The Rise, Fall, and Disbarment of Florida's Worst Chief Public Defender w/Andrew Pantazi

Jul 11

Today, Hunter is joined by journalist Andrew Pantazi to tell the story of Florida’s worst Chief Public Defender, Matt Shirk. For more than a decade, Andrew and his colleagues have been covering the story of Shirk who served two terms as Jacksonville’s elected public defender. During his time as the chief, Shirk oversaw a systemic practice of sexual harassment, drove out some his best attorneys and replaced them with his incompetent or unqualified friends, and attempted to get his juvenile client tried as an adult. Mercifully, Shirk was recently disbarred, but how did he come to this position, how did he stay there, why did it take so long for accountability to come, and ultimately, what does this say about public defense in Florida? All that and more in today’s episode!

Guests:

Andrew Pantazi, Editor, The Tributary, Jacksonville, Florida

Resources:

Tributary Website

https://jaxtrib.org/

Follow Andrew on Twitter

https://x.com/apantazi?lang=en

Coverage of Matt Shirk

https://jaxtrib.org/2024/03/14/former-jacksonville-public-defender-matt-shirk-disbarred/

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/01/public-defender-matt-shirk-had-lowest-paid-attorneys-paid-friends-generously/15737626007/

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2016/08/24/matt-shirks-top-assistant-has-been-ineffective-four-times-raising/15722013007/

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2019/08/01/former-jacksonville-public-defender-matt-shirk-gave-away-guns-money-after-failed-reelection/4546395007/