Angela Corey
Encyclopedia
Angela B. Corey is an American lawyer
currently serving as the State Attorney in Florida
's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court
, which includes Duval
, Nassau
and Clay
counties. The first woman to hold the position, she was elected in 2008.
, where she attended Englewood High School
. After graduation, she majored in Marketing at Florida State University
before being convinced by professors to try a Legal career. She applied to University of Florida
's Levin College of Law and was accepted. After completing her Juris Doctor
degree, she did legal research while preparing for the Florida Bar examination
, then spent 18 months defending medical malpractice lawsuits with Howell & Howell, PA. She later became board certified in criminal trial law.
in 1981 during his tenure as State Attorney from 1975-1991, and remained an Assistant State Attorney after Harry Shorstein
was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles
in 1991. During her 26 years as a prosecutor, she tried several hundred cases, which included 54 homicides.
In 1996, her primary responsibility became homicide prosecutions, but she also supervised lawyers in the Felony division. Shorstein changed Corey's work assignment in 2005 from director of the Gun Crime Unit to director of the County Court, which handles misdemeanors. In that position, she trained newly hired lawyers to be prosecutors. She previously served as Juvenile division supervisor.
, to perform the same job functions she did in Jacksonville, working homicide cases in St. Johns County
.
The following day, Shorstein called a news conference and announced that he would retire at the end of his current term and not run for re-election in 2008. In the following election, Shorstein supported his chief assistant, Jay Plotkin. On August 26, 2008, Corey defeated Plotkin with more than 64% of the votes cast.
Upon taking office, Corey terminated 10 assistant state attorneys, over half of the investigators, and 48 support employees.
, Florida Community College at Jacksonville
and the Florida Police Corps. Topics range from interrogation
techniques to search and seizure
to courtroom demeanor. Due to her extensive homicide experience, she receives training requests from law enforcement agencies all over the United States.
honored her as a Role Model for Women in the Area of Criminal Justice award; the Mayor's Victim Assistance Advisory Council bestowed the Judicial Victim Advocate Award; and Corey received the Distinguished Service Award from the office where she's now the boss.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
currently serving as the State Attorney in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's Fourth Judicial Circuit Court
Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida is a Circuit Court comprising Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties in northeast Florida.-External links:*...
, which includes Duval
Duval County, Florida
Duval County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 864,263. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968...
, Nassau
Nassau County, Florida
Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida....
and Clay
Clay County, Florida
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.- History :...
counties. The first woman to hold the position, she was elected in 2008.
Background
Corey was born and grew up in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, where she attended Englewood High School
Englewood High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Englewood High School is a public high school located on Jacksonville, Florida's southside.Rich in tradition and pride, Englewood High School was constructed in 1956 and exemplifies the concept of a "neighborhood school." Located on on the Southside of Jacksonville, Florida, this school is one of...
. After graduation, she majored in Marketing at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
before being convinced by professors to try a Legal career. She applied to University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
's Levin College of Law and was accepted. After completing her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree, she did legal research while preparing for the Florida Bar examination
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
, then spent 18 months defending medical malpractice lawsuits with Howell & Howell, PA. She later became board certified in criminal trial law.
Prosecutions
She was hired by Ed AustinEd Austin
T. Edward "Ed" Austin, Jr. was an American politician and attorney. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1991 to 1995. He also served as the first Public Defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit from 1963 to 1968, and served as State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit from...
in 1981 during his tenure as State Attorney from 1975-1991, and remained an Assistant State Attorney after Harry Shorstein
Harry Shorstein
Harry L. Shorstein is an American lawyer who served as State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, covering Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, from 1991–2008. He was appointed to the post in 1991 by Governor Lawton Chiles to fill the remaining term of Ed Austin, who resigned to...
was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
in 1991. During her 26 years as a prosecutor, she tried several hundred cases, which included 54 homicides.
In 1996, her primary responsibility became homicide prosecutions, but she also supervised lawyers in the Felony division. Shorstein changed Corey's work assignment in 2005 from director of the Gun Crime Unit to director of the County Court, which handles misdemeanors. In that position, she trained newly hired lawyers to be prosecutors. She previously served as Juvenile division supervisor.
State Attorney
Corey made the decision to run for the office of State Attorney in 2006. After her candidacy became known, her working relationship with Shorstein became difficult. He terminated her employment in November 2006. Afterwards, she was hired by John Tanner, State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial CircuitSeventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
The Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida is a Circuit Court comprising Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties in North Eastern Florida.-External links:*...
, to perform the same job functions she did in Jacksonville, working homicide cases in St. Johns County
St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County is a county located in northeastern Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 190,039. The county seat is St. Augustine. Due to the inclusion of Ponte Vedra Beach, it is one of the highest-income counties in the United States....
.
The following day, Shorstein called a news conference and announced that he would retire at the end of his current term and not run for re-election in 2008. In the following election, Shorstein supported his chief assistant, Jay Plotkin. On August 26, 2008, Corey defeated Plotkin with more than 64% of the votes cast.
Upon taking office, Corey terminated 10 assistant state attorneys, over half of the investigators, and 48 support employees.
Teaching
Since the 1990s, Corey has taught legal concepts at a number of schools, including the University of North FloridaUniversity of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
, Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Florida State College at Jacksonville is a state college in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S., and part of the Florida College System. It is one of several institutions in the Florida College System designated a "state college", as it offers a greater number of four-year bachelor's degrees than...
and the Florida Police Corps. Topics range from interrogation
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
techniques to search and seizure
Search and seizure
Search and seizure is a legal procedure used in many civil law and common law legal systems whereby police or other authorities and their agents, who suspect that a crime has been committed, do a search of a person's property and confiscate any relevant evidence to the crime.Some countries have...
to courtroom demeanor. Due to her extensive homicide experience, she receives training requests from law enforcement agencies all over the United States.
Awards
The Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency gave her their Criminal Justice Distinguished Award; the Florida Department of CorrectionsFlorida Department of Corrections
The Florida Department of Corrections, established in 1821, operates state prisons in Florida. It has its headquarters in Tallahassee.The Florida Department of Corrections operates the third largest state prison system in the United States...
honored her as a Role Model for Women in the Area of Criminal Justice award; the Mayor's Victim Assistance Advisory Council bestowed the Judicial Victim Advocate Award; and Corey received the Distinguished Service Award from the office where she's now the boss.