Luis Perez Medina Biography: Inspiring Journey from Cuba to the Miami-Dade Judiciary
Introduction
Luis Perez Medina is a Cuban-born American judge, attorney, and former prosecutor whose professional life has been closely connected with Miami-Dade County, Florida. After arriving in the United States as a child, he grew up in Miami, pursued higher education while working, and eventually entered the legal profession. His journey later took him from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office to the county court bench.
His career includes approximately 12 years of prosecutorial work before his appointment as a Miami-Dade County Court Judge in 2018. The positive side of his story is his steady progression through education, legal practice, and public service. On the negative side, his work as a prosecutor and judge has naturally placed him in demanding positions involving difficult criminal and civil disputes. His professional record, however, remains the central focus of his public profile.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Luis Perez-Medina |
| Profession | Judge, attorney, former prosecutor |
| Birthplace | Havana, Cuba |
| National Background | Cuban-born American |
| Education | BA in Political Science, JD |
| University | Florida International University |
| Florida Bar Admission | 2006 |
| Wife | Isabel De Quesada |
| Children | Two adult daughters |
| Former Position | Assistant State Attorney |
| Judicial Appointment | October 2018 |
| Current Profession | Miami-Dade County Court Judge |
| Primary Income Source | Judicial and legal career |
Luis Perez Medina Early Life
Luis Perez Medina was born in Havana, Cuba. His family left Cuba when he was eight years old and moved to the United States. After spending a short period in New York City, the family established its home in Miami, Florida. This environment became an important foundation for his later educational and professional development.
Growing up in Miami, Perez-Medina attended Miami-Dade County public schools. His experience of moving from Cuba to the United States at a young age became an important part of his personal story. Miami would eventually become the centre of his education, legal career, community involvement, prosecutorial service, and work as a judge.
Luis Perez Medina Education
Education played a major role in Luis Perez Medina’s journey into law. He attended Florida International University, where he studied Political Science. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and graduated cum laude, demonstrating strong academic performance.
Perez-Medina later attended Florida International University College of Law. He studied in the evening while continuing to work and graduated cum laude. His legal education prepared him for a career that would ultimately include prosecution, public-corruption work, courtroom leadership, and judicial service.
Family Life, Wife and Children
Luis Perez Medina is married to Isabel De Quesada. The couple have been married since 1987, making his marriage a longstanding part of his personal life alongside his demanding professional career.
Perez-Medina and his wife have two adult daughters. His publicly documented biography keeps much of his family life separate from his professional role, while confirming his marriage and children.
Career Before Entering Law
Before becoming an attorney, Perez-Medina developed professional experience outside the courtroom. He worked in his family’s insurance and construction businesses while pursuing his education. This gave him practical exposure to business before he moved fully into public service and law.
He also gained experience in insurance and securities. Another important stage was his involvement with the Miami-Dade Community Council for District 10. This local public-service experience preceded his legal career and strengthened his involvement in the Miami-Dade community.
Start of Luis Perez Medina’s Legal Career
Luis Perez Medina was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2006. This marked the formal beginning of his career as an attorney after completing his legal education at Florida International University.
He joined the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State Attorney. The position placed him directly into courtroom and prosecutorial work and began an approximately 12-year period that would become one of the defining stages of his career.
Career as a Prosecutor
Perez-Medina handled criminal cases during his years with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. As his career developed, he took on positions carrying greater responsibility and eventually served as a Felony Division Chief.
Another notable part of his prosecutorial career was his work as a Public Corruption Prosecutor. This role involved matters connected with alleged misconduct involving public officials. His experience in criminal prosecution and public-integrity matters gave him substantial courtroom experience before he moved to the judiciary.
Appointment as Miami-Dade County Court Judge
A major career milestone arrived in October 2018, when Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Luis Perez Medina to the Miami-Dade County Court. The appointment moved him from the prosecutorial side of the courtroom to the judicial bench.
His selection followed years of experience in the legal profession and Miami-Dade public service. Since his appointment, Perez-Medina has continued his career within the county court system, extending a professional connection with Miami that began long before he became an attorney.
Luis Perez Medina Judicial Career
As a Miami-Dade County Court Judge, Perez-Medina has handled county civil matters and courtroom proceedings. His judicial responsibilities have included small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, personal injury protection matters, evidentiary hearings, and other county civil cases.
His work has also included presiding over bench trials and jury trials. This judicial experience complements his earlier years as a prosecutor, giving his overall career experience on different sides of the legal process.
Business Experience and Source of Income
Luis Perez Medina’s professional reputation is primarily based on law and public service, rather than large-scale entrepreneurship. Before entering law, however, he worked with family businesses connected to insurance and construction and also gained experience in insurance and securities.
His principal current professional income comes from his work as a county court judge. Earlier in his career, his income was associated with his prosecutorial employment and, before that, his business and insurance-related work.
Complete Career Overview
The career of Luis Perez Medina can be understood through several distinct stages. His early professional experience involved business and insurance, followed by community service, higher education, law school, prosecution, and eventually the judiciary. Each stage contributed to the professional background he brought to the bench.
After joining The Florida Bar in 2006, he spent approximately 12 years at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. His progression to Felony Division Chief and Public Corruption Prosecutor demonstrated increasing professional responsibility. His 2018 judicial appointment then opened the next major chapter of his career.
Luis Perez Medina Latest Career Developments
In 2026, Perez-Medina continues to serve within the Miami-Dade County Court. His work remains associated with the County Civil Division, where county-level civil disputes and related proceedings form an important part of the docket.
Another significant development in 2026 is his involvement in the Miami-Dade County Court Judge, Group 25 election. His continued judicial activity shows that his professional story remains ongoing rather than being a completed historical career.
Luis Perez Medina Legacy
Luis Perez Medina’s developing legacy is closely tied to public service in Miami-Dade County. His story connects immigration, education, community involvement, prosecution, and judicial responsibility. Moving from Cuba to the United States as a child and later reaching the judicial bench gives his biography a distinctive personal and professional trajectory.
His approximately 12 years as a prosecutor, including work as a Felony Division Chief and Public Corruption Prosecutor, remain important parts of that record. His subsequent judicial service has expanded his contribution to Miami-Dade’s legal system and continues to shape how his career will ultimately be remembered.
Conclusion
Luis Perez Medina has developed a substantial career through education, legal practice, prosecution, and judicial service. From his childhood move from Havana to Miami to graduating from Florida International University and its College of Law, his journey reflects a sustained connection with the community in which he eventually became a judge.
His career did not begin on the judicial bench. It developed through business experience, community involvement, legal education, and years of prosecutorial work. Since his appointment to the Miami-Dade County Court in 2018, Perez-Medina has continued that public-service path as a judge, making his legal career the defining element of his public biography.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Luis Perez Medina?
Luis Perez Medina is a Cuban-born American attorney, former prosecutor, and Miami-Dade County Court Judge. He previously spent approximately 12 years working with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Where was Luis Perez Medina born?
He was born in Havana, Cuba. He moved to the United States with his family when he was eight years old and later grew up in Miami, Florida.
Who is Luis Perez Medina’s wife?
Luis Perez Medina is married to Isabel De Quesada. They have been married since 1987 and have two adult daughters.
Where did Luis Perez Medina study?
He attended Florida International University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and later graduated from Florida International University College of Law.
When did Luis Perez Medina become a judge?
Luis Perez Medina was appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court in October 2018 by then-Florida Governor Rick Scott after an extensive career as a prosecutor.
