Dorothy Clay Sims

Sims was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was raised in Owensboro, Kentucky and Sarasota, Florida. Sims is one of three children, and the only daughter of Benham Sims, Jr., a Southern Bell worker, and Dorothy Brown, a Head Start teacher. Sims has two younger brothers: Benham Sims, III (a lawyer in Louisville, Kentucky) and David Sims (d. March, 2014). Her grandfather is Kentucky politician and civil rights activist John Y. Brown, Sr. and her uncle is former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown, Jr.. Sims' cousins include former Kentucky Secretary of State John Y. Brown, III and Journalist Pamela Brown.

In 2010, Sims was approached by Jose Baez and Cheney Mason in Orlando, Florida after giving a death penalty seminar on cross examining expert witnesses. She agreed to join the defense team pro bono, and worked as the team's forensic testimony expert. Anthony was acquitted on July 5, 2011.

Since 2000, Sims has lectured at law schools and conducted seminars at various legal and governmental organizations around the world.

Sims began her career representing injured workers in North Florida. She co-founded and served as chair of Florida Workers' Advocates: Florida's only statewide injured worker advocacy organization. In 1999 she was elected the first female president of the Florida Bar Association Worker's Compensation Section. She remains a lifetime emeritus member. From 2003 to 2004, Sims served as the president of the Marion County Bar Association.

Dorothy Clay Sims (born 1957) is an American lawyer and nationally-renowned expert in medical expert cross examination. She is best known for her pro bono contributions to the defense and acquittal of Casey Anthony.