Kathleen McCleary Bogenschutz

After 12 years as a prosecutor, 8 specializing in sex crimes, 1 in gun crimes, I moved to criminal defense.  Tallahassee and surrounding counties.  120+ jury trials.

I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, where I graduated Pine Crest Preparatory School with both AP and National Merit honors. I attended William and Mary for college where I was active in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and multiple other on-campus groups.

At Nova Southeastern University Law School, I co-founded the Criminal Law Society, competed on 3 trial teams and one Moot Court team, and received the highest grade (book award) in Criminal Procedure. In my third year, I was a certified legal intern at the Broward State Attorney’s Office, trying six jury trials before she graduated law school.

Following my bar passage in the Fall of 2009, I was hired at the Broward State Attorney’s Office. Over the nearly-nine years I spent there, I handled and tried a litany of criminal charges. After four years prosecuting general crimes (DUIs through and including attempted murder), I was promoted to the specialized sex crimes and child abuse unit where I stayed for over four years. The cases in this unit were often high profile, and covered in both local and national news. Always interested in the sciences, I became highly proficient in DNA evidence as well as toxicology while assigned to the sex crimes and child abuse unit. As a special assignment, I managed to gain an indictment on an extremely high profile child homicide case despite the Medical Examiner official opinion of an “undetermined cause of death” after retaining experts in a rare genetic disorder. I finished my eight year tenure in Broward in the 10-20-Life (“gun” unit), where I presented ballistic and medical evidence in court handling both attempted and completed homicide cases. I am well-versed in all manner of forensic evidence, particularly those that relate to violent crimes and blood chemistry.

Upon moving to Tallahassee, I was barred in both the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, and joined the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit. In the three years Ispent there, Iwas designated to prosecute approximately one quarter of the sex crimes that occurred in Leon County, which is the home of both Florida State University and Florida A&M University. Ialso handled numerous homicides and attempted homicides during my tenure.

In addition to my caseload, Ivolunteered to teach continuing education classes to prosecutors around the state on the topics of domestic violence and sex crimes. To date, I have handled thousands of cases in multiple jurisdictions and tried over 130 jury trials to verdict. I am proficient in motion practice and have handled and won at least four complicated “Stand Your Ground” motions. As my firm’s “resident millennial,” I am technologically proficient, a talent honed even further with the utilization of cell phone and computer evidence at trial in recent years.

In April 2021, I was recruited to join Jansen & Davis after spending the first twelve years of my career as a prosecutor. I live in Tallahassee with my husband, two dogs, and two cats. I enjoy outdoor activities including kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and chasing my puppy through the neighbors' backyards.