Dotie Joseph - Florida House District 108

Dotie Joseph is a Democratic member of the Florida Legislature representing House District 108. Born in Haiti, she moved to Florida in 1982 and grew up in North Miami, where she attended Miami-Dade public schools. She is the daughter of a pastor and a nurse, both of whom were professors. Joseph currently resides in North Miami and practices law as an attorney specializing in government and civil rights matters.

Education

Joseph earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center . During law school, she demonstrated her commitment to civil rights through internships with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and served as the 2003 Frankel Fellow for Human Rights First.

Political Experience

Joseph was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018, securing 92% of the vote. She has since been reelected multiple times, including her fourth term in 2024 without opposition.

Notable Leadership Positions:
- Minority Leader Pro Tempore , making her the first Haitian-American to hold a leadership position of Speaker, Leader, or Pro Tempore in any state or federal legislative body in the United States
- First Vice-Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party
- Past President of the Haitian Lawyers Association

Legislative Achievements:

In her freshman legislative session, Joseph passed three laws, including measures allowing domestic violence victims to qualify for unemployment compensation and legislation celebrating the centennial of women's suffrage. In December 2024, she was selected for the Future Caucus Innovation Fellowship for the 2025-2026 Civic Innovation cohort.

Other Positions and Affiliations:
- Member, City of North Miami Board of Adjustment
- Member, Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board
- Member, The Florida Bar Federal Court Practice Committee
- Youth Director and Sunday School Teacher, Eglise Beraca
- Volunteer Attorney for President Barack Obama

Recognition:
Joseph has received numerous awards, including the Dade County Bar Association Women on the Rise Award, Florida Trend Magazine's Florida Legal Elite Government Attorney recognition, and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners Woman of Substance Award.