Shawn Erik Clark

Shawn Clark graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville with a Bachelor’s degree in 2007. He furthered his education at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 2011. His academic excellence was recognized when he was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law graduates ranking in the top 10% of their class.

Shawn began his legal career as an associate attorney at an employment law firm in Jacksonville Beach, where he honed his skills in litigation strategy and complex legal research.

In 2013, he returned to Gainesville and transitioned his practice to criminal defense. Over the years, Shawn has personally represented thousands of clients facing criminal charges, guiding them through every stage of the legal process—from arrest to trial. His dedication to client advocacy earned him the role of supervisor for the Levy and Gilchrist offices within his firm.

Shawn is admitted to practice in the State of Florida. He actively contributes to the legal community as a member of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Grievance Committee and is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Marion County Bar Association.

Beyond his professional achievements, Shawn values family and community involvement. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Catherine, their two dogs, and their cat. Since 2022, he has proudly served as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Shawn currently practices in the area of Personal Injury, leveraging his extensive experience to provide compassionate and effective representation for his clients. He also has a wide understanding of criminal law, and although he no longer takes criminal defense cases, he loves helping people dealing with the overwhelming burden of being accused of a crime by the government.

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Florida

The Florida Bar

Since 2011

Division Chief

Public Defender's Office Eighth Judicial Circuit

2013 - 2025

Represented thousands of clients facing criminal charges, guiding them through every stage of the legal process—from arrest to trial.

University of Florida Levin College of Law

J.D. (2011)

2008 - 2011

Honors: Order of the Coif

University of Florida

B.A. (2007)

2004 - 2007

Motion Practice, Gainesville, FL

Drawing on my years of experience successfully drafting and arguing motions before the court, I developed and presented a step-by-step guide to demonstrate to both new and seasoned attorneys how they could also submit well-researched and clearly written motions on a variety of legal topics.

Q. Facing simple battery-domestic charge; no criminal history; seeking court defense advice.

May 19, 2025

A: James L. Arrasmith has given you a fantastic answer. I also see you asked this on May 1 and I didn't have a chance to see it until May 19, so you might have already done everything I am about to recommend.

First, make sure you contact your Assistant Public Defender (APD) to discuss these or other issues well before your scheduled court event(s). APDs are extremely knowledgeable and experienced, but they need time to consider, research and process your case. When I was an APD, many clients would not reach out to me until the day of court. That may work in some jurisdictions, but in mine, since I was the only APD in the courtroom, I did not have the ability to meet with my clients the day of court.

As you're likely aware, you have brought up a Stand Your Ground defense. Basically, you are admitting that you did put your hands on her, but, you only did that in order to prevent her from continuing to hit you. That could be a complete defense to the charge, if the judge and/or a jury agrees. You and your attorney should discuss all of the relevant facts and any evidence that may help support your defense - hopefully as soon as possible.

In addition to the evidence suggested by Mr. Arrasmith, I'd also indicate:

* Some people have cameras inside their home that may have recorded the events (Blink, Wyze, Ring, etc.). Make sure you preserve the relevant video footage if it did capture anything since security cameras can automatically delete footage after a set period of time.

* If I was your attorney, I'd also want to know if you can contemplate a motive for her actions. Argument about money? Argument about infidelity?

* Was she impaired by alcohol or drugs?

* Does she suffer from mental health issues that might have come into play?

* Anything else you believe may be relevant.

Although it sounds to me that you have a valid SYG defense - you must present all of the information to your APD. If they agree, they will file a Motion to Dismiss. This means the judge will get to hear testimony about what happened and decide if you have a valid defense. If the judge agrees, the case will be dismissed. If the judge disagrees, you will have the opportunity to present the same SYG defense to a jury of your peers. In my career, almost every time the judge denied what I believed was a good SYG defense case, a jury would come back with a not guilty verdict - so don't think just because the judge ruled against you that you will lose at trial. Be sure to discuss it in detail.

You indicated you have no criminal history, so you may qualify for a Deferred Prosecution Agreement. This could be a way for you to get the State to dismiss the charges against you without the risk of trial - but you would have to complete a selection of conditions chosen by the Assistant State Attorney. You should discuss this possibility in detail with your APD.

The main theme of my answer - communicate with your APD. From the limited information you've provided, it sounds like you have a great potential defense. Good luck! ... Read More