Mr. Shillinger joined the county attorney's office in 2000 as an assistant county attorney and was promoted to chief assistant in 2006. In 2012, he was promoted to County Attorney. Mr. Shillinger serves as the principal legal advisor to the County Commission and County staff. He supervises a staff of 9 attorneys, 4 support personnel, and the 2-person risk management office. He's admitted to practice in Florida and Maryland (inactive) as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2004, he became the first attorney in Monroe County to be Board Certified by the Florida Bar in city, county, and local government law. He currently serves as chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 16th Judicial Circuit, is the vice president for the board of directors of the Florida Association of County Attorneys. He previously served on the City, County & Local Government Law Certification Committee of the Florida Bar. His published opinions include: Hardin v. Monroe County, 64 So.3d 707 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011); Monroe County v. Carter, 41 So.2d 954 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010); and Monroe County Code Enforcement v. Carter, 14 So.3d 1019 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009).
Mr. Shillinger received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University in 1987 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore in 1995. From 1987 until 1992, he worked for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives in various capacities. From 1995 until 2000, he served as an assistant state attorney in Key West, Florida, prosecuting all levels of offenses.