JAMAICAN-BORN, United States resident attorney-at-law Tamar Hamilton has her eyes firmly fixed on the bench.

She is hunting a seat as a judge in the final of the Broward County election coming up August 10-20, 2024.

She says her decision to run stems from her passion for service and her belief in fairness and justice for all.

“Becoming a judge was inspired by my community engagement and legal experience that prepared me for the role. I believe in fair and equitable treatment for all and that is not what I have seen in my practice in the courts.

“I want to be a voice of fairness and impartiality; someone who will give everyone the opportunity to be heard as is afforded under the constitution of the United States of America,” said Hamilton who was born in St Elizabeth and relocated to Kingston at age six.

She attended Constant Spring All-Age and later Kingston Technical High School. She recalls her school days as being tough.

“The struggle was real and I remember going to school many days without lunch, hoping that mommy would get a day job so I could look forward to dinner. On many occasions mommy had to wait to collect her pay. As a result, I had to stay home from school more often than I should.

“So, of course, I did not pass the Common Entrance exam. Many thought it was hopeless for me, and my mother’s wish that I would become ‘something in life’ was just false hope,” added Hamilton.

But it was not false hope and Hamilton is now a full-fledged lawyer and, if lady luck has her way, she could well be a Broward County judge pretty soon.

She bemoans the lack of minority representation in the legal field and wider corporate America.

“Although we have seen efforts through education and training, there is still concern about the poor representation of minorities in the legal and corporate environment. When you look at the court system you see that there is still need for change. Broward County is very diverse with people from all over the world, yet the representation is so limited.

“On taking office my early priorities will include bringing visibility and awareness of the justice system to minorities. In my practice, I have found that the average person has very limited knowledge of the very system that they have to utilise to protect their rights,” she said.

Hamilton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Arts and Humanities from Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, Florida, with emphasis in the areas of communication and writing.

She later received her Juris Doctorate degree with honours from St Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida, where she now serves as an adjunct law professor.

With her desire to impact as many lives as possible with the knowledge and experiences she had gained, she returned to Jamaica, and achieved the Legal Certificate (law school degree) at the Norman Manley Law School, allowing her to practise law in 21 Eastern Caribbean islands.

She is a practising attorney in Jamaica, and has been connecting Floridians with legal resources and services in Jamaica, with the hope of building the confidence of the Jamaican community in the country’s legal system.

Hamilton specialises in estate planning, wills and probates, as well as property law, including, real estate transactional and litigation matters, mortgage foreclosure, contract law and business transactions.

She is hoping to make a difference in people’s lives when she gets the chance to serve from the bench.

“For me, it is all about the people. They will find in me a judge who is fair and considerate. I want to serve the people of Broward County and I plan to do so to the very best of my ability,” declared Hamilton.