Ed Haenftling Jr., 36, was born and raised in Maryland. He earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he named articles editor of the university’s law journal. He moved to Southwest Florida in 1999, immediately after graduating law school, then to St. Augustine, where he joined the State Attorney’s office as an assistant state attorney in the Putnam County office. He had a house in Flagler County for three years before moving to Volusia County—some 200 feet from the Flagler County line—in 2003.
Click On:
- Ed Haenftling Jr.’s Web Page
- Haenftling’s Facebook Page
- Haenftling’s Voluntary Disclosure Statement to the Florida Bar
- Judge Candidates’ Main Page
In his 11 years practicing law, Haenftling spent a year and a half with Allstate Insurance as an in-house counsel, three years in private practice on his own in Daytona Beach (with a focus on criminal defense, traffic infractions and civil litigation), and eight years, in two separate stints, at the State Attorney’s office, two of which were part-time.
He realizes he is the youngest judge running not only in his group, but almost in the entire circuit. One other candidate is five days older. A younger judge is needed, Haenftling said, not just to ensure continuity, but to ensure that some cases, which can take years to wend their way through the court system, aren’t handed off to different judges. (That’s ultimately inevitable, however, as even judges who’ve been on the bench for decades, like Hammond, will have to hand off what cases they haven’t closed. The mandatory retirement age is 70.)
Explaining his relevant experience in his disclosure to the Florida Bar, Haenftling writes: “Representing the people of the Seventh Circuit, I gained trial experience in felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile criminal cases, including drug trafficking, sales, and possession, robbery, battery, burglary, criminal traffic infractions involving death, sexual offenses, fraud, theft, and firearm offenses. I currently review felony cases in Flagler County to determine whether or not the State will file charges. This includes meeting witnesses, victims, law enforcement, defense attorneys, and any other party that has an interest in a particular case, as well as legal research.”
His pro bono work: he periodically volunteered with Central Florida Legal Services between 2000 and 2001, and made financial contributions to Community Legal Services of Central Florida from 2006 to 2008. He’s been on leave from the State Attorney’s office for the past three weeks in order to run for the seat.
“I possess the temperament, experience, character and commitment necessary to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary office,” he writes in his disclosure statement. “This unique set of attributes I have will ensure that all people of the Seventh Circuit entering my courtroom will be treated with dignity and respect, as well as the fair and impartial administration of judicial responsibilities. My problem solving skills and ability to relate to people will be invaluable when making decisions that affect the lives of litigants appearing before the court.”
Haenftling is married and has a stepson and a daughter.
Candidates for Circuit Court Judge (Click on the Name to Go to the Candidate's Page)
Lynwood Fleshlight says
I believe your constitution says that all men are created equal. You’ve even updated it to include women, haven’t you?Well, to quote George Orwell “All animals are created equal…but some are more equal than others.” (Animal Farm)