1 /5 T L: Fact: Diamond R Litty worked for the previous State Attorney Bruce Colton. Fact: Numerous articles from the TC Palm has questioned her often friendly relationship with the 19 circuit state attorney’s office.
My case was handled by this office and I can not say that beyond a shadow of any doubt that the public defender assigned to my case acted free and independently or in my best interest. He spoke to me only once over the phone, he refused to consider a legitimate legal defense, he frequently pushed me towards a plea deal which i outright refused. After that he stopped taking my calls, he cancelled scheduled meetings with the prosecutor.
I was a first time offender, no bail granted and he refused to file a motion to address this. His lack of action forced me to sit for a prolonged period in jail. Eventually the prosecutor dropped the charges and I was released.
The previous state attorney Bruce Colton has run unopposed and his successor as well. The attorneys in the surrounding area will refuse to work on your case after feeling them it’s in the 19 circuit. None of them will touch it with a 50ft pole. You will literally be stuck with who ever is willing to take your case. I have ultimately moved out of this area because of the shortcomings.
It doesn’t not matter if you are a first time offender or repeat offender the state attorney almost always goes for the highest sentence, he has made multiple public statements to the community
whereas he takes pride in this.
The inmate population at the St lucie County Jail is almost always filled with black and brown people. The ability to have a fair, and equal trial is questionable. The ability to have justice delivered for victims is questionable.
In my opinion the 19th circuit has questionable ethical standards and established relationships between both offices.
