CALL: (904) 791-1101
EMAIL: PMcGuinness@FMNLawyers.com
Biography:
Mr. McGuinness left the public defender's office in Jacksonville, Florida as a senior trial attorney in the homicide division after 31 years of service. During his tenure, Mr. McGuinness worked in every division handling felonies and misdemeanors, as well as mental health issues.
Since 1983, he has worked primarily capital cases, first and second degree murder cases and manslaughter cases. In addition, he has been the lead counsel in many of the most high profile cases tried in Jacksonville over the past three decades. Mr. McGuinness has developed a particular expertise in dealing with forensic evidence and has been called upon to present at seminars in Florida and across the country on forensic issues, cross-examination, case investigation, false confessions and a variety of other topics.
Mr. McGuinness' trial efforts and successes have been chronicled over the years by the press and a number of television programs. Mr. McGuinness and his partner, Ann Finnell, were the featured counsel in a film "murder on a Sunday Morning" which followed a local murder case that ultimately drew international attention. After the successful conclusion of the case and the vindication of their client, the film was featured on HBO and won an Oscar (Academy Award) for the best documentary in 2002.
Shareholder
Education:
University of Connecticut, School of Business, Storrs, CT, 1973, B.A. in Business Administration
University of Miami School of Law, Miami, FL, 1977, J.D.
Professional Affiliations:
Jacksonville Bar Association
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Bar Memberships:
Florida Bar
U.S. (Federal) District Court, Middle District of Florida