Apopka Lake Jewel Festival: Judge Grimes to be Keynote Speaker

Judge Hubert L. Grimes, the first black judge to serve on the Volusia County Court, will be the Keynote Speaker at the 7th Annual Apopka Lake Jewel Family Fun Festival on April 9, 2016.

Judge Hubert Grimes

Judge Grimes retired in 2014 after serving 25 years on the bench.

Before becoming a judge, he received his undergraduate degree from Kentucky State University and his law degree from the University of Georgia. He worked as an attorney for Central Florida Legal Services, worked for Central Florida Community Development Corp. and had his own private law practice.

Grimes is proud of his role as a trailblazer for the local court system. “It hadn’t been done before and there were some people who tried to dissuade me from running. They thought it was futile,” he said. “But with faith in God, encouragement from family and friends, along with the support of the voting public, I accomplished my dream.”

“I was excited to undertake the challenge,” he said. “I thought I could make a contribution to the judiciary and hopefully open a door for other persons of color to pursue their dreams.”

Grimes is particularly proud of his work with juveniles. He authored his own book, “How to Keep Your Child from Going to Jail: Restoring Parental Authority and Developing Successful Youth” to encapsulate his insights and ideas for parents.

Grimes also worked as an adjunct law professor at the FAMU College of Law in Orlando as a part of their Academic Success and Bar Preparation program.

“Working with young people has been a constant passion of mine,” he said. “I have tried to guide them and inspire them to avoid the pitfalls of trouble and to fulfill their dreams.”

The Apopka Lake Jewel Family Fun Festival has grown to over 400+ people attending a day of live outdoor gospel concerts, motivational speakers, health screenings, good food as well as many more activities to improve the quality of life of neighborhood residents.

The event has grown every year. More than 100 people traveled from other states to participate last year.

For more information email LakeJewelNeighborhood@OneApopka.com