James was born in Clearwater, Florida, attended Skycrest Christian School, Oak Grove Middle School, Dunedin High School and graduated from Eckerd College. From 2003-2007, James was in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Adak from 2004-2005, and later in Miami as a public affairs specialist from 2005-2007.
From 2010-2011, James served at the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command under General David Petraeus in Kabul, Afghanistan as a spokesman for NATO and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Following that assignment, James returned to Tampa where he began consulting and later founded Judge Public Relations, a PR and marketing firm headquartered in Tampa.
In addition to his business work, James serves on the board of directors for Somebody Cares Tampa Bay and has also volunteered and provided services for several charities and non-profit organizations. Over the years, he has personally helped with the Homeless Empowerment Program, Frankie’s Friends, Project DYNAMO, Clearwater Historical Society and the Armed Forces Families Foundation.
In 2022, during the early days of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, James made eight trips into Ukraine to help rescue American citizens who had been abandoned by the Biden administration, including five American babies, one British baby, and an American civilian, who was a victim of war crimes committed by Russian forces.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ian, James deployed to Southwest Florida captaining his boat, the Slice of Life, to conduct the first maritime rescues in the wake of Hurricane Ian.
James helped lead multiple rescue boats and a team made up of former Navy SEALs, Army and Coast Guard veterans to carry out the rescue of more than 40 people in need of evacuation from Pine Island and Sanibel Island. They conducted wellness checks and offered assistance to countless more. James and the team also rescued approximately 300 animals, including 275 parrots, two lemurs, and more than a dozen cats and dogs, transporting them safely off the bridgeless islands.
Locally in the Tampa Bay area, James is also known for his involvement as one of the six original organizers, and former spokesman, for the Skyway 10k. To date, the Skyway 10K has raised nearly $3 million for military families with 100 percent of registration fees being donated to the Armed Forces Families Foundation.
In 2015, James married his wife, Danielle.
The Judges are avid animal lovers and together, they have dogs, cats, cows, goats, horses and chickens.
James proudly belongs to and supports the American Legion, Association of the United States Army, Coastal Conservation Association, National Rifle Association, Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa Propeller Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
James and Danielle are also long-time, active members at Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa.
