by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
Applications for the vacant Duval County Court seat were due by noon Thursday to Judicial Nominating Commission chair Josh Whitman. The seat was made available when Linda McCallum moved to circuit court Jan. 2. Fifteen local attorneys have applied to become the newest county judge:
• A. Wellington Barlow — Private practitioner. Sixteen years as a lawyer. Began as a public defender before going solo in 1987 concentrating on personal injury and criminal defense cases.
• Kevin A. Blazs — Private practitioner. Has served as a reserve JAG officer, assistant state attorney and private practitioner representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil and criminal cases. Currently handles personal injury defense, workman’s compensation and mediations.
• Lane T. Burnett — Private practitioner. Twenty-eight years private practice; personal injury, domestic, family, criminal, administrative and mediations.
• Steven P. Combs — General master in Clay County.
• Daniel J. D’Alesio Jr. — Attorney for the Department of Community Services for the City. Twenty-six years as a Naval JAG officer. Retired in 1998 as a captain. Six years as a military trial judge overseeing 850 felony and misdemeanor cases. Handled cases including murder, drugs, larceny, robbery and military offenses.
• Ray David Jr. — Private practitioner. Has worked as a public defender and independent trial lawyer. Has covered everything from “murders to shrimp net violations.”
• Tad Delegal III — Private practitioner. General counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police and proprietor of Delegal Law Offices, P.A.
• David Gooding — Private practitioner. Spent time as a prosecutor. Has also worked on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants for personal injury cases. Other areas include contracts, construction, employment, juvenile dependency and family law. Has served as a mediator in various capacities. He is currently a partner at Kent, Crawford and Gooding, P.A.
• Russell Healey — Private practitioner. Twenty years legal experience both as assistant state attorney and private practitioner in criminal prosecution and defense cases. Has dealt in legal matters including juvenile dependency, juvenile delinquency, family law and general civil cases.
• Monica Hentschel — Assistant State Attorney. Ten years as a prosecutor in areas including homicide, environmental crimes, white collar crime, misdemeanors and sex crimes.
• Donald Mairs — Private Practitioner. Thirteen years of legal experience from assistant public defender to private trial lawyer. Has handled primarily criminal cases including murder, DUI, white collar crimes and “anything people get arrested for we’re interested in doing.”
• Moses Meide Jr. — Private practitioner. Twenty-seven years of private practice as a general practitioner. Two years in the State Attorney’s Office.
• T. Francis Shoemaker — Assistant public defender. Started as an assistant state attorney in 1990, then switched to the public defender’s office in 1993.
• Frank Tassone — Private practitioner since 1983. Joined Tassone and Eler in 1989.
• Leatrice Walton Williams — General master/child support hearing officer. Worked as a private practitioner and as a member of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid handling matters including government contracts, family law, real property, probate, consumer, guardianship, employment and education.