by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
PD program provides court experience
Recent budgets have caused government agencies to be creative as they look to provide the same service with less money and one of those creative solutions being reviewed is the “Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities” program.
The program was developed through the efforts of Public Defender Matt Shirk, Jacksonville Bar Association President Dan Bean and attorney Bill Scheu of Rogers Towers as a way to assist the Public Defender’s Office during tough economic times, provide attorneys with criminal courtroom experience and contribute pro bono hours to less fortunate members of the community.
“I approached Matt (Shirk) when he addressed the West Jacksonville Rotary about the possibility, given the budget reductions that were coming up for the program, of program that would allow private lawyers to take some misdemeanor cases to help them with the load in the Public Defender’s Office,” said Scheu. “They really pursued it with the Bar Association and its president, Dan Bean, really got involved and they put it together.”
The program is being modeled after the efforts of the Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office and its “Ensuring Equal Justice Pro Bono Initiative.”
“For those of us who are older lawyers, it would be nice to get in the courtroom,” said Scheu. “For some of the younger lawyers, it would be a great training ground for them.”
Scheu participated in the first training session Jan. 15 where Cynthia Hunold, director of the County Court Unit of the Public Defender’s Office and Kelly Naik, Hunold’s division chief, trained five local, private attorneys who are now special assistant public defenders or SAPDs. The next training class will be held in March.
“Volunteers for the Pro Bono program are provided free training from our staff. Once training is complete, they are appointed as SAPDs and given one misdemeanor case to manage,” said Shirk. “Throughout the process, they do receive assistance from our staff; secretarial, investigative and paralegals, just as any of our attorneys would have. What’s important is that they are helping a less fortunate client seek justice and allowing our paid attorneys more time to focus on the thousands of cases they already handle.”
Some of the common misdemeanor offenses include: DUI, driving while license suspended, domestic battery, battery, assault, resisting arrest without violence and reckless driving.
The cases handled by the SAPDs will be heard in the courtroom of Duval County Court Judge Eleni Derke.
One of the attorneys that will appear in Derke’s court as a participant in the “Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities” program is Michael Cavendish of the Gunster firm. Cavendish handles complex commercial litigation for Gunster, but is looking forward to getting back to his roots. He was a intern at a public defender’s office during his last year in law school.
“This office has been very proactive in trying out new ideas to help the community,” said Cavendish. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve the community.”
At the end of the training Hunold was pleased with the response for the pilot program.
“This program is a win-win-win,” said Hunold. “The client, the volunteer and the Public Defender’s Office all benefit from Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities.”
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