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Top-Ranked Civil Rights Lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked civil rights lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida are Robert Thomas Devine (LexRank 80.00), Susan Smith Erdelyi (80.00) and Neil L Henrichsen (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 civil rights lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 7 to 47 years in practice. 1 of the 25 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Robert Thomas Devine

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  2. No change

    Susan Smith Erdelyi

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  3. No change

    Neil L Henrichsen

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  4. No change

    Nancy Hogshead “Nancy”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  5. No change

    Leslie Scott Jean-Bart

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  6. No change

    Matthew R. Kachergus

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  7. No change

    Jimmy Midyette Jr.

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  8. No change

    Roland Falcon

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.40 points behind #7, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    1.40 points behind #7 (Jimmy Midyette Jr.): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  9. No change

    Joann M Bricker

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  10. No change

    Shirley Wilson Durham “Shirley”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  11. No change

    Ann Elizabeth Finnell

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 47 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  12. No change

    Sandra Kaye Young

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  13. No change

    Paul A. Daragjati

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.20 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    2.20 points behind #12 (Sandra Kaye Young): Experience −3.6.

  14. No change

    Eric J. Friday “Eric J Friday”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  15. No change

    Sharon M Caserta

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 74.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.40 points behind #14, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    2.40 points behind #14 (Eric J. Friday “Eric J Friday”): Experience −2.4.

  16. No change

    Tracey Kort Parde “Kort”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 74.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 22.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  17. No change

    Caleb D Rowland

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 18 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 71.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (21.6/30). 2.40 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    2.40 points behind #16 (Tracey Kort Parde “Kort”): Experience −2.4.

  18. No change

    David Randel Osborne

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 70.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (20.4/30). 1.20 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    1.20 points behind #17 (Caleb D Rowland): Experience −1.2.

  19. No change

    David E. Chauncey “Dave”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 11 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 63.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (13.2/30). 7.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    7.20 points behind #18 (David Randel Osborne): Experience −7.2.

  20. No change

    Todd Richard Dobry

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 12 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 63.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (14.4/30). 0.20 points behind #19, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.8)

    Held back by

    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    0.20 points behind #19 (David E. Chauncey “Dave”): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  21. No change

    Iryna Kharlap

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 10 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 62.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (12/30). 1.00 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    1.00 points behind #20 (Todd Richard Dobry): Experience −2.4.

  22. No change

    Melinda Patterson

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 11 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 61.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (13.2/30). 0.20 points behind #21, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.8)

    Held back by

    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    0.20 points behind #21 (Iryna Kharlap): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  23. No change

    Kristopher Matthew Nowicki

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Civil Rights · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 59.25: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (18/30). 2.55 points behind #22, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    2.55 points behind #22 (Melinda Patterson): Practice-area relevance −5, Professional credentials −3.8.

  24. No change

    Kimano Mckennley Edwards

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 7 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 58.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (8.4/30). 0.85 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 8.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

    0.85 points behind #23 (Kristopher Matthew Nowicki): Experience −9.6.

  25. No change

    Kevin Brandon Taylor Jr. “Kevin B Taylor”

    Independent practice · Jacksonville, FL

    Verified
    • 7 years experience
    • Civil Rights
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 58.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (8.4/30).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 8.4/30 (ranking avg 22.0)

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 25 profile pages249 facts for 25 lawyers

Civil Rights market in Jacksonville

LexRanked tracks 28 lawyers in civil rights law in Jacksonville, Florida. 28 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
28
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
28 of 28
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
21 years28 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Jacksonville

What sets these Jacksonville lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 7 to 47 (median 22)
Languages besides English Albanian (1), American Sign Language (1), Russian (1), Spanish (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (6 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Jacksonville office address and civil rights as a practice area on record. It compares 25 civil rights lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in civil rights, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Civil rights claims in Florida run on short deadlines: a discrimination complaint to the Florida Commission on Human Relations is due within 365 days, and a federal EEOC charge within 180 or 300 days.

Rule What it means
Federal civil rights claims Anyone acting under color of state law who deprives a person of constitutional or federal rights is liable to that person (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
Attorney fees A court may award a reasonable attorney's fee to the prevailing party in a civil rights case (42 U.S.C. § 1988(b))
Florida complaint deadline A discrimination complaint must be filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations within 365 days (Fla. Stat. § 760.11(1))
Commission review The commission decides within 180 days whether there is reasonable cause (§ 760.11(3))
Lawsuit after a cause finding A civil action must be filed within 1 year after the commission finds reasonable cause (§ 760.11)
Federal EEOC charge An employment discrimination charge is due within 180 days, or 300 days where a state or local agency also handles it (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(e)(1))
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Duval County is in Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a discrimination complaint in Florida?

Within 365 days of the discrimination, with the Florida Commission on Human Relations (section 760.11(1)). A federal EEOC charge is due within 180 days, or 300 days where a state or local agency also handles it.

Can I sue a police officer or government official for violating my rights?

Yes. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a person acting under color of state law who deprives you of constitutional or federal rights is liable to you, subject to defenses such as immunity.

Who pays the lawyer in a civil rights case?

The court may award a reasonable attorney's fee to the prevailing party (42 U.S.C. § 1988(b)), so many civil rights lawyers take cases on contingency.

How long do I have to sue after the commission finds reasonable cause?

1 year after the date of the commission's reasonable-cause determination (section 760.11).

Which court handles cases in Jacksonville?

State court cases in Duval County are heard in Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking civil rights lawyers in Jacksonville?

Yes. 1 of the 25 ranked lawyers lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Robert Thomas Devine, Susan Smith Erdelyi, Neil L Henrichsen, Nancy Hogshead “Nancy” and Leslie Scott Jean-Bart and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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