Attorney Phone: (239) 332-2500

After serving from 2003 through 2018 (four terms) as the elected State Attorney for 20th Judicial Circuit – Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties, Steve Russell joined the firm bringing with him over 40 years of criminal justice trial experience. Steve has personally handled thousands of criminal cases at the trial court level – including misdemeanor/DUIs, over one hundred felony sex offenses, and numerous first-degree murders, often involving death penalty litigation. He has successfully argued in the Second District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court.

Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from the College of William and Mary and then attended Stetson University College of Law, where he graduated in the top 10 of his class. He began his litigation career as a prosecutor in the Fort Myers Office of the State Attorney and was honored as Florida’s “Prosecutor of the Year” in 1988, receiving the Eugene Berry Award presented by the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

Mr. Russell was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court to serve on the Court’s Criminal Court Steering Committee. He was also appointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to serve on the Correctional Policy Advisory Council and the Task Force for the Remediation of Illicit Drug Laboratories.

Steve also served as President of the Lee County Bar Association, President of the Calusa Inn of Court, and Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the 20th Judicial Circuit. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers, serving as President 2015-16, and a long- term Board Member of the Quality Life Center of Southwest, Florida. Steve also served on the Advisory Council for the Pace Center for Girls.

Mr. Russell looks forward to continuing his career commitment to obtaining fair justice in our criminal courts.