Profile

Aramis Ayala is an award-winning civil rights advocate, cancer survivor, and former Florida State Attorney who has dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice. As Florida’s first Black State Attorney and a fierce opponent of the death penalty, she made national headlines because of her commitment to criminal justice reform. Prior to running for office Aramis served as a homicide, major crimes, and special victims unit prosecutor. She has also held positions as an Assistant Public Defender and an adjunct professor of law at Florida A&M University School of Law. Aramis has appeared frequently on television as a legal analyst and served as the chairperson of the Citizens Police Review Board for the City of Orlando. She is a past president of several local and state bar associations and served as a Florida Bar Board of Governors Ex-Officio Member.

On a national level she was the regional director for the National Bar Association and was appointed to chair the Pro Bono and Public Service Committee of the National Bar Association. Aramis received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Michigan, Master of Science from University of Central Florida, and Juris Doctor from University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law.

Juris Doctor
University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law

• Recidivism and reentry
• Sentencing disparities within different racial and gender groups
• Historical roots of mass incarceration
• Relationship between police and marginalized communities

• NAACP Civil Rights Champion of Justice Award (2017)
• Named an Agent of Change by the American Bar Association (2019)
• 2020 Bipartisan Justice Center Trailblazer Award (2019)
• Keynote Speaker- National Congress Against Death Penalty, Brussels, Belgium (2019)
• President’s Award National Black Prosecutors Association (2018)

• National Bar Association
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• National Black Prosecutors Association