James R. Dowgul, Esq

James Dowgul began his legal career in the Public Defender’s Office for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in Sarasota, Florida. There, he practiced for over 2 years before the opportunity arose to return to his hometown in Bay County, where he took a position with the Public Defender’s Office for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. James’s passion for law and the direction of his legal career focuses on criminal law. James has extensive misdemeanor and felony trial experience. He has tried cases ranging from misdemeanors including DUI, battery, and drug related offenses to serious life felonies including attempted murder and vehicular homicide. James’s undergraduate studies were at Florida State University where he was awarded his Bachelor’s degree in Business. James’s graduate studies took him to Oklahoma where he received his law degree from Oklahoma City University, while working as an intern for the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In 2000, James furthered his legal studies and received a Master of Laws degree ( LL.M.) from Stetson University, and was admitted to the Florida Bar. James is a member of the Bay County Bar Association and Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.