Matt Shirk, former 4th Circuit public defender, disbarred

He was found to have practiced law after he was suspended by The Florida Bar for violating Bar rules.

By Max Marbut

Matt Shirk

Matt Shirk, former 4th Judicial Circuit Public Defender, was disbarred from the practice of law March 13 by the state Supreme Court.

Shirk was found in contempt of an August 25, 2022, order from the court suspending him from practice for one year after he was found to have violated Florida Bar rules.

The suspension was ordered after Shirk was investigated by a grand jury and also by The Florida Bar for misconduct, including that he hired women to work in the public defender’s office and then directed that they be fired “for the private benefit of himself and to save his marriage.”

Shirk also was alleged to have kept alcoholic beverages in a Jacksonville city-owned building.

According to a petition for contempt filed Oct. 18, 2023, against Shirk by The Florida Bar, in the months after his suspension, Shirk engaged in the practice of law by filing his Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative and by filing motions on behalf of four different immigration clients with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.

In its March 13 order, the court said: “As a sanction, Respondent is disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Florida.”

In addition, judgment was entered against Shirk for recovery of $1,250 in costs.

Shirk was elected in 2008 and reelected in 2012 to be public defender for the 4th Circuit, comprising Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.

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Matt Shirk, former 4th Circuit public defender, disbarred