Leon County Attorney Chasity O’Steen Honored with Tallahassee Bar Association’s Martha Barnett Women Lawyers of Achievement Award
Leon County Government congratulates County Attorney Chasity H. O’Steen on receiving the Tallahassee Bar Association’s 2026 Martha Barnett Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, presented on February 11, 2026 during the TBA’s Past Presidents’ Reception & Awards Dinner.
“On behalf of the Board and the entire community, I want to congratulate Chasity O’Steen on this well-earned honor,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. “Her counsel is consistently steady, principled, and focused on serving the public interest. Our community and our organization benefit every day from her integrity and leadership.”
Established by the Tallahassee Bar Association to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women lawyers from Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit, the Martha Barnett award honors professional excellence, leadership, mentorship, and lasting contributions to the legal community.
“We’re proud of Chasity and grateful for the way she serves Leon County,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “She’s a valuable and trusted leader within our County team—always prepared, always principled, and always focused on the public interest. This award is a fitting recognition of the respect she has earned and the difference she makes every day.”
O’Steen has served as Leon County Attorney since April 2020, providing legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, and County departments, including drafting and reviewing ordinances and contracts and representing the County in civil matters.
A Tallahassee native and Florida State University graduate, O’Steen earned both her bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from Florida State University and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2003.
“I am grateful to the Tallahassee Bar Association for this recognition,” said County Attorney Chasity H. O’Steen. “It is a privilege to serve Leon County, and I’m thankful for the dedicated colleagues and elected leaders I have the opportunity to support in advancing the work of our community.”
Before joining Leon County, O’Steen served in senior legal leadership roles for the State of Florida, including as General Counsel for the Department of Management Services and the Department of Financial Services. Throughout her career, she has represented state and local governments across a broad range of complex legal issues, including ethics, procurement and contracting, public records, grants, utilities, public finance, labor and employment, real estate, and civil litigation.
O’Steen has held various leadership positions within the legal profession, including previously serving as President of Tallahassee Women Lawyers and as a member of the Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and the Second Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She is the current Chair-Elect of The Florida Bar’s City, County and Local Government Law Section and is a member of the Florida Association of County Attorneys leadership.
About the Martha Barnett Women Lawyers of Achievement Award
The Tallahassee Bar Association created the Martha Barnett Women Lawyers of Achievement Award as an annual recognition of women lawyers in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit whose work reflects excellence and impact in the profession and community.
The Tallahassee Bar Association’s published list of past honorees includes Hon. Nina Ashenafi Richardson (2016), Kris Knab (2017), Kelley Overstreet Johnson (2018), Nancy Daniels (2019), Kelly O’Keefe (2022), Elizabeth Ricci (2023), and Melissa VanSickle (2024).
From left to right: Martha Barnett (retired Holland & Knight partner, past ABA president, and award namesake), Chasity H. O'Steen (Leon County Attorney), and Elizabeth Desloge Ellis (TBA President).
©2025 Photos by Ti Adoro Studios. www.Ti-Adoro.com
###