Patrick Noll Harris

Patrick Harris is a retired judge (2003-2015) now serving as a lawyer in Central Florida. His practice (Harris Law Firm) focus includes Criminal, Traffic and DUI Defense, Mental Health (Baker Acts, Guardianship), Education Law (school suspensions, expulsions and disciplinary actions), Administrative Law, Small Business Law, and Child and Family Law.  His 25 years of legal experience, both as a trial attorney and a judge, gives him the Legal Knowledge and Practical Wisdom to give Trusted Advice on a wide range of legal issues.

During his tenure on the bench, Mr. Harris presided over a docket that consisted of both criminal and civil cases. He created the first adult Mental Health Court in his central Ohio County.  In 2012 Judge Harris was selected by the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court to be one of two Ohio Judges to attend the National Judicial College’s first Theory and Practice of Judicial Leadership training in Reno, Nevada.

Mr. Harris teaches lawyers, law students and judges. As National Judicial College faculty, he has taught advanced evidence and case management to judges from across the United States.  On a more local level he has also taught courses in electronic evidence to the Florida Circuit Court Judges Association, and 5th and 6th amendment law (suppressing statements) to Florida attorney’s seeking their Criminal Trial Certification.   Currently he teaches trial advocacy (how to perform a trial in court) at the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando.

Mr. Harris began his legal career at the Athens County and Fairfield County Child Support Enforcement Agencies, from 1992-1996, where he assisted families in establishing and collecting court ordered child support.  Later, he worked as an assistant prosecutor.  In 2000, Mr. Harris was selected to be the first County Administrator for the Fairfield County Board of County Commissioners where he served for three years.

Mr. Harris is a 1985 graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he received a BS in Computer Science and Math, and a 1991 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Law.  He is admitted to practice law in both Florida and Ohio.