CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN: Miami Gardens Democrat and Hollywood native challenging Judge Scott Janowitz in August 2024 primary. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDAPOLITICS

MIAMI, Fla. – Florida State Rep. Christopher Benjamin, a lawyer by trade, is running for Miami-Dade County Court judge.

Benjamin, a Democrat from Miami Gardens, announced the launch of his campaign on social media.

According to the Miami-Dade Elections Department, Benjamin, 50, is running in the 11th Judicial Circuit in Group 29 against former County Court Judge Scott Janowitz in the August 2024 primary.

"There are not many experiences that I’ve not had when it comes to services in the law," he said. "In the myriad of legal roles I’ve performed over my 21 years in law, my 10 years of quasi-judicial experience (Traffic Court & Code Enforcement) had been an unexpected joy, and it was tough to walk away from it and take my talents to the Legislature.

Having surveyed the field and circumstances, my family and I have decided that during these times, my talents and experience are utilized best on the bench. So I present to you my campaign for County Court Judge."

Benjamin, a native of Hollywood, was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020.

Benjamin is current a member of the Education Quality Subcommittee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and Insurance and Banking Subcommittee

“HE RECENTLY CHAMPIONED A BILL THAT NOW GIVES UNMARRIED FATHERS EQUAL CUSTODY RIGHTS IF THEY VOLUNTARILY ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE PARENTS OF THEIR CHILDREN.”

He recently championed a bill that now gives unmarried fathers equal custody rights if they voluntarily acknowledge they are parents of their children.

Benjamin earned his law degree from St. Thomas University in 2001 and after graduating from law school worked as an attorney in the Case Management Division of the 11th Judicial Circuit of MiamiDade County.

In 2002, Benjamin opened his own law practice, where he provides affordable legal services to clients in the areas of business formation, business litigation, bankruptcy, civil litigation, child support, criminal defense, commercial litigation and estate planning,

Benjamin also is a United States military veteran having fought in Operation Desert Storm.

Janowitz, who was appointed to the bench in 2020 by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, lost to Alicia Garcia in the 2023 primary.

After graduating from the University of Miami School of Law in 2005, Janowitz, a Miami native, began his legal career at the State Attorney’s Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit.

As an assistant state attorney, Janowitz prosecuted criminal cases for more than three years, rising to the level of lead felony attorney for his division.

Janowitz handled thousands of cases involving misdemeanor and felony charges, including drug possession, drug trafficking, driving under the influence, theft, burglary, robbery, battery, aggravated battery, arson, attempted murder, fraud and embezzlement.

He tried more than 80 criminal jury trials during his tenure.

Janowitz then spent more than five years representing various insurance carriers and other corporate entities in first- and third-party insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.