Keith Stahl

In seventh grade, Keith’s language arts teacher assigned the class roles in a mock trial centered around a short story involving the mysterious death of the lead character. He was given the role of defense counsel and this defining experience helped him realize that he wanted to become a lawyer.

That path took him through law school and he eventually became a defense lawyer, just like in his classroom project. Keith worked for the Office of the Public Defender in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses both Pinellas and Pasco counties. During his time in that office, he handled all levels of criminal cases, from misdemeanor theft to homicide. As a member of the public defender’s office, he spent countless hours advocating in front of judges and juries.