Aramis Ayala
When Historic Leadership Meets Criminal Justice Reform
Aramis Ayala, Florida’s first Black State Attorney and current Executive Director of Fair and Just Prosecution, approached us during her groundbreaking tenure as prosecutor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and her subsequent 2022 Attorney General campaign. With a career spanning roles as homicide prosecutor, public defender, and law professor, Ayala made national headlines for her principled opposition to the death penalty and commitment to evidence-based criminal justice reform.
We developed compelling video pieces that showcased Ayala’s courageous leadership in the face of political opposition and her vision for a more equitable justice system. Our civil rights storytelling approach emphasized her transformation from traditional prosecutor to reform advocate, helping voters understand how her experience with both prosecution and defense creates a more comprehensive approach to public safety that prioritizes victim services, police accountability, and successful reentry programs.
Aramis Ayala
When Historic Leadership Meets Criminal Justice Reform
Aramis Ayala, Florida’s first Black State Attorney and current Executive Director of Fair and Just Prosecution, approached us during her groundbreaking tenure as prosecutor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and her subsequent 2022 Attorney General campaign. With a career spanning roles as homicide prosecutor, public defender, and law professor, Ayala made national headlines for her principled opposition to the death penalty and commitment to evidence-based criminal justice reform.
We developed compelling video pieces that showcased Ayala’s courageous leadership in the face of political opposition and her vision for a more equitable justice system. Our civil rights storytelling approach emphasized her transformation from traditional prosecutor to reform advocate, helping voters understand how her experience with both prosecution and defense creates a more comprehensive approach to public safety that prioritizes victim services, police accountability, and successful reentry programs.
Capturing Prosecutorial Courage
Our primary video centered on Ayala in her State Attorney office, filming during case review sessions where her commitment to evidence-based prosecution becomes evident. We captured her reviewing victim services programs and reentry initiatives, with afternoon light filtering through office windows as she discussed her philosophy that true public safety requires addressing root causes of crime. The setting reinforced her prosecutorial credentials – this wasn’t political posturing, but principled leadership in action. We kept our approach professional: natural lighting, respectful camera work, letting Ayala explain how her decision to end death penalty prosecutions allowed her office to redirect resources toward victim support and community safety programs that actually reduce crime.
Demonstrating Civil Rights Leadership
The second video required capturing Ayala’s broader vision for criminal justice reform and civil rights advocacy beyond her prosecutorial role. We filmed at Florida A&M University College of Law where she taught, capturing the educational environment where her commitment to training the next generation of reform-minded lawyers becomes evident. The challenge was showing how her experience as a cancer survivor and civil rights advocate shapes her approach to justice without losing the authentic conviction that drives her reform agenda. We focused on genuine moments: Ayala reviewing legal scholarship on prosecutorial discretion, her natural ability to explain complex constitutional principles, the personal determination evident when she discusses standing up to political pressure to protect constitutional rights and equal justice under law.
