About
Daniel Austin Smith is a seasoned lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida with a rich history in criminal defense and civil rights law.
My Story I arrived in Jacksonville in October 1978, fresh out of Duke University School of Law. Thanks to my third-year roommate, Bob Parrish, I landed an interview with the renowned lawyer Bill Sheppard. This led to a clerkship at Sheppard, Carithers, and Weinbaum, where all three partners became my lifelong friends and mentors. Hugh Carithers later became a respected Circuit Judge, retiring in December 2019. Steve Weinbaum made a name for himself as a top trial lawyer in Florida before moving to Miami to handle appeals for the Public Defender’s Office.
I was admitted to the Florida Bar in April 1979 and continued working with Sheppard until June 1982. I then joined the Public Defender’s Office, where I honed my skills alongside Patrick McGuinness and Ray David, trying murder, robbery, and other felony cases in the courtroom of Judge R. Hudson Olliff. In 1983, I teamed up with Hank Coxe and Jack Schemer in a small firm, taking on court-appointed death penalty cases and major crimes. I also became part of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, handling court-appointed conflict cases in Federal court. Hank Coxe later made history as the first criminal defense lawyer elected President of the Florida Bar, while Jack Schemer now serves as a Circuit Judge in the Probate Division.
In 1986, I established my solo practice at Jeff Morris’ office near Five Points, where I still practice 36 years later. Today, my work focuses on defending individuals facing serious charges in Florida and Federal courts, as well as advocating for those whose civil rights have been violated under state and Federal law.
Legal Issues
- Civil Rights
- Criminal Law
Certificates
No Certifications
Languages
Accepted Jurisdictions
