Jason Gonzalez

Jason Gonzalez

Jason Gonzalez with Florida Supreme Court Justices appointed during his term as General Counsel to the Governor of Florida: Justice Ricky Polston, Justice Jorge Labarga, Justice James E.C. Perry and Justice Charles Canady

Oral argument before the Florida Supreme Court.

Jason Gonzalez (born September 30, 1973) is an attorney in Tallahassee, Florida. He is credited with reshaping the Florida Supreme Court while serving as General Counsel to the Governor of Florida.^[1] He was the chief advisor to the Governor on the appointment of four of the seven Justices currently serving on the Florida Supreme Court.^[2] He handles civil and administrative litigation, appeals, and government affairs.

Early Life and Family

Jason Gonzalez was born in Tallahassee, Florida, the son of Larry Gonzalez (former Secretary of the Florida Department of Professional Regulations and Director of the Florida Commission on Ethics) and Jean Gonzalez. A seventh generation Floridian, Gonzalez is the great-great-grandson of Captain Manuel A. Gonzalez, who founded the City of Ft. Myers, Florida in 1866,^[3] the great-grandson of Florida Pioneer and Explorer Alfonso Fernando Gonzalez and the great-great-great-great-grandson of Evander Lee, who founded the City of Leesburg, Florida in 1857.^[4] Gonzalez attended the University of Florida where he graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate degree. He became an attorney and Florida Bar member in 1998. While in law school, he married his high school sweetheart Sara Hicks Gonzalez. Jason and Sara are the parents of three boys.

Legal career

Gonzalez practices in the areas of trial, appellate and administrative litigation and represents clients before the Florida Legislature and all State Executive branch agencies as a partner with Shutts & Bowen LLP. He has served two terms as General Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida, and a term as General Counsel to the Governor of Florida.

General Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida

Gonzalez has served two terms as General Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida, and has attended four Republican National Conventions with the Florida delegation (1988, 2008, 2012 and 2016).

The Deepwater Horizon Litigation

In 2010, immediately following the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon, the vessel’s owner, Transocean Ltd., selected Gonzalez to serve as its lead counsel for litigation and state regulatory matters in the Florida Panhandle.^[5][6] Over a two-year period, Mr. Gonzalez successfully obtained orders dismissing or removing every one of the more than 70 individual and class action lawsuits filed against Transocean in Florida.^[5][6]

Public service

Judicial Nominating Commissions

In 2007 the Florida Governor appointed Gonzalez to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Florida Supreme Court. Gonzalez previously served terms as Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the First District Court of Appeal of Florida and Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida.

General Counsel to the Governor

Jason Gonzalez was appointed General Counsel to the Governor of Florida in 2008. As General Counsel he was the chief advisor to the Governor on all legal matters and served as the Governor’s Chief Ethics Officer and chief advisor on judicial appointments.^[7] In 2008-2009 Gonzalez was the chief advisor to the Governor on the appointments of four Florida Supreme Court Justices: Justice Charles Canady; Justice Ricky Polston; Justice Jorge Labarga; and Justice James E.C. Perry.^[7] The four appointments marked the first time in Florida history in which a Governor appointed a majority of the Court in less than a year.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Crist’s General Counsel Leaving After Shaping High Court. The Bradenton Herald http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1489348.html
2. 1 2 Jason Gonzalez, The General Counsel Who Helped Governor Charlie Crist Reshape Florida's Highest Court, Is Leaving His Post For Private Practice. The St. Petersburg Times http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/article1007476.ece
3. ↑ History of Ft. Myers, Florida http://www.fortmyers-online.com/history.htm
4. ↑ History of Leesburg, Florida http://www.leesburgflorida.gov/history/index.aspx
5. 1 2 http://southflorida.citybizlist.com/article/jason-gonzalez-joins-shutts-bowen-partner-tallahassee
6. 1 2 http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/home/id=1202638719633/Jason%20Gonzalez%20Joins%20Shutts%20amp%20Bowen%20As%20Tallahassee%20Partner?mcode=1202615493747&curindex=0
7. 1 2 Crist’s General Counsel Leaving After Shaping High Court. The Bradenton Herald http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_news/story/1489348.html

Judges and Justices Appointed During Gonzalez's Term as Governor's Counsel