J. Cheney Mason has enjoyed an illustrious career representing the underdog. After finding himself living on his own at 16, Mason joined the military, serving in the Far East and earning his GED. Following his military service, he earned his Bachelor and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida. After admission to The Florida Bar in 1971, Mason began his private law practice in Orlando. He quickly built a reputation for his strong work ethic, integrity and passion for justice. His areas of practice include Criminal Defense, Marital and Family Law (Divorce Law), and Trial Practice, with a strong emphasis on Marital and Family Law and Criminal Law. He is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, certified by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Over his 52-year career, Cheney represented several high-profile clients, including mob boss Harlan “The Colonel” Blackburn, and Major Aaron Campbell, the Black Miami-Dade police officer who was stopped and harassed by two white police officers for failure to signal a lane change. In the suit Campbell filed against the police force, Cheney’s closing argument was “Ladies and gentleman, Aaron Campbell is guilty of … driving while black!” which became a mantra used in cases all over the country and led to Cheney being asked to address the congressional black caucus in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Mason gained national acclaim as criminal defense attorney representing Casey Anthony in her sensational 2011 trial. The highly charged case drew media from around the world and Cheney and his associates were frequently the target of death threats. The eventual acquittal of Casey Anthony in 2011 drew even fiercer backlash. The details of this case can be found in his first book, “Justice in America: How Prosecutors and the Media Conspire against the Accused.”

Following the trial, Mason was frequently asked by national news media to provide expert commentary on legal issues involving criminal law and marital and family law. The press also conferred upon Cheney special recognition for his skills, reputation, and expertise as a lawyer by naming him as a “Top Lawyer” on numerous occasions. He received national news coverage on ABC’s Nightline, Piers Morgan, Fox News, NBC’s Today Show, NBC’s Dateline, CBS’ 48 Hours and Court TV. Cheney has also tried several additional criminal jury trials that were televised by national and local news media.

Mr. Mason is the recipient of numerous awards from a variety of professional organizations for his dedication to and accomplishments in the legal profession. In 2004, he was awarded the Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. This is “NACDL’s most prestigious award given annually to one criminal defense attorney who best exemplifies the goals and values of the Association and the legal profession.” He was also awarded the prestigious Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Goldstein Award in 2022. He served as a delegate to United Nations at Vienna, Austria as a NGO representative of the NACDL at their International symposium on human trafficking. He’s been profiled in Orlando Magazine as one of the Attorneys You Can Trust, Six of Orlando’s Legal Legends.

Active in numerous local and national legal organizations, Cheney volunteered his time to teach trial techniques to young Prosecutors and Public Defenders at the annual workshop at the University of Florida, College of Law. He is frequently a guest lecturer before various Bar and Legal Associations and has published numerous legal articles.