About William J.
William J. Sheslow built his path through a mix of public service and private practice. He arrived in the courtroom early in his career and has kept a steady presence there ever since. Colleagues describe him as deliberate in his approach and clear in his courtroom presentations.
He began his formal legal training on the West Coast. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley in 2006 and then earned his J.D. from the University of California, Davis in 2011. Two years later he attended the National Criminal Defense College at Mercer University College of Law, a program aimed at sharpening trial skills for criminal defense practitioners.
Soon after law school he took a post as an Assistant Public Defender in the State of Florida, serving the 12th Judicial Circuit in 2011. That role placed him directly in trial work and in front of local judges and juries. The public defender position is often where attorneys learn to manage heavy caseloads, prepare for plea negotiations, and try cases on short notice. His time in that office gave him regular contact with clients at all stages of the criminal process.
He moved into private practice and became a lawyer at Whittel & Melton, LLC. At the firm he has handled matters in both state and federal courts. He is admitted to practice in Florida and in two federal districts: the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Those admissions allow him to represent clients in federal criminal matters as well as in state proceedings.
Outside the courtroom he participates in local professional groups. He is a member of the Manatee American Inn of Court and the Manatee County Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also maintains membership in The Florida Bar. Those affiliations keep him connected to developments in criminal law and to other defense lawyers in the region.
He handles criminal defense matters in both state and federal courts, drawing on trial experience gained as a public defender and refined in private practice. His current practice is centered on criminal defense in Florida and federal courts.
