without legal representation or have limited understanding of court procedures. While judges must remain impartial and cannot serve as advocates, they can ensure that proceedings are conducted with patience, respect, and clarity so that every person understands the process and has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

My experience has given me a unique perspective on these challenges. As an Assistant Public Defender, I represented individuals who often faced significant obstacles in navigating the legal system. As an Assistant State Attorney, including serving as Director of Pretrial Diversion and Chief of the Booking Release Center, I worked to improve efficiency, develop training programs, and collaborate with community partners to promote fair and effective case resolution. Those leadership experiences taught me the importance of balancing efficiency with fairness while ensuring that justice is never sacrificed for speed.

If elected, I will work diligently to manage my docket efficiently, prepare thoroughly for every hearing, treat every person who enters my courtroom with dignity and respect, and apply the law fairly and consistently.