LEGAL EXPERIENCE:

Private Practice, 1984 to present

Extensive civil and criminal defense litigation experience with an emphasis on pre-suit negotiations;

adoption representation of individuals in independent, step-parent and agency placements;

represented the Code Enforcement Boards of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach, Florida;

local counsel for Walton Bondurant, Attorney, Portsmouth, Virginia specializing in the representation of Federal Employment Liability Act claims of injured railroad personnel.

Since 1987, the firm has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating for ethical standards and legal ability and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Assistant State Attorney, 1982 – 1984
 

Ed Austin, State Attorney, 330 East Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL.
 

Duties:

Prosecution of felonies and misdemeanors in the county, circuit and juvenile courts of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida;

Lead attorney in hundreds of prosecutorial decisions;

Lead attorney in approximately 50 jury trials and  numerous non jury trials including all phases of pre-trial case management.

Assistant Public Defender, 1980 – 1982

Milo Thomas, Public Defender, Lake City, FL.
 

Duties:

Defense of individuals charged with felonies and misdemeanors in the county, circuit and juvenile courts of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Florida; 

Aggressively defended clientele at trial and at all pre trial court appearances;

Lead attorney in approximately 15 to 20 jury trials.

Staff Attorney, Tidewater Legal Aid, Norfolk, VA,  1978 – 1980
 

Duties:

Representation of income eligible clientele in the areas of family, housing and consumer law;

Litigation experience in chancery, general civil and juvenile courts of Norfolk, VA and Federal Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor, 1977 - University of Richmond, T. C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Virginia.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1974 – graduated magna cum laude – Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia;

Honors Thesis Topic: 

Attitudes of Organizational Women to Women Seeking Elected Office

Associate of Arts, Liberal arts, 1972 - Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford,  Georgia.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP:

Member, Florida Bar

Member, Virginia State Bar
Admitted to Practice: Eastern District of Virginia, Federal Court
 

Admitted to Practice:  Middle District of Florida, Federal Court
 

Member, Jacksonville Bar
Member, Jacksonville Women’s Bar Association

COMMUNITY SERVICE

President, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Jacksonville, FL, 1994;

Leadership of the organization during resignation of former Executive Director of 20 years;

Hiring of current Executive Director.

Member, Board of Directors, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, 1988 to 1994;

Participated in leading JALA during significant budget cuts which involved finding alternative sources of funding.

Member, Board of Directors, Pastoral Counseling Services, 2001 to present;

Member, Board of Directors, Children’s International Summer Village (CISV), 2007 to present;

CISV is an international organization, apolitical and non sectarian, devoted to building global friendships. 

Member, Friends of the Library, Jacksonville, FL, 2005 to present

Member, Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, 1987 to present

Member, Sanctuary Rebuilding Task Force, Hendricks Avenue Baptist;

Includes 11 other dedicated members appointed by the Coordinating Council to rebuild the main sanctuary destroyed by fire on December 23, 2007.