Gov. Scott reappoints defense lawyer

FORT MYERS — Gov. Rick Scott reappointed Ita Neymotin regional counsel for the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel for the Second District Court of Appeal of Florida.

Neymotin was first appointed to the office in 2011 and her new term will end in September 2019. She previously served as trial attorney and chief for the office from 2007 to 2010.

As regional counsel, Neymotin, based in Fort Myers, is responsible for the 14 counties that make up the Second District Court of Appeal, managing 140 attorneys and support staff with an annual budget of more than $9 million. The region includes Gulf Coast counties from Pasco to Collier.

The regional counsel defends parties when the public defender's office has a conflict in a case. The office also represents indigent clients in juvenile dependency as well as certain types of civil cases.

Neymotin received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a law degree and master of laws from Capital University Law School. Neymotin is also currently chair of the local professionalism panel for the 20th Judicial Circuit.