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 "excerpt": "James I. Cohn, born in 1948, is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Southern District of Florida since 2016.",
 "snippet": "James I. Cohn, born in 1948, is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Southern District of Florida since 2016.",
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 "markdown": "# James I. Cohn\n\nJames I. Cohn (born 1948) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the [United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-district-court-for-the-southern-district-of-florida) since 2016.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President George W. Bush in 2003 and assumed senior status on August 5, 2016.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | George W. Bush<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | July 31, 2003, by a vote of 96 to 0<sup>[2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080320)</sup> |\n| Senior status | August 5, 2016<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> |\n| Born | 1948 in Montgomery, Alabama<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)</sup> |\n| Education | B.S., University of Alabama, 1971; J.D., Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, 1974<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nCohn was born in 1948 in [Montgomery, Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/montgomery-alabama).<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) degree from the [University of Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-alabama) in 1971 and a Juris Doctor from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in 1974.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nCohn served in the Alabama National Guard from 1970 to 1972, in the [United States Army Reserve](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-army-reserve) from 1972 to 1975, and in the Florida Army National Guard from 1975 to 1976.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)</sup> He began his legal career in 1975 as an assistant public defender in [Broward County, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/broward-county-florida), and then served as an assistant state attorney in Broward County from 1975 to 1978.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)</sup> From 1978 to 1995, he was in private practice in [Fort Lauderdale, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/fort-lauderdale-florida).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> He served as a judge on the Circuit Court of Florida for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit from 1995 to 2003.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [George W. Bush](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-w-bush) nominated Cohn on May 1, 2003, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida authorized by 116 Stat. 1758.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> The Senate confirmed the nomination on July 31, 2003, by a vote of 96 to 0.<sup>[2](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080320)</sup> His commission was issued on August 1, 2003.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup> He assumed senior status on August 5, 2016.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [James I. Cohn, Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/cohn-james-i)\n2. [Senate Roll Call Vote, July 31, 2003](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080320)\n3. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: James I. Cohn](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391931)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames C*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "speakable": "James I. Cohn, born in 1948, is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Southern District of Florida since 2016."
}