David Barksdale

Practice Areas

Criminal defense in the state and federal courts,

Government investigations,

False Claims Act and qui tam cases

Career

David Barksdale graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 1988. He received his J.D. from the University of Florida in 1992, with honors, and was appointed to the Order of the Coif. He practiced two years with the Bedell Firm as an associate, then spent four and a half years with the State Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville, where he was a division chief and a member of the Homicide Team. He returned to the Bedell Firm as a partner in 1999. David is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (White Collar and General Practice Criminal Defense), Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (Hall of Fame), and Super Lawyers (Florida’s Top 100: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019).

Professional Memberships

Member, Grievance Committee for the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division

Board of Trustees, Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Varsity Football PA Announcer, Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Youth flag football coach, I-9

Executive Council, Criminal Law Section, The Florida Bar, Former Chair

Chester Bedell Inn of Court, Emeritus Member

Rotary (Downtown), 2005-2017

The Florida Bar Special Committee to Study the Decline in Jury Trials, 2010-2012

Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, 2006-2012

State Attorney’s Office Jailed Juvenile Mentor Program, 2006-2008

Fourth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, 2003-2006

Board of Directors, Jacksonville Historical Society, 2001-2005

Board of Directors, Sanctuary on 8th Street, Former Chair (2014-2024)

Publications

“Defending the Prescription Case,” Florida Defender (Winter 2014)

“Trying to Put the Genie Back in the Bottle: Sealing and Expungement for Criminal Cases,” Continuing Legal Education presentation (Oct. 26, 2016)

“United States v. Booker: The First 10 Years in the Middle District of Florida,” Panelist, Annual Honorable Ralph W. “Buddy” Nimmons, Jr. Federal Practice Seminar (April 20, 2017)

Gideon v. Wainwright 60th Anniversary, Jacksonville Federal Court Bar Association, Panelist (November 6, 2023)

“Experts on DUI: Becoming the Go-To DUI Guru,” Moderator, Panel on Professional Ethics, Florida Bar Criminal Law Section’s Continuing Legal Education (March 7, 2025)

Experience

Bar Admission: Florida, 1992

The Florida Bar Board Certification: Criminal Trial Law since 2004

Education

Awards