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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Graduate: University of Florida College
of Law, Gainesville, FL
Degree Earned: Juris Doctor - August 1978
Undergraduate: Duke University, Durham, NC
Degree Earned: Bachelor of Arts, 1975, Cum Laude
Majors: Political Science and Economics
University of Miami School of Law, visiting student 1977-78, Miami, FL
High Honors, Spring 1978; "Book Award," Creditors/Debtors Rights,
Spring 1978, University of Miami
Law Review, University of Florida College of Law, Board member 1976-78
Ashley Hall, High School
Diploma, 1971, Charleston,
SC
WORK EXPERIENCE
As an advocate for the
Constitution, the Bill of Rights and those less powerful than the government,
Barbara was convinced to join the private bar in 2001 and to practice with
others she has grown to respect and admire over the years.
Before joining DeThomasis & Buchanan, P.A., Barbara practiced criminal
law as an assistant Public Defender for the 8th Judicial Circuit for over
sixteen years. Barbara was a member of the defense team for Danny Harold
Rolling from 1992 through his trial in February of 1994.
Barbara has continued to participate in educational enhancement through death
penalty programs and other criminal law seminars. She also participates in
the mentoring of fellow bar members through the American Inns of Court.
Admitted to the Florida
Bar in 1979, Barbara initially practiced in the area of civil litigation in Miami, FL. Leaving the practice of law for a year before
returning to Gainesville in 1984, Barbara
sailed the Caribbean aboard a 60' schooner
as First Mate and Chef.
Since 1868, generations of lawyers have relied on the Martindale-Hubbell Law
Directory as an authoritative guide to the American legal profession. The
Martindale-Hubbell database is regarded as a primary research source for
information and ratings of law firms and attorneys around the world. Barbara
Blount-Powell’s attorney rating is AV - the highest rating given by
Martindale-Hubbell. According to Martindale-Hubbell, an "AV rating
indicates very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical
standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the
Bar." Click
here to view Martindale-Hubbell’s online rating of Barbara
Blount-Powell.
2001 - PRESENT -
DeThomasis & Buchanan, P.A., criminal defense practice
1984 - 2001 - Assistant
Public Defender, 8th Judicial Circuit, Gainesville,
FL
(Felony Assistant 1986 - 2001)
1983 - 1984 - Moorings Ltd.,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands - crew/chef, charter sailing yacht
"Bright Star"
1980 - 1983 - Salley,
Barns, Pajon, Guttman and Del Valle, P.A., Miami, FL
- Associate, commercial litigation
1979 - 1980 - Highsmith
and Strauss, P.A., Miami,
FL - Associate, personal injury
litigation
1978 - 1979 - Turner and
Morris, P.A., Gainesville,
FL - law clerk, criminal
defense practice
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Member, Florida Bar,
admitted in April 1979
President, 8th Circuit
Chapter, Florida
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 1990-1991
Vice
President/President-elect, 8th Circuit Chapter, Florida Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers 1989-1990
Secretary, 8th Circuit
Chapter, Florida
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 1988-1989
Member, Florida Association
of Criminal Defense Lawyers 1988-present
Chapter Representative,
Board of Directors of the Florida
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 1990-1992
Member, Criminal Law
Section of the Florida Bar 1986-present
Currently Emeritus
Member, James C. Adkins, Jr., American Inns of Court, member since 1995
Member, Eighth Judicial
Circuit Bar Association
RECENT CONTINUING
LEGAL EDUCATION
"Blood,
Breath and Tears" DUI Seminar
Sponsor: Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Oct. 2006; Sept. 2005; Oct. 2004; Sept. 2003
"Intoxilizer 800" Seminar
Sponsor: Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Sept. 2005
Criminal Law Certification Review
Sponsor: Florida Bar Association and Florida Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers
April 2006; April 2005; April 2004
PERSONAL
A sixth
generation Floridian, Barbara actually spent most of her youth living all
over the United States and
Central America. The daughter of a U.S. Navy
officer, Barbara called DeLand,
Florida, home base while
residing wherever her father’s orders carried the family. She attended
thirteen elementary schools and three high schools before the family moved to
the Canal Zone in Panama
for most of her college career. Always an avid sailor and horsewoman, Barbara
pursues her equestrian interest in dressage and is teaching her children to
ride aboard her horse and their ponies.
Returning to Florida for law school in 1975, Barbara made Gainesville her home.
An interest in criminal law was originally fostered by an uncle who was a
sitting Florida
judge for more than thirty years. His love of the law, particularly criminal
law, gave Barbara an early interest and exposure to its substance and
development in this state.
Barbara married Scott in
1992 and they have two children. They all look after the dog, horse, ponies,
cockatiel, and fish.
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