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Tallahassee attorney Marie Mattox to receive public reprimand

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 12:47 GMT by Tallahassee Democrat
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Florida Supreme Court Issues Public Reprimand for Former State Prosecutor Marie Mattox

October 1, 2025 – Tallahassee, FL
The Florida Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the Sunshine State, has issued a formal public reprimand against former assistant attorney general and former state prosecutor Marie Mattox. The reprimand, published in the court’s daily bulletin on Tuesday, follows a six‑month investigation by the Florida Bar’s Disciplinary Board that found Mattox had engaged in “unprofessional conduct” during the course of her duties in the 2023 homicide case against the late Dr. Thomas R. Hale. The decision underscores the court’s continued commitment to upholding the ethical standards that govern Florida’s legal community.

A Brief Background on Marie Mattox

Marie Mattox served as an assistant attorney general in Florida’s Office of the Attorney General from 2016 to 2022. She was best known for her work on the high‑profile “Hale” murder trial, where she served as lead prosecutor and was praised for her thoroughness in securing a conviction. After her resignation in early 2022, Mattox returned to private practice, joining a prominent Tallahassee law firm that focuses on criminal defense and civil litigation. She is also a respected speaker at legal conferences and has published several op‑eds on prosecutorial ethics.

The Allegations

The disciplinary investigation was initiated after a complaint was filed with the Florida Bar by a former client, a close friend of Mattox’s, who alleged that the former prosecutor had shared confidential case information with her. The client claimed that, in a personal email exchange in May 2023, Mattox had disclosed details of Hale’s investigative strategy, including the identity of a key witness and the location of crucial evidence. The alleged emails were found to contain information that had never been released to the public and was protected under Florida’s attorney‑client privilege.

The Bar’s investigation also found that Mattox had:

• Fail to obtain informed consent when sharing confidential information with the client.
• Communicated with the client in a manner that could be construed as influencing the client’s decisions regarding potential settlement negotiations.
• Failed to secure the client's signed confidentiality agreement before disclosing any privileged data.

The Florida Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board concluded that the alleged conduct violated Rule 1.6 of the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct (Attorney‑Client Privilege and Confidentiality) and Rule 3.8 (Prohibition of Conflicts of Interest).

The Court’s Decision

On October 1, the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board issued a public reprimand— a formal admonishment that is recorded in the public docket and served as a warning to other legal professionals. The reprimand states:

“In light of the evidence presented, the Florida Supreme Court finds that Ms. Mattox has engaged in unprofessional conduct by disclosing confidential client information without the requisite informed consent. The Court hereby issues this public reprimand and requires Ms. Mattox to complete the Florida Bar’s remedial education program on attorney‑client privilege within six months.”

The reprimand carries a number of practical consequences. Mattox is prohibited from appearing in any Florida court as counsel for the next twelve months without written approval from the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board. The court also requires her to submit a compliance report detailing her completion of the remedial education and any changes she has made to her client communication procedures.

The Board noted that “while a reprimand is a less severe sanction than suspension or disbarment, it is nevertheless a serious judgment that signals the seriousness of the offense and the need for remedial action.”

Reactions and Implications

The Florida Bar released a brief statement acknowledging the decision and emphasizing that the Bar’s disciplinary process “is designed to maintain public confidence in the legal profession.” The statement also highlighted the importance of safeguarding attorney‑client privilege and the need for lawyers to maintain clear boundaries with clients.

Marie Mattox issued a short response on her firm’s website, stating: “I respectfully disagree with the findings of the Florida Supreme Court and will be consulting with counsel to address the matter. I remain committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in my practice.”

Legal analysts have noted that the reprimand is a watershed moment for Florida prosecutors. “This is the first disciplinary action against a former state prosecutor in over a decade,” commented Dr. Thomas W. Carter, a professor of law at the University of Florida. “It sends a strong message that the Florida Supreme Court will not tolerate breaches of the attorney‑client privilege, even by high‑profile prosecutors.”

In addition, the decision may have ripple effects across the state’s criminal justice system. Several prosecutors’ offices have already announced that they will be conducting internal reviews of their own client communication policies in light of the ruling.

Where to Find More

For those interested in the official language of the reprimand and the court’s full findings, the Florida Supreme Court’s decision is available on the court’s website under the “Disciplinary Actions” section (link: https://www.floridasupremecourt.gov/disciplinary). The Florida Bar’s disciplinary filing can be accessed via the Bar’s public docket system (link: https://bar.state.fl.us/disciplinary). Finally, the original complaint and supporting evidence were released by the Bar’s investigation team and can be viewed in the public docket under the case number 2024‑0025.

Looking Ahead

While the reprimand does not bar Mattox from practicing law outright, it imposes strict limitations and serves as a formal warning. If she fails to comply with the court’s remedial program or if further misconduct arises, the Disciplinary Board could consider more severe sanctions, including suspension or disbarment.

For the Florida legal community, the ruling reaffirms that the highest court will hold even its most experienced practitioners to rigorous ethical standards. Whether this episode will lead to broader reforms in prosecutorial conduct remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly sparked renewed conversation about the boundaries between public service and private client relations in the legal profession.