Angela Corey

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Angela Corey (born October 31, 1954) is a former Florida State Attorney for Court of Fourth Court, covering Duval, Nassau and Clay - including Jacksonville and its metropolitan area. The first woman to hold the position, she was elected in 2008, and was defeated on 30 August 2016 by Melissa Nelson, the second woman to ever hold this position. Corey was thrown into the national spotlight when on March 22, 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that he would become the newly appointed State Attorney investigating the death shooting of Trayvon Martin (replacing State Attorney Norm Wolfinger).

On August 30, 2016, Corey lost his primary re-election to Republican challengers and former Nassau County prosecutor Melissa Nelson by nearly 50,000 votes - a 38% margin.

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Early life and education

The grandson of Syrian immigrants, Corey was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended Englewood High School. His parents are Tom Corey Jr. and Lorraine (Lewis) Corey. His father's family owned Corey Supermarket in Jacksonville, and his father became an executive in JEA in Jacksonville. After graduation, he majored in marketing at Florida State University before deciding to try a legal career. After receiving a Juris Doctor degree at Levin College College of Florida, he conducted legal research while preparing for a Florida bar exam, then spent 18 months with Howell & Howell, PA (trial lawyer). He later became a board certified in criminal court law.

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Careers

Prosecution

Corey was employed by Ed Austin in 1981 during his tenure as State Attorney from 1975 to 1991, and remains Assistant State Attorney after Harry Shorstein was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles in 1991. For 34 years as a prosecutor, he has tried several hundred cases, which includes more than 60 murder cases.

In 1996, his primary responsibility became a murder charge, but he also oversaw a lawyer in Felony's division. Shorstein changed Corey's assignment of work in 2005 from the director of the Pistol Crime Unit to the District Court's director, who handles minor offenses. In that position, he trained a newly appointed attorney to be a prosecutor. She previously served as a teen division supervisor.

Lawyer State

Corey made the decision to run for office of the State Attorney in 2006. After his candidacy was known, his relationship with Shorstein became difficult. He broke off his employment in November 2006. After that, he was hired by John Tanner, the District Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, to perform the same job function he did in Jacksonville, work the murder case at St. Johns County.

The next day, Shorstein phoned a press conference and announced that he would retire at the end of his current term and not run for re-election in 2008. In the next election, Shorstein supported his chief assistant, Jay Plotkin. On August 26, 2008, Corey beat Plotkin with over 64% of the votes cast.

After taking over the office, Corey decides 10 attorney-state assistants, as well as "half of the investigators of the office, two-fifths of his supporters, a quarter of 35 paralegals, and 48 other support staff - more than a fifth of the offices." In 2010, the Florida Times-Union reported that Corey sent 230 adult crime cases to adult courts in 2009. This amounted to double the number of juvenile crime cases placed in adult courts in the years before Corey became the State Attorney. Since Corey took over the office, the number of juvenile arrests has dropped by half. In 2009, 6,184 adolescent cases were opened. By 2014, that number drops to 3,161. The number of adolescents transferred to adult courts also declined. On FY 14-15, Corey's office was ranked seventh in the state, out of 20 circuits, in a juvenile direct file. State Attorney Corey spent over a million dollars on TA 14-15 to run a teen and adult diversion program. This means that the defendant's case is handled out of court.

Cristian Fernandez case

In 2011 Corey's office oversaw a case in which 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez was arrested for the murder of his two-year-old brother. Corey stated that since the adolescent system is not equipped to handle cases as serious as murder, the case was transferred to an adult court. The grand jury demanded Fernandez on alleged (mature) first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

From the beginning of the case, Corey stated that his office would not seek a life sentence in this case. Corey also notes that the adolescent system is inadequate to deal with crimes of this magnitude.

In 2013, Fernandez pleaded guilty to the murder of children as a juvenile (jailed until the age of 19 at a juvenile facility) and for batteries worsened as an adult but without an adjudication (ensuring no criminal record if he completes 5 years probation successfully after being released).

George Zimmerman's Case

On March 22, 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Angela Corey as Special Attorney to investigate the assassination of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. On the afternoon of February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida, George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old environmental volunteer armed with a 9mm Kel-Tec pistol, was shot dead by Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old unarmed person in a gated community. A few hours after the killing, the Sanford Police Department ruled that there was no "probable cause" to arrest George Zimmerman, who claimed he was acting in self-defense. Martin returned to his father's fiancee's house after buying a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles sweets at a local department store. Zimmerman told police that Martin was an attacker and Zimmerman's photographs on the night of the incident showed him with a bloody, broken nose and other injuries.

The decision by Sanford Chief of Policeman Bill Lee and Seminole State Minister Norm Wolfinger not to arrest and sue Zimmerman for crime sparked outrage triggered by social media including a petition at Change.org calling for his prosecution. Following growing protests, including about 30,000 people in Sanford, Florida, as well as media coverage and FBI involvement, both police chief Bill Lee and state lawyer Norm Wolfinger resigned from investigations and state lawyers Corey took over. The case was added to the national debate on racial profiles, gun control, institutional racism in law enforcement agencies, and the role of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in advocating pro-gun legislation such as the Florida law "Stand Your Ground".

On April 11, 2012, Corey accused George Zimmerman of murder in the second level. Corey held a global press conference to explain his decision. He stated, "I can tell you that we did not arrive at this decision lightly.This case is like many difficult cases we have dealt with here for years here at our circuit, and we make this decision in the same way. emphasize that we are not demanding by public pressure or by petition We judge based on the facts of every given case, as well as the laws of the state of Florida. "When asked by a journalist on racial and justice issues in this case, Corey stated, We in law enforcement are committed to justice for every race, every gender, everybody, from any persuasion They are our victims We know only one category as a prosecutor, and that is V. Not B, not W, not H. It's V, for 'victim' That's what we work tirelessly. "

Corey's decision to fill Zimmerman was praised by supporters of the Judge Movement for Trayvon across the country. Natalie Jackson, a Martin family lawyer, stated, "This is really a very brave accusation from Angela Corey, and it really shows that she is conducting an independent, impartial and fair investigation into this case... She can easily accused this as ordinary murder, to try to calm everyone down, and he did not, he did what the prosecutor did, he put it on the handle. " On the other hand, Corey was criticized as "irresponsible and reckless" by Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard lawyer and lawyer serving on O.J. Simpson's defense team, for posing possible reasons that his claim was too thin for the second level murder charge; Dershowitz predicted that it would be thrown out by the judge.

On April 12, 2012, Seminole County Judge Mark Herr found a letter legally enough to establish a possible cause and ordered Zimmerman to appear on his indictment on May 29, 2012. CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin stated, "I suspect that there is some evidence we have just do not know about, because no prosecutors in high-profile cases want to go to court and can not prove each and every count beyond a reasonable doubt ".

Some critics, including Dershowitz, believe that Corey, an elected official, treated his press conference as a kind of campaign opportunity. A Reuters article also showed that some of Zimmerman's neighbors who claimed they saw signs of injury to Zimmerman the day after the shooting "said they spoke to Sanford and FBI police in their investigation but did not recall talking to Angela Corey's special prosecutor's office". On the other hand, US lawyer and legal analyst Kendall Coffey called Corey's presentation "expert" and that he made "a very interesting statement about his commitment to the victims... So if you print the press conference I give it an A plus".

Dershowitz has called for Corey to be fired. In response to his harsh criticism, Dershowitz claimed Corey was called Harvard Law School and, "threatened to sue the institution, got me disciplined by the Bar, and made allegations of defamation and slander".

On the same day when George Zimmerman's trial was sent to the jury, Corey fired Ben Kruidbos, director of information technology for the State Attorney's office. The former IT director admitted concerned that the office did not hand all discovery to the defense. According to the hearing during the trial, the defense has an item of discovery.

On July 13, 2013, 6 female jurors freed Zimmerman from the Second Degree Murder and the lower one including the Manslaughter offense.

Marissa Alexander Case

In May 2012, Corey sued 31-year-old Marissa Alexander for attacks aggravated by deadly weapons and earned a mandatory twenty-year prison sentence, which caused controversy in the midst of the Trayvon Martin case. Alexander argues that he fired warning shots after being threatened by her husband Rico Gray.

She and Gray were involved in a fight in the main bathroom. Gray returns to the kitchen where his children eat breakfast. Alexander goes to Gray's garage, where his car is parked. From Duval County, Florida, court documents:

The defendant then takes the gun from the vehicle glove box. The defendant then returned to the kitchen with a gun in his hand and pointed it toward the three Victims. [Gray] put his hands in the air. Defendant fired at [Gray], almost losing his head.

Alexander shot missed his husband's head, hit the wall and turned into the ceiling. Alexander, who had no previous record or criminal arrest, tried to defend your base before the trial but to no avail. State attorney Corey met the defendant and offered him a three-year agreement. Alexander declined the offer and took his case to court. A judge punished him within twelve minutes and, due to Florida's compulsory 10-20-life minimum law, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Corey has been criticized for his handling by Florida Congressman Corrine Brown, who argues that Corey weighs on Alexander and the outcome of the Alexander case is a consequence of institutional racism. Reverend Jesse Jackson, supporters of domestic violence, civil rights groups, and others also support calls for Alexander's release from prison. On 26 September 2013, the appeals court ordered a new trial, finding that the jury's instructions in Alexander's proceedings illegally diverted the prosecution charge from the prosecution to the defense. Alexander was released on bail on November 27, 2013 and is required to remain under house arrest.

Alexander pleaded guilty to all three charges on November 24, 2014. As part of a negotiated plea agreement, Alexander will be serving a three-year mandatory penalty on two of these. Judge James Daniel will punish Alexander on the count of January 27, 2015. On January 28, 2015, Marissa was released from prison and will serve a two-year sentence under house arrest.

Ronald Thompson case

In 2009, Ronald Thompson, a 65-year-old army veteran, fired two shots into the ground to frighten teenagers demanding entry to his friend's home in Keystone Heights, Florida. Corey sued Thompson for an aggravated assault, and after he rejected an appeal with a three-year prison sentence, won a conviction that would carry a mandatory 20-year sentence under the 10-20-Life Florida law. In a similar case, Fourth Judge James Harrison called the mandatory minimum sentence "the crime itself" and declared the 10-20-Life law unconstitutional. Judge Skinner gave Thompson three years instead.

Corey appealed a 3-year sentence and won, sending Thompson to jail for 20 years.

In June 2012, Chief Justice Don Lester gave Thompson a new trial, ruling that the jury's instructions were flawed in his original trial of justifiable use of lethal or non-lethal force in view of the circumstances of the case. Pending his new trial, Thompson offered a defense contract for five years in prison with credit for the time it was presented. He reports back to prison on October 31, 2013, where he spent the next two years.

Michael Dunn Case

In 2014, Corey tried Michael David Dunn on five counts in a criminal case that is widely covered by the media and dubbed by CNN and other media as a "harsh music trial". Dunn was charged with first-degree assassination of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, three counts of first-degree assassination attempts from three of Davis's friends, and fired into or toward the Dodge Durango they occupied.

The case stems from a fatal confrontation at a gas station in Jacksonville on November 23, 2012, where Dunn approached Durango to ask the occupants to lower the volume of loud music (which he called "rap nonsense") they heard. In the trial, Dunn claims that Davis pointed a gun at him, although no evidence of weapons was found. He claims to feel his life is in danger and therefore defends himself using a personal weapon stored in his car. In three separate shots, he fired a total of ten bullets into Durango when parked and then toward it while fleeing. Davis died in a confrontation.

On February 15, 2014, the jury found Dunn guilty of three counts of second-degree murder attempts and one count against a vehicle. They are deadlocked on first-degree murder charges. Judge Russell Healey declared a cancellation of the trial on the allegations. Corey later told a news conference that "Justice for Jordan Davis is just as important as the victim" and prosecutors are going to demand a new trial in Duval County on murder charges. Dunn was tried and convicted of First Homicide on October 1, 2014.

Teaching

Since the 1990s, Corey has taught legal concepts in a number of schools, including the University of North Florida, Florida State College in Jacksonville and the Florida Police Corps. Topics range from interrogation techniques to search and seizure to the courtroom. Due to his extensive killing experience, he received training requests from law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

Politics

Corey is an active member of the Duval County Republican Party and Republican Women's Club of the Duval Federation. He is in charge of the Transition Team for both Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi supports Corey for the State Attorney and says Corey's leadership and friendship took him to where he is today. Bondi then worked with Governor Scott to appoint Corey as Special Attorney on the Trayvon Martin case.

Angela Corey fired: Voters kick Florida prosecutor out.

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Controversy

In 2006, while serving as Assistant State Attorney, Corey was dismissed by State Attorney Harry Shorstein, who cited "long-term problems" in his supervisory performance. Corey accused the dismissal for his decision to campaign against a replacement chosen by Shorstein in the election for the State Attorney.

During the prosecution of George Zimmerman, Alan Dershowitz accused Corey of making a misleading statement in the case of Zimmerman. After Professor Dershowitz's trial said he should be dismissed for several offenses including filing false or misleading statements. However, the Proof of Possibility affidavit is reviewed and approved by two judges. Later, the lead trial judge denied two Free Rulings, which would free Zimmerman, and instead sent the case to the jury.

In early 2013 Corey was under scrutiny after a report emerged, he has redirected $ 108,439 to be allocated for his pension increase. Corey describes the move as a necessity since his predecessor, Harry Shorstein, chose not to increase pension benefits for the State Attorney. This increase was due to the deficit made by the Legislature when it changed the percentage rate earned annually on pensions. Corey increases pensions for more than a dozen qualified attorneys. The legislature changed the law on this issue in 2001. Increased pensions were approved by the State of Florida.

In February 2013, Corey spent $ 425,000, which he called, "one-time salary increases" for most of his office staff. Florida law does not allow bonuses paid to public employees unless there are policies and procedures that apply to issue the bonus. Corey argues that he does not violate the law in issuing these payments to employees because they are not a bonus, but instead a temporary increase.

Voters Have Ousted Notorious Florida Prosecutor Angela Corey | The ...