Walter has practiced law for over three decades. Like many attorneys, Walter has a background in general, civil litigation. He has jury trial experience involving personal injury and property damage. He has also represented parties to divorces, mortgage foreclosures, property transactions, and estates of decedents.
Walter has vast experience in the area of criminal law. He is tried over 250 cases before juries in 12 different counties within the State of Florida, including over 100 homicide cases and two dozen death penalty cases. He has tried dozens of DUI cases, and advised hundreds of clients on a great variety of topics related to crime and punishment. Some of Walter’s most challenging cases have involved claims of self defense. If your case contains an issue regarding self-defense, you may wish to follow this link. Many of his cases have received media attention and you can review newspaper articles covering his trials by clicking here. Two of his trials have been broadcast by Court TV. He has also appeared on ABC’s 20/20, the Discovery Channel’s True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, and Snapped on Oxygen Network. He has appeared on local news channels numerous times, and has been quoted, at length, in local news stories.
Walter also has a special interest in tax law. Unfortunately, many people do not realize when they have tax problems. For useful information concerning potential tax pitfalls affecting every day people, consult the website. Tax planning is important to anyone contemplating divorce, marriage, retirement, conveying property, and even starting a business. Most importantly, tax considerations are integral to any estate plan.
For information specific to your own circumstances, feel free to e-mail Walter by filling by visiting the Contact page. He will be happy to respond to your inquiry at no charge and let you know whether he can be of assistance.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree (clinical chemistry), University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Walter has a background in math and science which is particularly helpful when dealing with forensic evidence and medical testimony. His particular area of interest is in biochemistry.
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Degree, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. Walter graduated with honors, ranked seventh in his law school class (top 4%), and was a member of the law review. He was inducted into the Order of the Coif, an honorary legal society comprised of the top 10% of law school graduates from FSU.
Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.), University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Walter excelled in the areas of estate planning, partnership taxation, and the law applicable to tax- exempt organizations.
Professional Memberships
- Member, Florida Bar, admitted 1980.
- Admitted to practice, District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 1980
- Admitted to Practice, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1980
- Admitted to practice, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1981
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association tax section
- Member, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member, Bay County Bar Association
Professional Accomplishments
- Board-Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, recognized by the Florida Bar
- AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell, considered a preeminent attorney since 2000
- Private Practice, Tallahassee, Florida, 1980 to 1981
- Assistant Public defender, Tallahassee Florida, 1981 to 1983
- Chief Assistant Public Defender, Apalachicola, Florida, 1983 to 1990
- Private Practice, Apalachicola, Florida 1990 to 1992
- Deputy public defender, Panama City, Florida, 1992 to 2011
