The news for this broke Sunday... Kind of surprised we have not been talking about this. Now is your chance...
Dissension roils Public Defender's Office
Women's firings lead to angry resignations, questions on ethics
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-08-25/story/dissension-roils-public-defenders-office
then...
Public Defender's Office employee deleted records showing Matt Shirk's wife had a badge to access his office
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-08-26/story/public-defenders-office-employee-deleted-records-showing-matt-shirks
More...
Democrats call for investigation, suspension of public defender Matt Shirk
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Democrats-call-for-investigation-suspension-of/yzGLes9vIke26BvSjHH1-A.cspx
First Coast news Video...
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2633039118001
Need to get rid of both the State Attorney and Public Defender.
;D... my guess is facebook is as close as he can get to her... :-X
The FB thing...SMDH. I think you are right about that being the only access to his wife Bridge Troll. Such an oddly pathetic post to back up his many posts quoting "scripture". However I never did see one about coveting thy neighbors wife on his page. lol
On a more serious note however is the concern about Shirk using his employees to cover his game playing and going so far as to have records erased and inquiring about how to "shirk" the Sunshine Law. We also found out that he is a PD in absentee much of the time. Day's and weeks of simply not showing up. In private business he would have been fired for most of his actions. Then this thing about his wife having an all access pass to the PD's office. I didn't vote for Shirk but I don't remember seeing his wife's name on the ballot. Now we have the PD's office hiring more lawyers to defend the lawyers. Amazing and very unfortunate.
The sex stuff is stupid and seems to point to some degree of low moral character. That however is Shirk's business, as fishy as it was. The stuff impacting how his office is run, used and abused is what should have everyone upset. I wonder if Scott will have the nerve to "fire" or "suspend" a fellow that was endorsed by his friend Angela Corey? I guess we shall see. Finally was Shirk's comment to media that his "family is off limits". Really? Then why is he apologizing to his wife for chasing skirts on social media? I feel most sorry for his child who must be feeling very confused right about now.
This is simply inexcusable behavior. He should resign. If he does not, recall him. If the recall fails, we need a new candidate.
The whole thing (that we know of) seems to have a script right out of an afternoon soap opera or over the top telenovela... 8)
Hey! We can't let New York outdo us in the public-official-sex-sleaze department! We have a reputation to uphold.
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 28, 2013, 01:53:58 PM
The whole thing (that we know of) seems to have a script right out of an afternoon soap opera or over the top telenovela... 8)
It does, it really does.
I guess Shirk is going to follow the lead of "Weiner" in "Weiner Gate". He called a press conference for today supposedly to explain hiring an attorney to address the "records requests" made to his office. Looks like Matt has no intention of stepping down. If he doesn't then Scott needs to take him out of office. He abused his office, he gave his wife, a non employee an all access pass to a State office. He used city employees time to track down a woman he thought was "hot" then used tax dollars to put her on the payroll at the same time violating the rules for job postings and equal access to all "qualified" individuals. Then he takes it a step further by hiring two of her girlfriends again outside of proper hiring processes. But it gets better when he wants to spend public money via his pay to "shower" with one, not to mention throwing back shots of hard liquor with two of these ladies while all of them were working. I mean who doesn't want a bunch of folks running the PD and defending the peoples right to a fair trial that are kinda drunk?
I sure do miss Mr. White right about now.
Say what you will about him improperly hiring employees, sexually harassing employees, having an affair on his wife, and trying to cover it up, but the most egregious thing he did was publically apologizing to his wife on Facebook. I mean come on man.
But seriously, one of my least favorite things in the digital world, is people who wish happy birthday or anniversery to their significant other on Facebook...who is sitting 2 feet from them.
Wow, how did I miss this one? This is crazy on so many levels.
Quote from: thelakelander on August 28, 2013, 02:25:18 PM
Wow, how did I miss this one? This is crazy on so many levels.
I hear Shirk's going to go work for the Lakeland PD ;)
Quote from: thelakelander on August 28, 2013, 02:25:18 PM
Wow, how did I miss this one? This is crazy on so many levels.
Well Ennis, perhaps because this issue was outside of your normal arena. Let me throw it your way. Is it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Quote from: Apache on August 28, 2013, 02:15:53 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 28, 2013, 02:04:33 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 28, 2013, 01:53:58 PM
The whole thing (that we know of) seems to have a script right out of an afternoon soap opera or over the top telenovela... 8)
It does, it really does.
I guess Shirk is going to follow the lead of "Weiner" in "Weiner Gate". He called a press conference for today supposedly to explain hiring an attorney to address the "records requests" made to his office. Looks like Matt has no intention of stepping down. If he doesn't then Scott needs to take him out of office. He abused his office, he gave his wife, a non employee an all access pass to a State office. He used city employees time to track down a woman he thought was "hot" then used tax dollars to put her on the payroll at the same time violating the rules for job postings and equal access to all "qualified" individuals. Then he takes it a step further by hiring two of her girlfriends again outside of proper hiring processes. But it gets better when he wants to spend public money via his pay to "shower" with one, not to mention throwing back shots of hard liquor with two of these ladies while all of them were working. I mean who doesn't want a bunch of folks running the PD and defending the peoples right to a fair trial that are kinda drunk?
I sure do miss Mr. White right about now.
The time of that press conference hasn't been announced yet.
I suspect that's because he got a call from Rick Scott first telling him he may want to hold off on that press conference, in order to have just one press conference...at which he announces his resignation.
I hope you are right Apache. ;) Shirk needs to go away. Private practice perhaps where he can play on his own dime.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 28, 2013, 01:23:07 PM
The FB thing...SMDH. I think you are right about that being the only access to his wife Bridge Troll. Such an oddly pathetic post to back up his many posts quoting "scripture". However I never did see one about coveting thy neighbors wife on his page. lol
On a more serious note however is the concern about Shirk using his employees to cover his game playing and going so far as to have records erased and inquiring about how to "shirk" the Sunshine Law. We also found out that he is a PD in absentee much of the time. Day's and weeks of simply not showing up. In private business he would have been fired for most of his actions. Then this thing about his wife having an all access pass to the PD's office. I didn't vote for Shirk but I don't remember seeing his wife's name on the ballot. Now we have the PD's office hiring more lawyers to defend the lawyers. Amazing and very unfortunate.
The sex stuff is stupid and seems to point to some degree of low moral character. That however is Shirk's business, as fishy as it was. The stuff impacting how his office is run, used and abused is what should have everyone upset. I wonder if Scott will have the nerve to "fire" or "suspend" a fellow that was endorsed by his friend Angela Corey? I guess we shall see. Finally was Shirk's comment to media that his "family is off limits". Really? Then why is he apologizing to his wife for chasing skirts on social media. I feel most sorry for his child who must be feeling very confused right about now.
+100
As for Mr. Shirk and his "game"......ummm, you pay them to leave. You don't put them on salary. ???
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 28, 2013, 02:41:09 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on August 28, 2013, 02:25:18 PM
Wow, how did I miss this one? This is crazy on so many levels.
Well Ennis, perhaps because this issue was outside of your normal arena. Let me throw it your way. Is it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Remember this building was re-purposed as well as remodeled
and originally there was a pool too! Can you imagine the antics if it still existed? My two-cents! ::)
Quote from: Ethylene on August 28, 2013, 03:48:23 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 28, 2013, 02:41:09 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on August 28, 2013, 02:25:18 PM
Wow, how did I miss this one? This is crazy on so many levels.
Well Ennis, perhaps because this issue was outside of your normal arena. Let me throw it your way. Is it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Remember this building was re-purposed as well as remodeled and originally there was a pool too! Can you imagine the antics if it still existed? My two-cents! ::)
Shots and skinny dipping to be sure. lmao
Quote from: Apache on August 28, 2013, 04:08:36 PM
Well...about 50 minutes until close of business. My prediction: if there is no press conference as previously announced there would be, he will resign tomorrow.
You may be right. Lets hope so.
Quote from: thelakelander on August 28, 2013, 03:12:19 PM
As for Mr. Shirk and his "game"......ummm, you pay them to leave. You don't put them on salary. ???
That's EXACTLY what I told the arresting officer, to no avail....
Officer! Hold on a sec... wait..... Let me explain...... by no means was I paying her for the sex. That was going to happen regardless. I gave her the $100 so she wouldn't be here in the morning when I wake up!
LOL!
Looks like Angela Corey has asked Gov. Scott to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the controversy in the PD's office.
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-08-28/story/state-attorney-angela-corey-calls-special-prosecutor-review-public
Corey's got enough of her own departmental challenges, she's already reached her quota of SAO bad /dumb publicity moments for the year. Hopefully Gov. Scott will appoint an independent investigation into "Shirk-weiner-gate".
While I could care less who Shirk sleeps with or how he grovels his way out of the doghouse with his wife, I'm concerned with 1. the request for an investigator to resumbit a resignation letter ostensibly to avoid its disclosure in a public records request, 2. deletion of badge access logs by his department (destruction of potential evidence? - such records should never be deleted - REMOVE access, don't try to delete evidence that the access existed, and 3. badge access to limited-access facilities authorized to anyone outside of authorized staff employees. We didn't elect Shirk's wife, and there is NO legitimate business reason for her to have badge access to restricted locations at the PDO anymore than there is legitimate business reason for you or I to (assuming you don't work for the PD office). It's a good thing Mrs. Shirk only threatened a PDO employee with words, not with violence in that situation.
So last month our SAO is faced with allegations of intentional failure to disclose technology-related evidence to the defense in the Zimmerman case (and does a ham-fisted firing of the staffer who whistleblows that) and now our PD is caught potentially tampering with evidence for public records requests. I'm not sure which department is the pot and which one is the kettle at the moment.
My key questions are 1. what the heck was he (or his minions) thinking (or not thinking), and 2. the bottom line: how much is all the attempted legal CYA activity and associated litigation going to cost us taxpayers?
Apparently Shirks minion's had a problem with his behavior which is why they exposed all of these disturbing actions taken at his request. Two of them quit over this. As to the others involved chances are great that they just wanted to keep their jobs.
QuoteIs it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Looks like you plan for a shower when you intend to hire hotties. He had the shower installed in his office last year. Presumably at taxpayer expense...
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 28, 2013, 05:35:10 PM
Looks like Angela Corey has asked Gov. Scott to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the controversy in the PD's office.
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-08-28/story/state-attorney-angela-corey-calls-special-prosecutor-review-public
The irony.
More taxpayer waste. Can't wait to see MJ'ers run for these posts, since they live in glass houses and I know, they can all live like saints and do a better job than the current lot!
Who is Ron Mallett? And why has Mr Shirk showed up at the office for 14 out of 54 days?
Another eye opening article...
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/New-Details-in-Action-News-Investigation-of/WA27h8BF7Emb5UDdK7fLfQ.cspx
Here is a story on Ron Mallet:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=50826 (http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=50826)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 29, 2013, 06:59:13 AM
QuoteIs it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Looks like you plan for a shower when you intend to hire hotties. He had the shower installed in his office last year. Presumably at taxpayer expense...
Seriously? Why am I not surprised.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 29, 2013, 01:19:12 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 29, 2013, 06:59:13 AM
QuoteIs it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Looks like you plan for a shower when you intend to hire hotties. He had the shower installed in his office last year. Presumably at taxpayer expense...
Seriously? Why am I not surprised.
View the video here... http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/New-Details-in-Action-News-Investigation-of/WA27h8BF7Emb5UDdK7fLfQ.cspx at the 2:20 mark they talk about the installation of the "hottie shower". The video also contains the voice of Mr Mallett asking for a type written resignation rather than an email. The video also mentions that Mallet is "chief of staff yet most public defender offices do not have such a position... and if they do... it is someone with a law degree. Mr Mallet does not possess one...
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 29, 2013, 01:36:10 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 29, 2013, 01:19:12 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on August 29, 2013, 06:59:13 AM
QuoteIs it usual for a building constructed to house the offices of public defenders to have "showers" along with "sinks and potties"? How does one plan for this type of need? lol
Looks like you plan for a shower when you intend to hire hotties. He had the shower installed in his office last year. Presumably at taxpayer expense...
Seriously? Why am I not surprised.
View the video here... http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/New-Details-in-Action-News-Investigation-of/WA27h8BF7Emb5UDdK7fLfQ.cspx at the 2:20 mark they talk about the installation of the "hottie shower". The video also contains the voice of Mr Mallett asking for a type written resignation rather than an email. The video also mentions that Mallet is "chief of staff yet most public defender offices do not have such a position... and if they do... it is someone with a law degree. Mr Mallet does not possess one...
Wow, that report is something else. First photo's of two of the hires as well. Gotta love that they could not supply a copy of Mallot's job description and that he has no law background, along with the already mentioned fact that Shirk's wife had all access to a State office without a background check or proper approval. What a mess. At this point, after an investigation I can't see how Shirk will not be removed from office. Looks like he didn't get much use out of the shower he had installed, he would have actually had to show up to his job in order to do that. ::)
We here at Metrojax complain about the GOB network all the time. here is a prime example... and most of us believe this sort of thing is going on all through the political offices of Jacksonville... and we would have never caught shirk had he not wanted to shower with whiskey river babes... (so do I but I'm not a public defender ;))
The more I read about this the more I wonder how can he possibly still be in office?
BT,I kinda wonder if the salacious nature of this situation is what actually led to the revelation of the other actions which as you stated are just so "GOB". It is a funny thing, this business of fighting the actions of the GOB mentality in Jacksonville. Sometime folks get it and other times if you try and point out the illegal nonsense that goes on it's the messenger that gets killed as supposed to folks reacting to the garbage that goes in back room. Believe me I know that to be true first hand. lmao
Quote from: JayBird on August 29, 2013, 01:56:42 PM
The more I read about this the more I wonder how can he possibly still be in office?
He is there because he needs the paycheck to keep his wife and family with him I would imagine. I would agree that there is no way he should remain in office and a person of character would have stepped down by now. I guess his actions have already led many to question his judgement and moral character by now but he will likely hang in drawing a check until the pressure is too great.
True. And Jax isn't alone. Weiner in NY got busted for sexting, didn't admit until be was forced to, and is now running for city Mayor and LEADING in some polls. I wonder if Bill & Monica made us look at sexual acts in public office as blasé ...
This power and sex thing has been going on since the beginning of time. Back in the 50's and 60's folks in politics got away with it cause the press would not touch their sexual follies. In retrospect we can talk about the fact that Lincoln slept apart from his wife and with another man. (A matter of historic record) Roosevelt's wife carried on an affair with his knowledge for years, We like Ike and Ike liked his secretary, the Kennedy boys, well let's not even go there. lol The reality is that today's attitudes have changed toward exposing and discussing this sort of thing. In Shirk's case he went beyond being a "player" well into some serious violations of ethics and the law. That to me is the real issue here but as in all else, "sex sells". ;)
This is a very serious matter, so I don't mean to make light of it, BUT when you sit back and think about "installing a shower at your office" you really just have to LOL.
Quote from: jaxjags on August 29, 2013, 02:14:25 PM
This is a very serious matter, so I don't mean to make light of it, BUT when you sit back and think about "installing a shower at your office" you really just have to LOL.
Shirk isn't the first to do so. John Peyton had a $10K upgrade to his potty room which included a shower and connecting doors to both his and Scott Tegal's offices. Tegal you may remember left after a scandal and Grand Jury questions.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on August 29, 2013, 02:10:59 PM
We like Ike and Ike liked his secretary, the Kennedy boys, well let's not even go there.
Best line this week!!!
But seriously, that's true and makes sense. During the Clinton admin my opinion was "who cares what he does on his time, as long he's running the country right" but things like this case show me that can get out of hand.
As for the shower in the office, before this I would've looked at it (naively) as someone who has such a demanding workload that they don't even have time to stop home and grab a shower before going to the next event. Heck, there are many workdays where in my 14th, 16th, 18th hour I'd love a shower!
Recently we learned that the neat new shower Matt Shirk had installed in his bathroom at the Public Defenders office was done without proper permits. Ah, so much for following legal permitting requirements. lol But this last little bit of info that was shared today about how Shirk fired the nice and very attractive young woman named Chester is....well....to put it bluntly, really creepy. So not only does his wife have an all access pass to his office, she also needs to know about his hiring and firing practices. Apparently his penchant for chasing panties had quite a price attached to it.
(http://i.imgur.com/okA51ta.jpg) Ms. Chester shows up at work to find her things all packed and there was no goodbye letter.
Quote
The Times-Union is reviewing the documents. The paper's early review shows an email from Chester to Shirk on the day she was terminated asking about her employment.
"So I get to work and all of my stuff is in boxes. Am I fired?" Chester wrote.
Shirk forwarded the email without comment to his wife.
The Times-Union has called the Public Defender's Office to learn why Shirk would need to inform his wife about possible personnel moves
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-09-11/story/matt-shirks-office-releases-thousands-documents#ixzz2ec1w6EK5
Thanks CC... that tat on her arm looks a bit creepy too...
Shirk's wife is as crazy as a bedbug in my opinion.
I'm not surprised he put himself in this position, being the kind of guy he is, but what surprises me is that he knew what kind of sh*t storm she would rain down upon him and he wasn't more careful about his indiscretions.
Quote from: Gators312 on September 11, 2013, 03:27:36 PM
Shirk's wife is as crazy as a bedbug in my opinion.
I'm not surprised he put himself in this position, being the kind of guy he is, but what surprises me is that he knew what kind of sh*t storm she would rain down upon him and he wasn't more careful about his indiscretions.
That's the thing about the mindset of those in elected office who think they are above reproach and smart enough to talk their way out of any situation they get into. You know, the power corrupts thing. Stupid is as stupid does.
This guy is melting down badly. Sad to see...but also scary that somehow he held an important office in this city.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540497
QuoteOn the morning a newspaper story detailed criticisms of how Public Defender Matt Shirk's office handled the terminations of three female employees, Shirk sent a blistering text message to one of the men quoted in the story.
In an Aug. 25 story, A.L. Kelly told The Florida Times-Union he "could not deal with those folks (the Shirk administration) mistreating people and destroying their lives the way they did."
At 5:36 a.m. that day, Shirk sent a text message to Kelly, the former director of investigations, calling him a "no good backstabbing piece of garbage with ZERO integrity. ZERO."
Shirk questions Kelly's loyalty in the text message.
"And to think what I've done for you giving you a job paying $85k a year and it was about the most cushion job i (sic) could give someone. ... And then when you left I paid out your leave time because of the friendship because i didnt (sic) have to and had not for many other employees. And this is how you repay me? This (is) how ... much my family means to you?"
Shirk went on to say "I always knew you were a lier (sic) but I could deal with it. But you are something else."
Who needs AMC, Regal or Redbox? Keep those text messages coming!
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/c3bc25de4f56623b2ac5d3a94549d727/tumblr_mmdol94Imd1rof4t8o1_400.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/cpolk/GIF%20AMMO/Mjisenjoyingthisdrama.gif)
A must read from yesterday... all three girls named... even the one he calls... "Chesty"... :o ::)
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-09-11/story/shirk-and-his-chief-staff-connected-deletion-shirks-wifes-access-badge
Looks like Matt Shirk has deactivated his FB page. He should have done this before he took his personal business with his wife public. Just my opinion.
This story seems to have disappeared. I could find no online references on a search for Matt Shirk dated after Sept 15.
As far as I can tell States Attorney Bill Cervone has not released his findings yet.
Per the T-U on December 16, 2013.
Topher Sanders: (904) 359-4169 is the reporter for the T-U.
The investigation into embattled Public Defender Matt Shirk's office will span into 2014, but is anticipated to conclude by the end of March, special prosecutor Bill Cervone's office said Monday.
That update came after Shirk's wife filed for divorce Friday, according to court records. The couple has been together for nearly 10 years, but separated in November after weeks of media scrutiny of Shirk's management of his office.
Michelle Shirk's divorce filing says her marriage is "irretrievably broken."
Cervone was appointed in late August by Gov. Rick Scott to investigate Shirk's office after the Times-Union published articles about the firing of three female employees coming on the heels of Shirk's wife confronting one of the women at the public defender's office.
The newspaper revealed that Shirk's office deleted public records just days after the Times-Union requests similar items from the city and that Shirk permitted alcohol consumption in his office, which is against city law. Also, Shirk spent $5,000 of his campaign funds at an auction benefiting the private school attended by one of Shirk's family members. Campaign funds aren't supposed to be used for personal gain, but Shirk said he didn't personally gain from the purchases.
Darry Lloyd, Cervone's deputy chief investigator, wouldn't provide details on the investigation but said everything "is pretty much still under review."
"At the early part of next year we'll be able to have more information and move forward," Lloyd said.
Lloyd said the investigation is moving at it's current pace because Cervone's office wants "to get it right." "We're not going to rush through," he said.
Other factors impacting the how long the investigation will take are that those assigned to the case have other duties and Cervone's office is involved in about a half-dozen special prosecutor assignments, Lloyd said.
Cervone is state attorney in the 8th Judicial Circuit, which serves Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Levy, Gilchrist and Union Counties.
Shirk did not comment on the investigation, but he did send a response to the newspaper related to his wife's divorce filing.
"It is offensive that the Times-Union would write about such things," Shirk said in a text message. "It is not newsworthy in any way, shape or form. My personal life is just that, personal."
Shirk said he would expect and appreciate "privacy" related to his family.
Michelle Shirk declined to comment for this story.
But according to court records she's asking to have exclusive rights to the couple's home, alimony and child support, and to share parenting responsibilities of the couple's school-age son, with Michelle being the "majority timesharing parent."
In August, the Times-Union published the accounts of two former public defender investigators who said several female employees were unfairly terminated by Shirk. One of the female employees had a confrontation with Michelle Shirk at the public defender's officer prior to being terminated.
The story detailed the May and June hirings of two female employees from Whisky River nightclub and restaurant into the Public Defender's Office. The investigators said there was a perceived unusual closeness between Shirk and one of the women, Kayle Chester. Chester, another woman hired from Whisky River and the woman Michelle Shirk confronted were fired in June.
Public records released in October show Matt Shirk exchanged dozens of text messages with Tiffany Ice, the woman Michelle Shirk confronted at his office. Michelle Shirk told the Times-Union in September that she went to the office to have a face-to-face meeting with Ice after reading "inappropriate" text messages between Ice and her husband. Matt Shirk acknowledged sending inappropriate text messages to Ice and other employees, but wouldn't divulge the details of those texts.
Records showing Michelle Shirk had an access badge to the public defender's office were deleted two days after a Times-Union request for similar records related to Matt Shirk's access badge. Matt Shirk has said he didn't know about the newspaper's request when he instructed his chief of staff to delete his wife's badge information.
Lawsuit says Public Defender Matt Shirk asked employee to shower with him in officehttp://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1279529-tiffany-ice-suit.html#document/p1
QuoteA former administrative assistant in Public Defender Matt Shirk's office has filed a federal lawsuit against Shirk for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, promoting a hostile work environment and libel.
Tiffany Ice claims she was fired last year because of her gender after Shirk sexually harassed her. The suit, filed last week, contains many of the same details first published by the Times-Union in 2013.
"During business hours defendant Matt Shirk sent plaintiff a text message asking her to take a shower with him in his private office shower," the suit states.
Ice's attorney, Bill Sheppard, said the suit "speaks for itself" and declined further comment.
The suit also claims Shirk later sent Ice an electronic greeting card with a picture of a man and a woman and a caption reading: "I think if we had sex there would be very minimal awkwardness afterwards."
The lawsuit states Ice rejected "Shirk's advances."
Shirk could not be reached for comment.
full article: http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-25/story/lawsuit-says-public-defender-matt-shirk-asked-employee-shower-him-office
I wonder if Shirk can use "you were also hired because of your gender" as a way of getting out of this.
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 25, 2014, 09:27:04 PM
I wonder if Shirk can use "you were also hired because of your gender" as a way of getting out of this.
At the minimum he should have a nice counter-suit.
I'm sure afternoon showers and plenty 'o sex was promised and once she was hired, she fell through on her end of the deal. Sounds like Shirk needs some "Family Law only. Men Only." help.
Running for Re-election
QuoteIt took Public Defender Matt Shirk the better part of a year to decide if he was going to seek re-election.
And a lot of thought and prayer.
It wasn't a matter of Shirk wavering between yes or no.
It was a matter of what was best for his family considering, he said, "the public nature of what we went through for a couple of years."
Shirk's public problems began Aug. 25, 2013, when The Florida Times-Union published a story on his indiscretions with female employees.
Day after day, the media was at his front door. His marriage was unraveling. And, there were other personal issues going on that he won't talk about.
One week after the first story published, he found himself telling God, "I will follow you if you save me from all this."
The result, Shirk said, was "a radical transformational encounter with Jesus Christ that changed my life."
His professional troubles continued for more than a year, culminating with a grand jury report that called for his resignation.
Shirk doesn't want those issues to define his re-election campaign, where he will face retired County Court Judge Charles Cofer, the only opponent currently in the race.
Shirk knows he can't hide from the scandals of the past two years. "To the extent that I need to apologize to people, I will," he said.
But he intends to talk about positives, like the Vision for Excellence program his office started in 2010.
The mentoring program for 9- to 15-year-old boys has grown each year, he said, from about 20 the first year to 70 last year.
The priority, Shirk said, is to keep those young men from becoming clients of his office.
The program is run by a nonprofit established by the office, Shirk said, and funded mainly through private donations.
Math and science teachers are hired to tutor the participants.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546830 (http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546830)
Retired Judge Charles Cofer is running against Matt Shirk:
QuoteFourth Circuit public defender Matt Shirk has been under fire so long it's hard to remember when he wasn't. A shower scandal will do that to you. He has yet to file for re-election, and he dodged one significant challenge when Mike Weinstein took a job in the Lenny Curry administration.
Even after Weinstein demurred, Shirk still hedged his bets when it came to filing for re-election.
He has yet to file.
Now, if he does, he has an opponent who has, like Weinstein, credibility throughout the Jacksonville area. But unlike Weinstein, who raised $40,000 for the race before quietly withdrawing, he's in it to win it.
On Monday, Duval County Judge Charles Cofer retired from the bench. On Tuesday, he telegraphed his move to run for public defender to replace Shirk. And he has tough critiques of the incumbent.
On Wednesday, Cofer drove to Tallahassee, very early in the morning, to open his campaign account.
On the way back, he talked with FloridaPolitics.com.
Cofer described Shirk as "all icing and no cake," underperforming in key ways.
"His job is to provide adequate representation for defendants," Cofer said. "What I fault him for is his failure of leadership."
"I don't offer ill will toward Shirk," Cofer said. However, he said he "couldn't stand by any longer and see the office suffering."
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/195692-charles-cofer-finally-launches-challenge-to-matt-shirk (http://floridapolitics.com/archives/195692-charles-cofer-finally-launches-challenge-to-matt-shirk)