Meredith Charbula
Michael Fackler
Crystal Freed
Jennifer Mansfield
By mid-October, Gov. Rick Scott will select an attorney who will become the next judge on the Duval County Court.
Eighteen candidates applied and 17 were interviewed by the 4th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, which submitted six candidates to Scott on Aug. 14 for his evaluation.
Each applicant completed a 53-item questionnaire, provided professional and personal references and financial disclosure documents that the commissioners reviewed before the candidates were interviewed.
Here’s a look at some of the factors that qualified the selected candidates from their applications:
4th Judicial Circuit assistant public defender and Capital Crimes Unit division chief
Groups: Member of The Jacksonville Bar Association Board of Governors 4th Judicial Circuit and JBA Professionalism Committees
Education: University of North Florida, 1994; Florida Coastal School of Law, 1999
Admitted to The Florida Bar: 2001
Birthplace: Jacksonville
Current practice: Criminal defense attorney, Capital Crimes Unit division chief
Cases tried to verdict or judgment: 32 jury, 6 nonjury, 1 administrative body
Previous nonlegal jobs: Sales at Karl’s Clothiers; bartender and server at South Beach Grille; substitute teacher and coach at Sandalwood High School
Hobbies: Reading, University of Florida football, gardening
4th Judicial Circuit assistant state attorney
Groups: Former chair of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure Committee
Education: Tarleton State University, 1979; Florida State University College of Law, 1979
Admitted to The Florida Bar: 1987
Birthplace: Port Lavaca, Texas
Current practice: Criminal trial and appellate law prosecution
Cases tried to verdict or judgment: 46 jury, 100 nonjury, 1 administrative body
Previous nonlegal jobs: Military police officer, U.S. Army
Hobbies: Reading, home projects, hiking and music
Shareholder, Milam, Nicandree, Gillam & Renner
Groups: Former president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
Education: Northwestern University, 1993; University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2002
Admitted to The Florida Bar: 2002
Birthplace: Atlanta
Current practice: General commercial litigation
Cases tried to verdict or judgment: 0 jury, 1 nonjury, 2 arbitration
Previous nonlegal jobs: College bookstore clerk, U.S. Peace Corps, international education coordinator
Hobbies: Reading, basketball Ultimate Frisbee, University of Alabama football
President of The Freed Firm
Groups: Former chair of The Jacksonville Bar Association Human Rights Committee
Education: Florida Atlantic University, 1999; Georgetown University Law Center, 2003
Admitted to The Florida Bar: 2003
Birthplace: Trinidad & Tobago
Current practice: Representing victims of human trafficking and child exploitation
Cases tried to verdict or judgment: None
Previous nonlegal jobs: Warranty claims payment specialist and assistant manager, restaurant owner and operator
Hobbies: None listed
Partner, Holland & Knight
Groups: Vice chair of The Florida Bar Rules of Judicial Administration Committee Subcommittee D, former chair of The Florida Bar Media & Communications Law Committee
Education: Northwestern University, 1991; University of Miami School of Law, 1999
Admitted to The Florida Bar: 1999
Birthplace: Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Current practice: Commercial litigation
Cases tried to verdict or judgment: 3 jury, 16 nonjury, 1 arbitration, 1 administrative body
Previous nonlegal jobs: Credit union teller, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer Coordinator, office automation clerk
Hobbies: Community volunteer, woodworking, furniture repair, photography
President, Rhonda Peoples-Waters PA
Groups: Chair of The Florida Bar Grievance Committee C, past president of D.W. Perkins Bar Association, past president of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Board of Directors
Education: Fisk University, 1996; University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1999
Admitted to The Florida Bar: 1999
Birthplace: Great Lakes, Illinois
Current practice: Criminal law and personal injury
Cases tried to verdict or judgment: More than 50 jury, more than 25 nonjury, 4 administrative body
Previous nonlegal jobs: None
Hobbies: Reading, movies, traveling, football and church involvement
