County Attorney

Herbert W. A. Thiele, County Attorney

The County Attorney’s Office was established in 1990 with the Board’s hiring of Herbert W.A. Thiele as the County Attorney.  The office has grown to include County Attorney-Designate, Chasity H. O'Steen, who will begin as County Attorney on April 1, 2020, Deputy County Attorney, LaShawn D. Riggans, and Assistant County Attorneys, Daniel J. Rigo and Emily R. Pepin.  The County Attorney’s Office provides legal counsel and advice to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, and County Departments, as well as certain boards and agencies organized under the Board of County Commissioners.  Legal services include drafting and reviewing contracts, ordinances, resolutions, and legislation; instituting and defending civil actions at all levels of State and Federal courts; and, coordinating legal services in general.

The County Attorney is not legal counsel to the general public and may not advise individual citizens.

Before beginning his tenure as County Attorney, Mr. Thiele was the City Attorney for the City of Delray Beach, Florida, for over eight years, and an Assistant City Attorney for Delray Beach in private practice for the preceding three years. Mr. Thiele graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in government and international studies and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice before numerous state and federal courts, and has held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including serving four terms as President of the Florida Association of County Attorneys; Chair of the City, County & Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar; and President of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Florida Counties Foundation, all organizations that support the work of local governments.

In addition, Mr. Thiele has been the recipient of numerous awards, including:

*  H. Hamilton "Chip" Rice Award in recognition of his efforts in the area of mentoring and educating future leaders of the profession, especially in Local Government Law, 2016.

*  Florida Trend – Legal Elite for Government and Non-Profit Attorneys, 2014;

*  Chair Service Award, in appreciation of outstanding service to the City, County and Local Government Law Section and The Florida Bar, 2005;

*  President’s Award, in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to the organization, Florida Association of County Attorneys, 2004;

*  Ethics in Government Award, in appreciation for his many years of professionalism, skill, and expertise in the fostering of proper ethics in all aspects of County government, Florida Association of County Attorneys, 1998 and again in 2001;

*  Paul S. Buchman Award, for outstanding contributions in the area of legal public service from the City, County and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2000;

*  Ralph A. Marsicano Award, for significant contributions to the development of local government law in Florida, Local Government Law Section, The Florida Bar, 1991; and

*  Florida Municipal Attorney of the Year, presented by the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association, 1987-1988.

Mr. Thiele is frequently requested as a speaker and has lectured and written numerous articles on local government matters, including PACE program issues, honest services and misuse of office, local lobbyist regulation, public records and sunshine laws, personnel matters, public finance, and zoning, land use, and comprehensive planning matters. In September 2014, he was the Keynote Speaker at Florida’s Ethics Conference and Attorney General’s Sunshine Summit.