About Us

  Hubert Grimes spent over twenty-five years serving the people of  Florida in general and Volusia Couty in particular as a member of the judiciary. Through multiple vocations as a lawyer, law professor, author, and motivational speaker, he is well acquainted with hard work and success. His personal life journey, coupled with his education and work experiences have prepared him to address the issues which he encounters in the mediation process. 

 

  In his youth, Grimes lived in segregated times, and at different times he would see how that affected his life and upbringing.  He observed things such as the shift from calling people with more melanin than others “Colored” to “Negro”, Black and then “African-American.”  In 1969, his high school merged with another that had a predominately Caucasian student body, and with that came a feeling of disappointment as he came to the realization that he likely wouldn’t become the Valedictorian of his class. During his senior year of high school, the administration made rule changes that blocked him from graduating with honors, although it could be called poetic justice that he was inducted into the Polk County School Board Hall of Fame in 2018.

 

  From there, with the support of several mentors, coaches, teachers, and family, Grimes attended Kentucky State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1975. He then went to the University of Georgia Law School, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1980, and lastly a Master’s degree from International Seminary in 2004. During his career, he’s worn the titles of attorney, County and Circuit Court Judge, author, and educator, as well as Supreme Court Certified Mediator, Associate Pastor, and college president.

 

Grimes began his Florida legal career as a result of a fellowship with Central Florida Legal Services, assisting clients who could not afford to hire a lawyer. In 1982, Grimes launched a community development corporation and his private law practice in 1985. In 1988, Grimes ran for office and was elected as the first Black Judge in Volusia County. He led the Florida Conference of County Judges as its president from 1996-98. In 1999, he became the first Black Circuit Judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, tackling issues of drug use, juvenile delinquency, and family dysfunction by creating specialty courts and procedures to address these problems.

 

  After dealing with such difficult situations, time and time again, he wrote a book published in 2010 called, “How to Keep Your Child from Going to Jail—Restoring Parental Authority and Developing Successful Youth”. That book further impacted and reshaped the lives of numerous young people, many of whom came back to thank him for “being the difference maker in their lives.”

 

  In 2007,  Grimes became an adjunct law professor at  Florida A and M Law, spending much of his time equipping and preparing students “for the successful passage of the bar exam, while also promoting ethical and professional behavior.” He pushed them to have faith, work hard and achieve greatness, which many did, as over an eight—year period, over 300 of his former students successfully passed the Florida Bar exam. After finishing his courtroom career, Grimes joined Bethune—Cookman University, where he launched the Center for Law and Social Justice. From there, he worked as the University Legal Counsel and finally served as Interim President, from 2017-19.

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  Though Grimes' career thus far can be deemed a success already, he’s currently writing his 3rd book, “Journey to Judgeship”, along with refining his skills as a court mediator. When not working, Grimes spends time fishing, reading, and traveling, along with working out and spending time with his loved ones. He also serves in his community as a past chair of the Minority Elected Officials, a Minton Fellow of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, a Life Member of both Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Kentucky State University Alumni Association, and a sought-after speaker across Central Florida. He has crafted two wall plaques, entitled “Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way” and "Keys to Success", which point out that faith and hard work are the keys to success.  He hosts a monthly talk show on Artist First Radio Network. Over the course of his life's journey, he wants to be known as a man who “through faith in God and hard work, broke racial barriers in the judiciary, and tried to leave the world a better place than when he was born.”