Law Grad is Florida’s First African American Federal Defender
Attorney Alec Fitzgerald Hall, graduate of NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law (SBCOL) is Florida’s first African American Federal defender. Hall received his appointment letter in June 2021 from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Chief Judge William Pryor, formally installing him as the new Federal Defender for the Middle District of Florida. This makes history for both the Middle District of Florida and for the State of Florida as there has never been an African-American to lead the Defender’s Office in these regions. The Honorable Charles R. Wilson, Eleventh Circuit Judge, swore Hall in as the new Federal Defender on June 21st. The Middle District of Florida’s jurisdiction extends from Jacksonville south covering all areas including Ocala, Orlando, Tampa, and Ft. Myers. The Middle District is the second largest district in the country. The motto for the Federal Defender’s Office is “Representing Those Who Cannot Represent Themselves.”
Alec Hall
Hall is a native of Tampa and was reared by his maternal grandmother, the late Maggie Cleggette, along with his two brothers and sister in the Riverview Terrace Housing Projects in Tampa, Florida. Hall is a graduate of Hillsborough Senior High School, and Project Upward Bound, and he later attended and graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American history (post-bellum America). Hall formerly worked for the Florida Department of Corrections as a probation officer and later worked for the Florida Parole Commission as a parole examiner prior to attending law school. Hall received his Juris Doctor degree in 1997 from NSU. He subsequently received his Master’s of Divinity degree (in ministry) from Luther Rice University and Seminary in Lathonia, Georgia.
Hall has practiced law for over 23 years beginning his career as a state assistant public defender for Seminole and Brevard Counties. He has been an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Florida for over 20 years. Hall specializes in vertical criminal representation, which includes trial, appellate, and habeas corpus practice. Hall has tried numerous cases and is known as a tough litigator. He is a member of the Florida and District of Columbia Bars. He is also a member of the United States Supreme Court, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh Circuit, and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida. Hall has appeared before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for oral argument on several occasions and had his client’s conviction reverse/vacated in United States v. McCarrick, 294 F.3d 1286 (11th Cir. 2002) (published opinion) and obtained a certificate of appealability from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, reversing the district court, in Barrett v. Secretary Florida Department of Corrections, Case No. 13-15153-EE (first-degree murder – life case).
Hall is an over 31 year and life member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He was recognized with the Hometown Hero Award by the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau of Tampa, Florida for his efforts in helping to secure the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.’s 82 Grand Conclave now rescheduled for Summer 2024.
Hall is very grateful for the wonderful support of his wife, Yvette Renee Evans Hall, their daughter, Maiyah, and a host of others family, friends, and supporters which are too numerous to name.
Hall chose Nova Southeastern University’s SBCOL because he was a native Floridian and wanted to remain in Florida. NSU gave him the opportunity to pursue his dream of practicing law. He graduated in 1997. His advice to our current SBCOL students is to put the work in.
According to Hall, your work-ethic will say a lot about you and will develop your reputation in the legal field. Do not be lazy and re-review before going to court or filing pleadings, i.e., “make sure you got it.”
He advises to know your area of the law well, and most importantly, do exactly what he always told himself, “chase your dreams of being a lawyer!” It will happen for you.
Fins up!
Posted 02/13/22