St. Petersburg Criminal Lawyer
Melinda Morris has been practicing law since 1999 and is the managing attorney of the Morris Law Firm. As a former Assistant State Attorney with the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Clearwater, Pinellas County, FL, Ms. Morris has handled thousands of cases from investigation through sentencing. The experience prosecuting cases, along with Ms. Morris' extensive experience as a criminal defense attorney allows her to aggressively defend her clients.
Extensive Criminal Law Experience
While a felony prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office in Pinellas County, Ms. Morris prosecuted thousands of criminal cases including DUI, Domestic Violence / Violation of Injunctions, Juvenile Cases, Drug Offenses (including Drug Trafficking), Traffic Tickets, Driver License Suspensions, Assault / Battery, Resisting Arrest / Disorderly Conduct, Burglary / Robbery / Theft, Fraud / Worthless Checks, Outstanding Warrants, Bond Hearings, Violations of Probation, and White Collar Crime.
As well, Ms. Morris served as a member of the DUI Manslaughter/Vehicular Homicide Squad, a Lead Trial Attorney, a Domestic Violence Prosecutor, and a Child Abuse Prosecutor. Ms. Morris has participated in 50 jury trials, and has first‐hand experience and jury trials for First Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Capital Sexual Battery, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Battery, DUI, Domestic Violence, Drug Possession, Grand Theft Motor Vehicle and Petit Theft.
Her local knowledge of the criminal justice system coupled with years of extensive work both prosecuting and defending cases enables her the ability to identify weaknesses in the State Attorney’s case and pursue the best possible outcome for you.
A Strong Legal Education that Benefits Clients
Ms. Morris attended Stetson University where she received both a Juris Doctorate (Law Degree) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA). Stetson University College of Law is ranked No. 1 for trial advocacy and No. 5 for legal writing by U.S. News & World Report and has provided Ms. Morris her outstanding legal foundation.
Ms. Morris’ MBA degree in addition to her JD degree enables her to understand the nuances and intricacies of business and corporate procedure, and allows her to provide outstanding representation for those clients accused of White Collar Crimes.
Professional Recognition
In 2008 Ms. Morris was named a "Rising Star" by the Tampa Bay Times (TBT). Ms. Morris is a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a member of the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the St. Petersburg Bar Association.
- Former Florida State Prosecutor
- Former Member of the State Attorney’s Office DUI Manslaughter / Vehicular Homicide Squad
- Former Lead Trial Attorney, County Court
- State Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Division Prosecutor
- Prosecuted over 45 Jury Trials
- First‐hand Experience and Jury Trials for 1st Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Capital Sexual Battery, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Battery, DUI, Domestic Violence, Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, Petit Theft, and Drug Possession
- Juris Doctorate (JD), Stetson University College of Law
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Stetson University
- Bachelor of Science (BS), Florida State University
- State Bar of Florida, 1999
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2009
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