Published: May 26, 2009 02:18 pm      

Defender of the Year for 2009

David M. Valin has been selected as the Branch office “Defender of the Year - 2009 for Suwannee, Hamilton, and Lafayette counties, Florida. He has been employed by C. Dennis Roberts, Public Defender, Third Judicial Circuit, since 1993, after he graduated from Tulane Law School, in New Orleans. Mr. Valin started work in Suwannee County Court, and after trying several cases, he was promoted to felony court in Hamilton County Circuit Court.

He has continued in that role through the present time, with distinguished success. Mr. Valin has been recognized for his performance and legal skill by the Third Circuit Nominating Commission, which sent his application for a judicial/vacancy to the Governor in 2004 (Hamilton County Judge), and 2005 (Circuit Court). Mr. Valin has also served on the Third Circuit Grievance Committee, which reviews complaints on other lawyers, and the Professionalism Committee, which recommends ways to improve the legal/judicial system.

He has been successful in defending his clients at both the trial court level, by securing several “not guilty” verdicts in county and circuit courts, and also at the appellate level, by obtaining reversals of guilty verdicts and orders of the lower courts. According to Senior Circuit Judge John W. Peach, of Jasper, Fla., Mr. Valin saved the taxpayers of Hamilton County over one million dollars by resolving a pending inmate-murder case with a guilty plea for a life in prison, rather a lengthy jury trial, and probable appeal after conviction.

Mr. Valin is also a dedicated family-man and is married to wife, Rowna McLeod Valin, who is a speech teacher in Columbia County. They are the proud parents of two children, Skye and Cade, who attend school in Branford. Mr. Valin has many outside work interests including Bee-keeping , wood-working and guitar. He looks forward to another fifteen years of dedicated public service.