Assistant State Attorney Todd Conklin Jr. received the 2025 Rookie of the Year Award from State Attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit Melissa Nelson.
An ASA since fall 2023, Conklin grew up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and went on to attend the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating in 2023.
During his time in law school, he won a trial advocacy national championship at the Florida National Trial Advocacy Tournament. Conklin also was elected chairman of the University of Mississippi School of Law Trial Advocacy Board.
State Attorney Harry Shorstein and his then Chief Assistant (now Senior U.S. District Judge) Brian Davis created the award in 1991. It recognizes a young lawyer who has demonstrated outstanding skill during their first few years as a prosecutor.
Previous recipients of the award include Tad Delegal in 1992, now in private practice and a past president of the Jacksonville Bar Association. David Thompson, a member of the JBA board of governors received the award in 2010.
Other former assistant state attorneys who were recognized as Rookie of the Year include Circuit Judges John Guy (1994), Tatiana Salvador (1995), Angela Cox (2001), London Kite (2004), Anthony Salem (2011), Duval County Judge Mose Floyd (2001) and 2026 Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Sam Garrison (2003).