Mr. Yeazell focuses his practice areas in Family & Marital Law, Criminal Defense and Personal Injury. 

AFFILIATIONS

        Admitted to Florida Bar - 1989
        Supreme Court of the United States - 1993
        United States Court of appeals 11th Circuit - 1990
        United States District Court (Middle District) - 1990
        Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - 1995
        Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - President 2004
        Clearwater Bar Association - 2002
        St. Petersburg Bar Association – 2002

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

First chaired 102 jury trials and 37 bench trials, 82% resulting in favorable verdicts.

Obtained "Not Guilty" verdict on First Degree Murder, one of only a few obtained in Pinellas County over the past two decades.

Appeared twice before Florida Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of a State Statute and the admissibility of defendant's refusal of field sobriety test.

Obtained reversal of Circuit Court decisions through the Second District Court of Appeals.

 President - Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 2004-2005

Judicial Candidate - Circuit Judge, September 2002 - Obtained nearly 65,000 votes in twelve weeks with endorsements from the Police Benevolent Association, Fraternal Order of Police, National Organization of Women and over 300 local attorneys.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor - 1989
University of Dayton School of Law
        Recipient of American Jurisprudence Award - Products Liability
        10th Annual Walter rice Moot Court Competition Award
        Phi Delta Phi Excellence in Litigation Award
Bachelor of Arts - 1985
Bowling Green State

HONORS & PUBLICATIONS

Top Verdict award - December 2001 - Awarded for verdict of "Not Guilty" on First Degree Murder
Attorney of the Year (runner-up) - December 2001 - Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's Office
Nominated for Attorney of the Year - December 2002 - Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender's Office
Authored Florida Criminal Case Law Trial Handbook:  A Compilation of Case Law and Developing Trends in Trial Procedure

LECTURE EXPERIENCE

Stetson University College of Law - 2003
Provided instruction to third year law students in various areas of trial practice including: Jury Selection (cause challenges, Neil challenges, preserving record for appeal), Evidence and Cross-examination.

        Defender College - 2002 and 2003 - CLE Credits Awarded
Lectured to lawyers throughout the State in various areas of trial practice including: Evidence, Voir Dire, Opening and Closing Arguments, Cross examination and Direct examination.

        Public Defender Clinics - Mentored and provided instruction to new attorneys in all areas of trial practice.

        Criminal Justice Academy - (The Center for Law Education) - 2003 Discussion with students regarding the Criminal Justice system and careers in law.