James Odell is an attorney with the Institute for Justice. Before joining IJ, James worked in private practice, representing plaintiffs in civil rights cases in both Wisconsin and Florida. His practice focused on representing individuals who had their Fourth Amendment rights violated by police officers and protecting prisoners from unconstitutional abuse. 

Before private practice, James was a public defender in Miami-Dade County for ten years. As a public defender, James represented hundreds of indigent clients facing serious charges through every stage of the criminal process. Over the course of his career, James has tried over thirty jury trials and handled hundreds of appeals. 

James is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law and the University of Florida. He is licensed to practice in Wisconsin and Florida. 

Jimmy's Cases