Shirk was a public defender for the 4th Judicial Circuit from 2009 to 2017. The circuit is made up of Duval, Nassau and Clay counties.

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday approved suspending former Jacksonville-area Public Defender Matt Shirk from practicing law for one year.

A court-appointed referee is reviewing the Florida Bar’s complaint against former Fourth Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk and could recommend potential sanctions for him, according to court records.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville public defender Matt Shirk’s conditional guilty plea filed last month with the Florida Supreme Court was rejected. The suspension would have taken effect 30 days from the date of the final order, but the Supreme Court said it considered the conditional plea for consent judgment and rejected it. “The Florida Bar is hereby directed to prepare and file a formal complaint against Matt Shirk,” the Court wrote. The issues stem from Shirk’s time as a public defender in Jacksonville from 2009-2017. According to the conditional guilty plea, Shirk’s misconduct was “due, in part, to personal or emotional problems” and that he’s “deeply remorseful for his unprofessional behavior while serving as Public Defender.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville public defender Matt Shirk is facing a six-month suspension from practicing law. If he wants to get back into law, it will require “proof of rehabilitation” prior to reinstatement. The suspension would take effect 30 days from the date of the final order, so he could close out the practice of law and protect the interest of existing clients. The suspension stems from Shirk’s time as a public defender from 2009-2017. According to the conditional guilty plea, Shirk’s misconduct was “due, in part, to personal or emotional problems” and that he’s “deeply remorseful for his unprofessional behavior while serving as Public Defender.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A second criminal investigation into former 4th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk has been closed. In August, 8th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Cervone was appointed to conduct the second criminal investigation into Shirk after an audit raised allegations of excess retirement benefits, misuse of government property, unauthorized disposal of government property and inappropriate seminar attendance. Accordingly, Cervone says he closed the case without filing any criminal charges. Last year, the Florida Ethics Commission fined Shirk $6,000 for what it said was egregious conduct while in office. Shirk served as public defender for one term that was marked by scandal, and in his re-election bid, was soundly defeated by Cofer.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Ex-public defender Matt Shirk has officially settled with the Florida Commission on Ethics over three violations of state ethics laws. Shirk left office after losing in the 2016 election. A state auditor's report detailed questionable spending before Shirk left office. The state attorney for the Gainesville area has been assigned to handle any investigation or prosecution that comes out of that report. RELATED: Wasteful spending & freebies: How Matt Shirk left officeShirk is also still under investigation by the Florida Bar.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - More than two years after a state ethics panel rejected his first proposed settlement, former Public Defender Matt Shirk has agreed to a new deal to settle three alleged violations of state ethics laws. Shirk broke state law by serving or consuming alcoholic beverages inside a city building, contrary to city rules. Shirk broke state law by violating attorney-client privilege in revealing information about the Cristian Fernandez case during an interview with a documentary crew. Shirk's ethics case was scheduled to be heard Friday by an administrative law judge during a hearing in Jacksonville. According to a joint pre-hearing stipulation filed with the state Division of Administrative Hearings, Shirk was not disputing the facts related to the first two allegations of ethics violations.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Did former Public Defender Matt Shirk violate attorney-client privilege when he spoke about Cristian Fernandez's case with a documentary crew? That question lies at the heart of a state ethics complaint brought against Shirk, who filed a motion for his former client to testify about it at an administrative hearing Friday. As Public Defender in 2011, Shirk represented Fernandez when he was charged with murder at the age of 12 in the death of his 2-year-old half-brother. Elizabeth Miller, who represents the ethics panel, responded by saying Fernandez never waived his privilege. As Fernandezs counsel, (Shirk) saw a need to protect young Fernandezs welfare, she wrote.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Facing a state ethics complaint, Matt Shirk wants his former client Cristian Fernandez to testify in the case, despite a psychologists concerns about the impact it could have on Fernandezs well-being. As Public Defender in 2011, Shirk represented Fernandez while he was charged with murder at the age of 12 in the death of his 2-year-old half-brother. Based on a psychologist's opinion, she added, revisiting the case could stunt Fernandezs rehabilitation and keep him from moving on. As Fernandezs counsel, (Shirk) saw a need to protect young Fernandezs welfare, she wrote. With Cotney already scheduled to testify Friday, she said, any questions Shirk has for Fernandez would be better directed toward him instead.

Ron DeSantis, asking to recuse her office from any potential criminal investigation into the actions of Matt Shirk, an embattled former Jacksonville public defender. Nelson wrote that in 2013, then-State Attorney Angela Corey requested an investigation into possible misconduct in Shirk's office. A grand jury investigated the case, and prior to becoming elected state attorney, Nelson wrote, she testified in the proceedings held before the grand jury that was investigating Shirk. Among other findings in the state audit, the report found Shirk gave away 14 computers. The audit found Shirk also gave away nine government-owned guns worth nearly $800 to a motorcycle group, which is a private entity, without the proper paperwork.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Jarred Harrell will not be seen at any more pretrial court hearings leading up to his trial, according to court documents. Harrell's defense team has waived his right to attend pretrial conferences, along with his right to a speedy trial. Harrell's attorneys are also trying to save Harrell from the possibility of being on death row. Public defender Matt Shirk is asking the judge to eliminate death as a possible penalty, according to the documents. It's unclear what the protective order was for and what Harrell's attorneys were trying to protect Harrell from.