From left, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, Jack Heekin (nominee for U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida).
John “Jack” Heekin, deputy chief of staff and general counsel for U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, has been tapped as the next U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
President Donald Trump nominated Heekin to the post, according to a statement from Scott’s office. He replaces Michelle Spavin, who was named acting U.S. attorney after Trump’s inauguration.
Jason Coody, a longtime federal prosecutor in Tallahassee, had served in the post under President Joe Biden.
Heekin began his legal career as a prosecutor in Palm Beach County and went on to serve as chief deputy general counsel and then deputy chief of staff under Scott when he was governor.
Scott said in a statement that he was “incredibly proud” to support Heekin’s nomination.
“Jack has been a critical part of my team for the past 12 years in my office as governor and now U.S. senator,” Scott said. “In our work together, Jack has shown exemplary character and a deep respect for the U.S. Constitution, the rule of law, and the roles of our three branches of government.”
He earned his law degree from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America, according to The Florida Bar. He is a member of the Federalist Society, the conservative legal organization.
Heekin also is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and the Republican National Lawyers Association, according to his bio on the Federalist Society website.
He is married and “an avid hunter and outdoorsman with a passion for cooking and dad jokes,” the bio says.
U.S. Attorney’s Offices represent the federal government in legal matters within their districts. Their lawyers prosecute federal crimes, defend the U.S. in civil cases, and handle appeals. U.S. attorneys normally are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
The Northern District of Florida, one of three in the state, spans 23 counties, stretching from Pensacola through Panama City and Tallahassee and south to Gainesville.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jack Heekin, general counsel for Rick Scott, named new U.S. attorney