J. COURTNEY CUNNINGHAM
Civil-Rights Attorney. Appellate Advocate. Defender of Equal Access.
For nearly four decades, I have worked to protect civil rights and ensure that the promises of our nation’s civil-rights laws are meaningful in people’s everyday lives.
My practice is devoted to representing individuals and families whose rights have been violated under the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related civil-rights laws. I represent people who have experienced housing discrimination, disability discrimination, inaccessible public services and businesses, and unequal treatment because of race, national origin, familial status, or disability.
I am particularly drawn to cases that challenge systemic discrimination and have the potential to change the law. I have successfully argued three civil-rights appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, obtaining reversals of district-court decisions and helping expand access to the courts for individuals seeking to enforce their civil rights.
My clients are not simply case files. Each person has a story about what happened, how it affected their life, and why it was wrong. My responsibility is to understand that story, connect it to the law, and present it with clarity and conviction—whether in negotiation, in a courtroom, or on appeal.
If you’re facing discrimination, don’t suffer in silence. Tell me your story. Together, we can fight for the fair treatment you deserve.
A Career in Civil Rights and Public Service
My commitment to disability rights began long before I opened my law firm. During the administration of President George H.W. Bush, I served in the United States Department of Labor, where I handled legislative and regulatory matters involving the Wage and Hour Division, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
I also participated in the administration’s legislative efforts concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act. That experience gave me an early understanding of both the purposes behind the ADA and the essential role that private enforcement plays in transforming civil rights guarantees into practical protections.
Today, my firm continues that work by representing individuals confronting discrimination in housing, public accommodations, government programs, and digital spaces. I have litigated civil-rights cases throughout Florida’s federal courts and have pursued claims against landlords, condominium associations, property-management companies, businesses, and governmental entities.
A Personal Commitment to Disability Rights
My work is also deeply personal. My son has autism, and I have seen the obstacles faced by people with disabilities and their families in a world that is not always prepared to recognize or accommodate them.
That experience has shaped how I practice law. It has taught me to listen carefully, to understand the human consequences of discrimination, and to recognize that an accommodation that may appear minor to someone else can profoundly affect a person’s independence, dignity, and ability to participate in community life.
People should not have to accept discrimination or remain silent when their rights are violated. They deserve to be heard, treated with dignity, and given a meaningful opportunity to seek justice.
Leadership in the Federal Bar
I served as President of the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, one of the country’s leading voluntary organizations for attorneys practicing in the federal courts.
During my presidency, I created and launched Nothing but the Truth, a judicial-civics initiative featuring federal judges discussing the Constitution, the rule of law, and the role of the courts in American democracy. The initiative was subsequently recognized as an official mission project of the Federal Bar Association.
My work with the FBA has also included programs supporting law students, mentoring younger attorneys, strengthening relationships between the bench and bar, promoting professionalism and civility, and encouraging lawyer and judicial well-being.
I also serve on the National Fair Housing Alliance’s Enforcement Advisory Committee, contributing my experience to the broader national effort to eliminate housing discrimination and promote equal housing opportunity.
Prepared to Tell Your Story
Civil-rights litigation requires more than knowledge of statutes and cases. It requires preparation, judgment, persistence, and the ability to tell a compelling and truthful story about what happened.
I have successfully resolved many cases through negotiation and settlement. When litigation is necessary, however, I am prepared to pursue the case in federal court and, when required, through the appellate process.
If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, disability discrimination, or the denial of equal access, I invite you to contact my office. We will listen to your story, evaluate your legal options, and determine the most effective path forward.
Bar Admissions
The Florida Bar
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Florida Levin College of Law
Bachelor of Arts, University of Florida
Leadership and Professional Service
Immediate Past President, Federal Bar Association, South Florida Chapter
National Delegate, Federal Bar Association
Member, National Fair Housing Alliance Enforcement Advisory Committee
Disability Rights Bar Association
Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter, National Bar Association
Wilkie D. Ferguson Bar Association