J. Cheney Mason

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.

Education

  • University of Florida, B.A., 1968
  • University of Florida, J.D., 1970
 

Bar Admissions

  • The Florida Bar, 1971
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1972
  • United States Supreme Court, 1975
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1976
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Florida (Trial Bar), 1978
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1984
 

Specialty Designations

  • Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, The Florida Bar 
  • Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
 

Awards and Special Recognition

  • Orange County Bar Association, Outstanding Section Chairman, Family Law; 1983-1984
  • Florida State University, Litigation Skill Training Instructor Award, 1987
  • Attorneys You Can Trust, Six of Orlando’s Legal Legends. Orlando Magazine, 1997
  • Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, Distinguished Leadership Award for Service from 1988-1999
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, In Your Face Award, 2000
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award, 2004
  • American Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2007
  • Orlando’s Best Lawyers, Orlando Magazine, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Florida’s Top Lawyers, Florida Monthly, 2008
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President’s Commendation Award, 2008
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2006, 2010, 2011
  • Attorney of the Month, Attorney at Law Magazine, February 2012
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Goldstein Award, 2022
  • Served as a delegate to United Nations at Vienna, Austria as a NGO representative of the NACDL at their International symposium on human trafficking

 

Author

  • Justice in America – How Prosecutors and the Media Conspire Against the Accused (2014 TitleTown Publishing)
  • “Double Jeopardy and Collateral Estoppel”, Special Problems in Criminal Law, Florida Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, 1978
  • “Harmless Error”, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter, 1991
  • “Theory of the Defense”, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter, 1992
  • “Spouse Abuse – The Other Victim”, The Florida Bar Journal, October, 1994
  • “Practical Advocacy for Domestic Violence Cases”, The Florida Bar Journal, 1997
  • “Theory of the Defense”, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2008
  • “Theory of the Defense”, Florida Public Defenders Association, 2008

Lecturer

  • Lecturer for Annual Criminal Law Seminars, Orange County Bar Association, 1978-1983
  • Litigation Skill Training Instructor, Florida State University, 1987
  • Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Seminar, 1987-1988
  • Annual Seminars, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Miami Chapter, 1991, 1992
  • Annual Lecturer, Trial Training Faculty, Florida Bar Prosecutor/Public Defender Workshop, 1981- 1999
  • “Theory of the Defense”, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1998
  • “Theory of the Defense”, Lorman Institute, 2000
  • “Theory of the Defense”, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Seminar, 2008
  • “Theory of the Defense”, Florida Public Defenders Association Seminar, 2008

 

Professional Organization Leadership Positions

  • Orange County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section; Chairman, 1978-1979
  • The Florida Bar, Legislative Committee; 1978-1980
  • Ninth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee; 1978-1981; Vice Chairman, 1981
  • The Florida Bar, Ethics Committee; 1979-1981
  • Orange County Bar Association, Executive Council, 1979-1983
  • Central Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys Association; Vice President, 1979; President, 1980-1981
  • Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section; Chairman, 1982-1984
  • The Florida Bar Criminal Law Certification Committee; 1984-1986
  • The Florida Bar, Criminal Law Section Executive Council; 1984-1994
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Board of Directors, 1988-1993; Treasurer, 1993; Secretary, 1994; Vice President, 1995; President Elect, 1996; President, 1997-1998
  • The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, 1987- 1999; Vice Chairman, 1995-1996; Chairman, 1998-1999
  • Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Criminal Law Section; Chairman, 1988-1989
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Board of Directors, 2001 – 2008
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Membership Committee, Member, 1997 – 2008; Chairman, 2000 – 2008
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; NGO Delegate in attendance to the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s 12th Session of the Commission on Crime and Criminal Justice, Vienna, Austria, 2003
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Investment Committee, Member, 2006 – 2009

 

Membership Affiliations

  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Life Member
  • American Board of Criminal Lawyers, Fellow
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • Central Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • The Florida Bar, Member
  • Orange County Bar Association, Member
  • Disabled American Veterans, Life Member