On March 22nd, 2007, Philadelphia City Council passed resolution 07020800 honoring James J. Binns for his extensive legal career and contributions to the city. A lifelong Philadelphian and alumnus of LaSalle University and Villanova School of Law, Binns has practiced law for over 43 years, specializing in white-collar defense and entertainment-related litigation. He holds licenses in 20 states and is admitted to federal courts nationwide, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Notably, he has represented high-profile clients such as Muhammad Ali and individuals involved in the Philadelphia Corruption Probe. His influence extends beyond the courtroom, having served as Boxing Commissioner and earning recognition as a member of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame.

Beyond his legal achievements, Mr. Binns is celebrated for his philanthropic efforts in Philadelphia. He has endowed scholarships and supported various local institutions, including schools, the Police Athletic League, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Most significantly, he established the Hero Plaque Program, which honors police officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty by installing plaques at the sites of their deaths. This program has commemorated over 550 fallen heroes and received national attention. The City Council formally expresses its gratitude to Mr. Binns for his enduring impact on the legal, civic, and charitable life of Philadelphia.

Read the resolution here:

Published in 2006 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine
By Bernard Edelman on May 26, 2005

What do Marvin Hagler, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson have in common? All have lost to Jimmy Binns. Not in the ring, but in the courtroom. In this arena, Binns is a champion.

An elegantly pinstriped, white-maned trial lawyer who drives a burgundy Jaguar, Binns has had a memorable 42-year career. A summary on his Web site of his legal experience runs a tight 13 pages. He is licensed to practice in 20 states and in Puerto Rico. He is admitted to all 11 Circuit Courts of Appeals. He has been lead or co-lead counsel in hundreds of antitrust, securities fraud, medical and legal malpractice, and white-collar criminal cases. He has represented several world champion boxers. He has defended 10 men charged with first-degree murder. It’s been quite a ride.

“I won one case where the prosecution had the gun, the bullets from the gun, and they had a confession,” he says in his tastefully appointed office in Blue Bell. “And I won. ‘Young man,’ the judge told my client, ‘you’re the luckiest man in the world.’”

Lucky he found Jimmy Binns.

Read the full article on SuperLawyers.com

The 18th Annual Thanksgiving Holiday Meals for Heroes Breakfast, held on November 27 at Sunnybrook Golf Club in Plymouth Meeting, PA, brought together over 400 attendees to honor the memory of first responders killed in the line of duty in the Tri-state region. Organized by Jimmy Binns, President & CEO of Holiday Meals for Heroes, the event hosted families of fallen police officers and firefighters alongside senior law enforcement officials, including Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. Representatives from the Philadelphia Police Department, Temple University Police, regional and state police departments, and federal agencies such as the FBI attended, creating the largest gathering of its kind. The event highlighted community support for the families, who received holiday dinners as part of the program.

Read more at the PA Times.

Photos By Lauren Schiavo