Senate, House ready votes on steeper punishment for attacking defense lawyers, public defenders
Image via Alachua County.

Eric Atria Obadiah Dillard attack
‘This bill corrects (an) injustice.’

Under current law, it is a felony to attack prosecutors, judges, bailiffs, law enforcement officers and corrections officers — but it’s still only a misdemeanor to commit the same violent act against defense lawyers and public defenders.

A bill that would fix that oversight, which motivated a brutal assault on a public defender last year, is now on its way to the Senate floor.

The Senate Rules Committee unanimously advanced a measure (SB 384) that would simply add defense lawyers and public defenders to the list of people upon whom an attack during a criminal court proceeding is a felony.

“The only integral party to the proceedings who do not enjoy this protection are usually the ones at most risk of harm, the defense attorneys,” said Fleming Island Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a lawyer in private life and the bill’s sponsor. “This bill corrects that injustice.”

SB 384 will next be up for discussion by the full chamber April 12, after which Senators will hold a final vote. Its twin in the House (HB 71) by Republican Reps. Patt Maney and Bobby Payne is identically poised.

The legislation takes inspiration from a Nov. 15 incident in an Alachua County courtroom. Defense attorney Eric Atria was preparing to speak on behalf of his client, Obadiah Dillard, when the career criminal sucker punched Atria to have the case thrown out as a mistrial.

In a phone call from jail afterward, Dillard giddily recounted his actions and played down the potential consequences. He reasoned the attack amounted to simple battery, a first-degree misdemeanor.

“Fortunately for me, he cracked my skull,” Atria told members of a House committee in February, noting Dillard also broke a tooth and gave him a concussion. “And I say fortunately because had he not done those things, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But because he did, the State Attorney’s Office was able to file second-degree felony charges against him, making it more of a big deal.”

The attack on Atria isn’t unique. Macclenny Republican Rep. Chuck Brannan, a former U.S. Marshal, said he witnessed something similar decades ago. And in 2019, Broward County Assistant Public Defender Julie Chase was sent to the hospital after prisoner William Green punched her from behind during a bond court hearing.

Maney said changes his and Bradley’s bill propose will provide all criminal court officers equal protection under the law.

“It protects the defense attorneys just like it protects everybody else in the courtroom,” he said. “It provides for a safe space for the people’s business to be conducted. And if somebody violates that law, it provides for an enhanced penalty so you don’t get a get-out-of-jail-free card by beating up your lawyer.”

Jesse Scheckner

Jesse Scheckner has covered South Florida with a focus on Miami-Dade County since 2012. His work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Society of News Editors, Florida MMA Awards and Miami New Times. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JesseScheckner.


5 comments

  • Billy the Bamboozler McClown

    April 5, 2023 at 6:53 pm

    More stupid laws. Next up.. death penalty for DUI with no death or injuries. One million behind bars by 2030.

    • Ron DeSantis Sucks

      April 7, 2023 at 12:46 pm

      Uh, this just gives defense attorneys the same protections that everyone else involved in the justice system gets.

  • Trump for Life! (in prison)

    April 5, 2023 at 10:14 pm

    What about threatening a judges a family?

    I feel like there should be a steep penalty for that too.

  • Billy the Bamboozler McClown

    April 7, 2023 at 9:01 am

    Steeper penalties for everything! Lifetime of punishment for every felony and amputation of limbs for stealing! Need slave labor force!

  • It's Complicated

    April 10, 2023 at 12:47 pm

    So this perp creates a conflict of interest with the Public Defender’s Office by assaulting an Assistant Public Defender, leading to them NOT represent him on the latest assault charge. How would you like to be the local attorney assigned this pro bono case?!

    The perp was known to be violent and was incarcerated under the Baker Act (i.e., against his will) for a previous violent assault. The perp was clearly able to move about freely in that pit area where the Public Defender was standing.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories