Judge Darrin Gayles
United States District Judge
Miami Connection
Judge Gayles has presided over cases in the Southern District of Florida's Miami division at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Courthouse, handling federal matters including criminal and civil cases impacting South Florida. His prior roles as a prosecutor in narcotics, major crimes, and appellate sections addressed key local issues like drug crimes and immigration in Miami-Dade. As a volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 100 Black Men of South Florida, and the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, he mentors youth and fosters community development in the region.
About
Born in 1966 in Peoria, Illinois, Darrin P. Gayles earned a B.A. from Howard University in 1990 and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 1993. He began his career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County from 1993-1997, followed by roles at the U.S. Department of Justice as Assistant District Counsel for INS and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida until 2004. Appointed to Miami-Dade County Court by Governor Jeb Bush in 2004 and elevated to Circuit Court by Governor Charlie Crist in 2011, he served Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit for over a decade. In 2014, President Obama nominated him to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where he was confirmed 98-0 by the Senate. Judge Gayles is deeply connected to Miami through his extensive prosecutorial and judicial service in the region. He currently serves as a U.S. District Judge based in Miami.