Cox named Florida’s statewide prosecutor
Cox named Florida’s statewide prosecutor
Muñiz, Gleason, Aronberg also added to the AG’s staff
Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Nicholas B. “Nick” Cox as Florida’s statewide prosecutor and selected Carlos Muñiz as her deputy attorney general and chief of staff.
Bondi also has appointed Pat Gleason as special counsel for open government and put former Sen. Dave Aronberg in charge of the office’s anti-pill mill initiative within the AG’s office.
Cox’s legal career includes nine years as an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County and six years as an attorney in the Office of the Attorney General.
“Nick Cox is an accomplished courtroom lawyer with the ideal judgment, temperament, and experience to lead the Office of Statewide Prosecution,” Bondi said. “I have known Nick for nearly two decades, and I have complete confidence in his work ethic and personal integrity. Under Nick’s leadership, the Office of Statewide Prosecution will work in partnership with our elected state attorneys to protect all Floridians.”
Cox has tried approximately 150 criminal jury cases, including numerous homicides and capital cases, and has served as a chief of felony and economic crimes units. Cox also has experience as a commercial litigator in private practice and as a faculty member at the Stetson University College of Law. Most recently, Cox has served since 2007 as the Department of Children and Families’ regional director for the SunCoast Region, encompassing an area from Pasco County south to Collier County. In that capacity, Cox supervised over 1,700 employees and managed operations with a budget of more than $450 million.
Muñiz comes from the Tallahassee office of GrayRobinson. He has extensive legal and policy experience in Florida government, beginning with his service in the administration of Gov. Jeb Bush, where he was deputy general counsel to now-Chief Justice Charles Canady. Muñiz has also served as general counsel to the chief financial officer and deputy chief of staff and counsel to the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
In appointing Gleason as special counsel for open government, Bondi said: “Pat is a leading authority in our state on open government and public records, and I am honored to have her join my administration.
“We have worked together for over a decade, and I have the highest respect for her work ethic, integrity, and the transparency she brings to the government process.”
Gleason is widely recognized as one of Florida’s leading authorities on open government law and policy, and she is returning to the Attorney General’s Office after serving most recently as director of Cabinet Affairs and special counsel in the administration of Gov. Charlie Crist. During her previous tenure with the AG’s Office, Gleason served as general counsel, prosecutor for the Ethics Commission, and chief of the Administrative Law Section.
Bondi has also tapped former Sen. Aronberg of Greenacres as a special counsel in her administration. Aronberg — who sought but failed to win the Democratic nomination for AG last year — will be responsible for leading a comprehensive anti-pill mill initiative within the AG’s Office.
Bondi said eradicating pill mills will be a major focus of her administration.
“After getting to know Dave last year, I quickly learned that we share a strong commitment to shutting down pill mills. I have complete trust in Dave’s ability to take on this very important fight with me,” Bondi said.
“It is unacceptable that Florida has become the nation’s pill mill capital and that multiple Floridians are dying every day from illegal prescription drug abuse. In cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement, we will use all the powers and resources of the Attorney General’s Office in a comprehensive effort to eradicate pill mills from our state.”
As a state senator, Aronberg was a leader in the fight against pill mills, advocating for legislation to establish a prescription drug database and to more strictly regulate the ownership and operation of pain clinics. Aronberg’s professional experience includes service as an attorney in the Economic Crimes Unit of the Attorney General’s Office and as a White House Fellow.
Bondi also appointed Jennifer Krell Davis as her press secretary. Davis most recently served as communications director and spokesperson for the Florida Secretary of State. Previously, Davis was communications director for the Florida Chamber of Commerce and special projects coordinator for The Florida Bar.
