Jennifer Zedalis 
Professor/Director | University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, UNITED STATES
Jennifer Zedalis teaches courses in trial practice, Florida criminal procedure and evidence.
Biography
Jennifer Zedalis is a professor at the Levin College of Law. She also serves as director of trial practice and is an assistant director of the Criminal Justice Center. Jennifer is the co-chair of the Gerald T. Bennett Public Defender/Prosecutor Trial Program and chair of the Peter T. Fay Jurist in Residence Program. During her 20 years as a full-time faculty member at the College of Law, Jennifer has taught Florida criminal procedure, trial practice, the criminal defense clinic, pretrial practice, intro to lawyering, mental health litigation, closing argument, and evidence. She also previously was an affiliate professor in the Department of Forensic Psychiatry. Jennifer has practiced criminal defense for 30 years and continues to do pro bono trial work as time permits. She was formerly an assistant public defender in the Fifth and Eighth Judicial Circuits and ran a solo law practice from 1998 to 2003. She has handled all types of criminal cases, including capital cases, appeals, post-conviction proceedings and trials.
Areas of Expertise (6)
Litigation
Criminal Law
Evidence
Mental Health
Trial Procedure
Criminal Defense
Media Appearances (4)
Parkland shooter's penalty trial to start Monday
Newsy online
2022-07-17
It's been more than four years since 17 people were killed and 17 people were injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. But at a time when the nation is still grappling with gun violence and school shootings, a jury inside a Florida courtroom will decide whether the Parkland shooter should be sentenced to death.
The Parkland gunman's sentencing trial will decide if he gets the death penalty
TIME online
2022-07-15
When the sentencing trial for the gunman who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018 begins on Monday, a 12-person jury will decide whether Nikolas Cruz will receive the death penalty—or to life in prison without parole.
Zedalis honored with Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award
Florida Bar News online
2022-07-06
UF Law Professor Jennifer Zedalis, a legal scholar, popular teacher and passionate defense lawyer who has dedicated most of her career to professional service, is the 2022 Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award winner.
Overturned convictions raise questions
Florida Times-Union online
2019-03-29
On Thursday, after nearly 43 years in prison, two Jacksonville men were released thanks to a State Attorney’s Office investigation that found credible evidence of their innocence. But the motion to dismiss Nathan Myers’ and Clifford Williams’ cases came from the defense, not the prosecution.
Media
Publications:
Documents:
Videos:
