Roy Black was a Miami-based criminal defense lawyer who was a legend in his own right and is regarded as the best in the courtroom, and is known as The Professor due to his analytical ability and background as a teacher.
Throughout a 50-year career, he was to become one of the most respected trial lawyers in America, defending high-profile clients and securing groundbreaking acquittals. His poised, authoritative demeanor in the court of law earned him the reputation of being a popular celebrity, politician, and controversial figure advocate. The death of Black in July 2025 represented the closing of a chapter in criminal defense law.
Roy Black Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Roy Black |
| Birth Date: | February 17, 1945 |
| Aged | 80 |
| Birthplace: | New York City, USA |
| Parents | – |
| Wife: | Lea Black |
Early Life
Roy Black was born on the 17th of February, 1945, in New York City, and spent his childhood learning to cope with personal transformation following the divorce of his parents and the relocation of his family with his mother and her new husband to Jamaica. A brilliant student, he received his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Miami, graduating at the top of his class and passing the Florida bar exam with the best possible score.
He had spent several years at the beginning of his career as a Miami-Dade public defender before moving into the fields of private practice and academia. Black was also a lecturer in criminal evidence at his former institution and would go on to mentor students and his colleagues even in later life.
Roy Black Career
Roy Black was a lawyer with a career of more than 50 years and a reputation for being one of the strongest defense lawyers in the United States. His professional career started as a public defender in the county of Miami-Dade, where he made an immediate impression with his intellectual sharpness and the powerful presence he exerted in the court. Assuming a private practice, Black achieved the most famous moment of his career when he successfully defended William Kennedy Smith in a high-profile rape trial in 1991.
His acquittal propelled him into the national scene and established a career in which he has defended high-profile clients, including Rush Limbaugh, Helio Castroneves, and Justin Bieber. His work on the Jeffrey Epstein case attracted both accolades and criticism, highlighting his readiness to take on complicated and high-profile legal cases. Besides his success in the court, Black was also passionate about legal education and mentorship.
He was a professor of criminal evidence at the University of Miami School of Law, where he taught with a clarity based on experience. He also trained young lawyers in his firm, Black Srebnick, in Miami, and established a record of quality and ethics. Black has provided legal commentary on television during high-profile trials around the country and has even starred in a reality show on NBC called The Law Firm, which had him judge the performances of aspiring lawyers in actual court settings.
Roy Black gained his legacy as an expert trial lawyer and an avid proponent of justice through teaching, media appearances, and landmark cases. Social Media Presence Although Black was already famous long before the advent of social media, his memory remains alive with references in legal education boards and tribute pages by peers and media personalities. He did not participate in social media himself, but his intellectual output and memorable interviews are shared extensively on platforms devoted to the history of law and excellence in the courtroom.
Personal Life
Roy Black got married three times in his life. In 1984, he tied the knot with Naomi Morris Black. They had one daughter together named Nora Black, who works as a psychotherapist in San Francisco. A decade later, in 1994, he married Lea Black. She had served as a juror during the William Kennedy Smith trial.
Roy and Lea started dating a few months after that case ended. Lea later became known for her role on The Real Housewives of Miami. They have a son named RJ. He sometimes appeared on the show with his parents, including in one second-season episode where they talked about one of Roy’s cases.
Roy Black Net Worth
Roy Black had an estimated net worth of between $65 million and $100 million at the time of his death based on his lucrative criminal defense practice and celebrity client base, media commentary work, and university teaching.
His monetary successes were not only a sign of his status as a first-rate legal thinker but also of his skill at handling thorny, high-stakes cases throughout his long career.