“Law is not law, if it violates the principles of eternal justice. All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope. “
Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) Circuit Court Judge candidate, Attorney Olanike “Nike” Adebayo, believes she is best fit to serve as a judicial leader and decision maker for our community. We discuss the importance and significance of this race, overcoming COVID-19 campaign challenges, what exactly circuit court judges do, how they affect our everyday life, her background, relevant legal experience, community impact and footprint, and more!
Adebayo’s Background/Platform (courtesy of her campaign website):
Many are called to a life of service, but very few choose to accept that calling. Olanike “Nike” Adebayo grew up as a biracial female in Chicago, Illinois. However, she first realized the calling to serve in the area of criminal justice during one of her annual visits with her father in Nigeria. During that particular visit, Nike was a firsthand witness to a crime that was reported to law enforcement, but never investigated. Even as a child, she was troubled that Nigeria’s few existing laws were not necessarily enforced. Nigeria’s law enforcement had a limited infrastructure and their legal obligations to investigate and prosecute crimes seemingly did not exist.
Upon returning to the United States, Nike realized how fortunate she was to live in a country where laws are enforced and people are held accountable for their actions. At the same time, Nike faced her own harsh reality in that she was teased and bullied because her mother was white. Nike learned at a young age to speak up for herself, which made her self-aware, strong and resilient. Dealing with both of these situations, Nike realized her calling to serve. She recognized that she would spend her life defending and upholding the law, and fighting for those who needed help. She knew then that she wanted to be a lawyer and a judge.
In Nike’s new role at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Community Outreach Division, she provided prosecutorial, law enforcement, and quality of life initiatives throughout the county. She developed training outlines and provided instruction to police officers from different municipalities, assisted in the development and implementation of the Junior State Attorney’s Program, and represented the State Attorney’s Office at meetings with elected officials, law enforcement, and concerned citizens. After working for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for more than one-half of her career, Nike decided to leave again to work as a defense attorney in order to become a well-rounded attorney.
In August 2014, Nike formed her own firm, Olanike Adebayo, P.A., and practices in the area of family law, criminal and juvenile defense, and personal injury. In December 2014, Nike joined the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Third Region of Florida as an Assistant Regional Counsel in the dependency division. Nike tirelessly represents and defends parents who have been charged of abuse, abandonment, and neglect of their children by the Department of Children and Families.