THE STORY BEHIND THE FIGHT.

James King's journey to becoming a respected trial attorney began in Michigan, where his commitment to advocacy took shape long before he entered a courtroom. As a student at Central Michigan University, James helped lead the effort for the university to formally recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day by canceling classes in honor of the holiday — a resolution that passed in 2004 and has continued since.

After graduation, James briefly pursued professional football. But when he was falsely accused and convicted of a crime, the experience changed the direction of his life. Fighting to clear his own name gave him a personal understanding of how devastating the criminal justice system can be when it gets things wrong. That experience became the foundation for his decision to become the kind of advocate he once needed himself.

James built his legal career around trial advocacy and the defense of people facing serious consequences. As a supervising trial attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, he handled dozens of jury trials involving assault, weapons offenses, and homicide. He also represented clients in parole revocation proceedings and sealed juvenile matters.

His work extended beyond individual cases. James was part of a legal team that helped secure a sentence reduction for a man who had served 37 years of a life sentence, and he led litigation that helped overturn the conviction and sentence of a man sentenced to life without parole.

Through years of investigating hundreds of criminal cases, James developed a deep understanding of the criminal justice system, police misconduct, civil rights violations, and the pressure people face when their freedom, reputation, or future is on the line. He has authored and argued motions that resulted in the dismissal of criminal cases prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office and the Office of the Attorney General.

James is a founding member of the Black Public Defender Association and has served on the boards of nonprofit organizations. His service has included work with the Mississippi Center for Justice assisting individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill, as well as volunteer work with the D.C. Prisoners Project.

Beyond the courtroom, James has trained public defender agencies, Criminal Justice Act panels, private attorneys, and law students. He previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, where he taught Trial Advocacy.