Rocky Brancato
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Past member of an elite unit defending sex crimes, child abuse and homicide!
Now Open – January 2025!
With more than 25 years of experience in criminal law, Rocky Brancato has established himself as a leading attorney in the Tampa Bay legal community. As a seasoned criminal trial attorney, he worked his way up to the role of second-in-command at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office before launching The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., in January 2025. Rocky has a wealth of experience handling high-stakes criminal cases, including homicides and sex offenses, from his tenure in a specialized major crimes division.
Throughout his career, Rocky has consistently taken on complex and serious cases, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to his clients. His extensive legal knowledge enables him to handle criminal, DUI, and traffic-related cases at any level. He is recognized for his strategic use of expert witnesses, helping to clarify key legal and factual issues for judges and juries, ensuring a fair trial against the prosecution’s vast resources.
Rocky also brings in-depth knowledge of mental health courts and specialty court programs, helping clients find alternative resolutions to avoid unnecessary criminal convictions. His contributions include serving on the 13th Judicial Circuit's Problem Solving Court Committee. For over 20 years, Rocky has mentored and trained attorneys throughout Tampa Bay, and he has lectured across Florida for Florida Bar credit courses. His peers have honored him with the prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a mark of excellence in criminal defense.
Licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Rocky is a dedicated member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA), the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL), and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).
Rocky has positively influenced thousands of clients' lives. Put Rocky in your corner today!
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Juvenile Law
- White Collar Crime
- Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights
- FaceTime
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
-
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees are typically flat fees. We also offer financing through LawPay's Pay Later service.
- Florida
- The Florida Bar
- ID Number: 191213
-
- U.S. Supreme Court
-
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
-
- English
- Managing Partner
- Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
- - Current
- Chief Operations Officer (Second-in Command)
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As Chief Operations Officer, I oversaw all operations of the office, directly under the elected Public Defender. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Felony Bureau Chief
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As Felony Bureau Chief, I oversaw the operations of the felony bureau. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Misdemeanor, Juvenile & Intake Bureau Chief
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As the Misdemeanor, Juvenile & Intake Bureau Chief, I oversaw and managed those bureaus. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Training Director
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As Training Director, I developed training programs for the entire office, including a National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Training where attorneys learned to try mock cases in a safe environment. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Major Crimes Trial Attorney
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As a Major Crimes Trial Attorney, I tried the most serious cases in the office, including sex crimes, homicides, DUI manslaughter and death penalty cases. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Felony Division Chief
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As Felony Bureau Chief, I oversaw a team of attorneys in a felony division before one judge. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Felony Trial Attorney
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- -
- As a felony trial attorney, I tried felony cases up to Life felonies. The office is the largest criminal defense firm in the Tampa Bay Area, with over 200 employees and 100 attorneys.
- Assistant Public Defender
- Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit (Escambia County, FL)
- -
- As an Assistant Public Defender, I served as a trial attorney in the misdemeanor and felony bureaus, trying cases before juries.
- Certified Legal Intern
- Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit (Escambia County, FL)
- -
- University of North Dakota School of Law
- J.D. (1998) | Law
- -
-
- Utah State University
- B.S. (1994) | Political Science
- -
-
- Torchbearer Award
- Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- AV Preeminent Rating
- Martindale-Hubbell
- The highest peer rating given to attorneys with exceptional professional excellence within their ethical standards, legal expertise, and communication skills.
- Honor, Optimism, Leadership and Teamwork Award
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- Major Crimes Bureau Professional Attorney of the Year
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- Felony Bureau Litigator of the Year
- Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- Life Member
- - Current
-
- DUI Counterattack
- Board of Directors
- - Current
-
- Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA)
- Mmber
- - Current
-
- Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (HCACDL)
- Board of Directors
- - Current
-
- The Florida Bar # 191213
- Member
- - Current
-
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDL)
- Member
- - Current
-
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
- Member
- - Current
-
- Circuit 13 Juvenile Justice Board
- Chair
- -
-
- Problem Solving Courts Oversight Committee, 13th Judicial Circuit
- Member
- -
-
- Pace Center for Girls, Hillsborough
- Vice Chair
- -
-
- Juvenile Justice, University of South Florida Criminology Class, Tampa, FL
- University of South Florida
- Public Records, Building a Better Defense, 2023, Bonita Springs, FL
- Florida Public Defender Association
- Treatment of Opioid Addiction through Problem Solving Courts, Hillsborough County Opoid Summit, Tampa, Florida
- Hillsborough County
- Impeachment of Witness by Prior Inconsistent Statement, Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office Training, Tampa, FL
- Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office
- Police Interrogation of Children on School Campus, Hillsborough County Public Schools Principals, Tampa, FL
- Hillsborough County Public Schools
- Q. Can a 21-year-old be prosecuted for getting a 17-year-old pregnant in Florida?
- A: You two fall under the "close in age" section of Florida law. Your boyfriend will not be prosecuted so long as the activity is consensual. Here is an excerpt from our firm's blog:
A narrow exception exists under the “close-in-age” exemption found in Section 794.05, Florida Statutes. This exemption prevents the criminalization of relationships between young individuals close in age. Specifically, if both parties are at least 16 years old and the accused is under 24 years of age, this defense may apply. However, if the accused is significantly older, the exemption does not apply, leading to severe penalties, including mandatory sex offender registration.
Best wishes to ... Read More
