County Attorney

Chasity H. O'Steen County Attorney

The County Attorney’s Office provides legal counsel and advice to Leon County Government, which includes 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 advising and counseling our client; drafting and reviewing contracts, ordinances, and resolutions; pursuing and defending civil actions at all levels of State and Federal courts; and, coordinating legal services in general on behalf of Leon County Government.    
 

Chasity H. O'Steen became County Attorney in April 2020.  Prior to her appointment, Ms. O’Steen served as General Counsel of the State of Florida’s Department of Management Services and Department of Financial Services.  Ms. O’Steen received Bachelor and Juris Doctorate degrees from Florida State University.  Since being admitted to The Florida Bar in 2003, Ms. O’Steen has represented state and local governments in a variety of areas, including ethics, procurement and contracts, public records, federal and state grants funding, water and wastewater utilities, finance, labor and employment law, real estate, and civil litigation.  Ms. O’Steen is a member of the Executive Council of the City, County and Local Government Section of The Florida Bar, and she has previously served on the Second Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and as a member of the Second Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission. 

Ms. O'Steen is assisted in representing Leon County Government by:

LaShawn D. Riggans Deputy County Attorney

LaShawn D. Riggans joined the County Attorney's Office in January 2011 after five years as an Assistant State Attorney in the First Judicial Circuit where she prosecuted felony cases.  Ms. Riggans is a 2006 graduate of the Florida Coastal School of Law and also holds a Master of Public Administration.  In addition to serving as backup to the County Attorney, Ms. Riggans’ primary areas of concentration are labor and employment, tourism, public records, ethics, risk management, public safety – animal control and emergency medical services, and litigation.

Kyle L. KemperSr. Assistant County Attorney

Kyle Kemper joined the County Attorney’s Office in March 2020 after more than 16 years in private practice in the areas of government, administrative, utilities, and healthcare law. Mr. Kemper is a 2002 graduate of the Florida State University College of Law and served as an Articles & Notes Editor for the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law.  He provides legal support for the County primarily in the areas of real estate, eminent domain, and public works. 

Emily Pepin Bouza Assistant County Attorney

Emily Pepin Bouza joined the County Attorney’s Office in January 2019 after seven years with the Collier County Attorney’s Office handling primarily eminent domain and land use matters. Ms. Bouza is a 2011 graduate of the Florida State University College of Law and holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Florida.  Ms. Bouza’s primary areas of concentration are land use, zoning, environmental, and comprehensive planning.

Daniel R. Krumbholz Assistant County Attorney

Daniel R. Krumbholz joined the County Attorney’s Office in September 2022 after six years representing the State of Florida in the areas of transportation and utility contracts, right-of-way leasing agreements, intellectual property rights, emergency management grants, and IT licensing agreements, as well as representing the State in appeals before the First District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court.  Prior to attending Law School, Mr. Krumbholz served as an investigator for the State of Texas.  Mr. Krumbholz is a 2016 graduate of the Florida State University College of Law where he was an editor for the Business Review Journal and is a member of the Order of the Coif.  He provides legal support for the County primarily in the areas of procurements and contracts. 

Sarah May Swartz Assistant County Attorney

May Swartz joined the County Attorney’s Office in January 2023 after more than 10 years in private practice covering all aspects of civil litigation in a variety of areas, including bodily injury, premises liability, employment discrimination, and real property. She is a 2012 graduate of Stetson University College of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board and Stetson Law Review. She holds an undergraduate degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida. Ms. Swartz provides legal support for the County primarily in the areas of code compliance services, housing, human services and community partnerships, and parks and recreation.

The County Attorney's Office does not provide legal advice and counsel to the general public or individual citizens.

Legal resources for the general public and individual citizens include private practice attorneys and the following:

The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service

(800) 342-8011

The Tallahassee Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

(850) 222-3292

Legal Services of North Florida

(850) 385-7603