James Leonard Bacchus (born June 21, 1949) is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida from 1991 to 1995. He was a founding member and twice chairman of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland from 1995 to 2003. He later became a fellow of the European Institute for International Law and International Relations. Early life and career Bacchus earned an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Arts in History from Yale University, and a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law, where he was editor-in-chief of the FSU Law Review. From 1968 to 1973, Bacchus was a reporter and columnist for the Orlando Sentinel in Florida and Washington. From 1964 to 1967, he was a reporter for the Sanford Herald in Florida. He has enlisted service in the United States Army, the United States Army Reserve, the Connecticut National Guard, and the Florida National Guard, 1971-1977. From 1968 to 1973. Bacchus was Deputy Press Secretary and Chief Speechwriter for Florida Governor Reubin Askew from 1974 to 1976. He became Askew's special assistant from 1979 to 1981, after Askew was appointed U.S. Trade Representative. He served as Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body from 2001 to 2003. He was an attorney and partner with Akerman Senterfitt & Eidson, Orlando in Florida from 1984 to 1990. He was an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, P.A. in Miami, Florida in 1979 and again from 1981 to 1982. He later co-authored the “Sunshine Amendment” to the Florida Constitution for open and ethical government. This led to later roles addressing the nexus of economic and environmental issues as general counsel to Florida’s state growth planning commission and as chairman of community development efforts in his hometown of Orlando. Tenure in Congress In 1990, Bacchus was elected as a member of the Democratic Party to represent Florida's 11th congressional district in the 102nd Congress and Florida's 15th congressional district in the 103rd Congress in 1992. His districts included Orlando, Cape Canaveral, and much of East Central Florida. Bacchus was an active member of Congressional committees on science, space, technology, banking, and other financial services. He also served as a member of the select committee on children. He was a lead sponsor and supporter of the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, the successful repair mission