Fax: 305-622-6484
The Assistant City Attorney provides legal advice, support, and direction to the City Council and City staff in their capacity of performing official City duties.
Biography
Prior to pursuing a career in the legal field, Zachary Stokes was simply a young Miami Gardens resident who participated in optimist sports and matured within the community. For most of his adolescence, Mr. Stokes competed in optimist football on the grounds of Miami Norland Senior High School for the North Dade Bulldogs Football Team.
His interest in law began at his alma mater, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, where he participated in student court and civil debate competitions. Mr. Stokes continued to pursue this interest by graduating from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 2016. He then enrolled in St. Thomas University School of Law in 2017.
During law school, Mr. Stokes was granted an opportunity to intern with the City of Miami Gardens City Attorney’s Office. This internship exposed him to the reality, practice, and daily tasks of a municipal attorney. He drafted motions and memorandums of law that benefitted the daily operations of the City of Miami Gardens and also learned how to adequately represent Miami Gardens within the City Chambers and in South Florida courtrooms.
Mr. Stokes also served as an executive board member for the Honorable Peter R. Palermo Mentorship program. This program was responsible for guiding Miami Carol City Senior High School students interested in a future legal career. Mr. Stokes assisted the students with formulating effective arguments pertaining to Federal and State laws in preparation for high school civil debate and legal competitions. He would then graduate from St. Thomas University School of Law with his Jurist Doctor degree in 2020.
Mr. Stokes is excited to be the newest member of the City of Miami Gardens and the City of Miami Gardens City Attorney’s Office team and looks forward to continuing to make Miami Gardens the best city in South Florida.