Angela Corey is an assistant state attorney. She has been with the office for 20 years.
WHY SIGN ON WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE?
“I wanted to come here out of law school, but I was not certified yet.”
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I have been prosecuting homicides and other cases for about 15 years, but my primary responsibility the past six has been homicide prosecution. I still supervise the attorneys that handle other crimes and the felony division.”
MURDER, MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE
“Early on when I was prosecuting homicides, I got some unbelievably interesting cases; they were very complicated. Some of them are just heart-wrenching. The cases get hold of you and it’s very difficult not to get emotional involved.”
WHAT OTHER AREAS DO YOU ENJOY?
“Repeat offender court is a blast. It’s the one place where you try good cases and the sentencing stakes are high. I look to put away habitual and violent offenders for a long time.”
WHAT WORK DID YOU DO BEFORE?
For a year and a half, Corey specialized in medical malpractice defense work with the firm of Howell & Howell (a retired chief judge and his son). Prior to that, Corey was contracted to conduct legal research out of the Orange Park area while she was studying for The Florida Bar exam.
WHY GO INTO LAW?
“When I was at FSU I had two business law professors that I loved. They both thought I would be good with law. I was a business major at the time and had every intention of continuing with that but I took the LSAT.”
WHAT CONVINCED YOU?
“The challenge of it. Getting into law school was an accomplishment. I felt if I wanted to return to the business world I could use a law degree to do so.”
ANY REGRETS?
“Without a doubt the most rewarding part is helping victims get through the system. I can’t always give each victim what they want — the maximum sentence or full monetary restitution — but I can make sure their constitutional rights are safeguarded.”
UP AGAINST THE BIG DOGS
“It’s challenging trying a tough case against a really good defense lawyer. But I’m a firm believer in sincerity and believing in the case is what convinces jurors. My strategy is putting everything in front of the jury and pulling it all together for them in the closing arguments.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
CURRENT RESIDENCE
Southside.
SOAP BOX
Corey’s neighborhood is fighting the proposed overpass at University and Atlantic boulevards. “It’s still a very residential area and is loved by the residents. It’s like a fishing village. If they do anything to ruin that, it would be a tragedy.”
AFFILIATIONS
Corey is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville, a lifelong member of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, on the Duval County School Board Criminal Justice Advisory Committee and part of the Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated.
JAGUARS JUNKIE
A season ticket holder since the inception of the Jaguars, Corey has only missed one game over the years. Watching NFL teams are a passion for her. She also likes cooking for friends, browsing for antiques, re-reading her favorite novel, “The Prince of Tides or tuning into “Law & Order.”
HOW DIFFERENT ARE CRIME STORIES FROM WHAT YOU DO?
“What’s most accurate [with Law & Order] is how the police and prosecution work together. That is very much like real life here.”
AN APPLE FOR TEACHER
Many schools are venues for Corey to serve as an adjunct professor. They include the University of North Florida, where she teaches interrogation in conjunction with the Institute of Police Technology and Management, Florida Community College at Jacksonville through the Northeast Florida Criminal Justice Training Center and the Florida Police Corps where she trains police cadets in search and seizure, interviewing, laws of arrest and courtroom demeanor.
WHOM DO YOU ADMIRE?
“I have the utmost admiration for [attorney] Ed Booth Sr. He is well-respected, intelligent and such a gentleman, yet firm in his dealings. I consider him a mentor.
—by Monica Chamness