Bernie de la Rionda
Bernie de la Rionda | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bernardo Enrique de la Rionda February 9, 1957 |
| Education | Miami-Dade Community College (AA) University of Miami (BA) Florida State University (JD) |
| Occupation | lawyer |
Bernardo Enrique "Bernie" de la Rionda (born February 9, 1957)[1][2] is an American lawyer.
Biography[edit]
Born in Cuba, de la Rionda moved to Miami, Florida in the U.S. to live with relatives at age four and never saw his parents again.[1]
He graduated from the Miami-Dade Community College with an Associate of Arts in 1978, University of Miami with a Bachelor of Arts in politics, public affairs and history in 1980, and Florida State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1982.[1][3][4]
In 1988, he prosecuted spree killer Mark Asay, in his first death penalty-eligible case. Ultimately, Asay was executed in 2017, marking de la Rionda's first successful death sentence carried out by the state.[5][6]
In 1996 he prosecuted serial killer Gary Ray Bowles in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2019 he attended Bowles' execution.[7]
In 2010, he was honored with the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for being an "exceptional prosecutor".[8]
He served as an assistant state attorney in the fourth judicial circuit in the State of Florida from 1983 until his retirement in 2018.[3] and was the lead prosecutor in State of Florida vs. George Zimmerman.[9]
Since 2018 he has served as an Attorney in private practice and is writing two books based on his experience coming to the United States and the death penalty.[3]
George Zimmerman trial[edit]
De la Rionda was selected by state attorney Angela Corey to serve as the lead prosecutor for the case. Zimmerman was found not guilty after two days of jury deliberations.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Zimmerman case will test tough-on-crime prosecutor Angela Corey". Orlando Sentinel. April 21, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013. Page 2
- ^ "Lawyer Directory – the Florida Bar".
- ^ a b c LinkedIn Profile
- ^ University of Miami (Class of 1980) Commencement
- ^ Kelley, Eileen (18 August 2017). "Victim's family can't fathom racial hatred still simmers in U.S. as execution in 1987 Jacksonville case nears". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Kelley, Eileen (23 August 2017). "Fla. man scheduled to die for racially-motivated murders". Corrections1. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Holt, Tony. "Gary Ray Bowles: Florida executes Jacksonville serial killer who preyed on gay men". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "2010 Director's Community Leadership Awards". FBI - Jacksonville, FL. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- ^ Dool, Richard (23 June 2013). "George Zimmerman trial: Meet the attorneys". HLNtv.com. Cable News Network, Inc. Retrieved 11 July 2013.