James Elliott Alderman (November 1, 1936 – June 10, 2021) served a six-year term as justice for the

Florida Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Florida is the state supreme court, highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. It consists of seven justices—one of whom serves as Chief Justice. Six members are chosen from six districts around the state to foster geog ...

from 1978 to 1985, retiring after a personal tragedy forced his return home to tend the family business.Florida Supreme Court gallery page on James E. Alderman
Alderman's term notably came about as one of the first appointed justices after an amendment abolished direct elections for vacancies. He died in

Vero Beach, Florida Vero Beach is a city in and the county seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 16,354. Nicknamed "The Hibiscus City", Vero is situated about south ...

, on June 10, 2021.

Early life and education

A sixth-generation Floridian, Alderman attended Fort Pierce High School and grew up working on the family ranch. The Aldermans raised cattle in St. Lucie county since 1830, well before Florida achieved statehood in 1845.

Public Service

Alderman's first foray into public service began when Governor picked Alderman to serve as a County judge for St. Lucie County 1971. Five years later, Alderman successfully ran for St. Lucie county circuit judge in 1976, and was soon appointed to the 4th District Court of Appeal in

West Palm Beach West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lag ...

by Governor later that year. Alderman was one of the first justices appointed by the Governor under the new constitutional amendment that ended the direct election of supreme court justices to six-year terms. A later constitutional amendment modified the provisions regarding term limits so that appointees face a retention election instead, which Alderman won.35 Miami Law Review 1019, 1064
(1981).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alderman, James E. 1936 births 2021 deaths Fredric G. Levin College of Law alumni Justices of the Supreme Court of Florida Florida lawyers People from Fort Pierce, Florida