Hines, Melanie Ann
Hines, Melanie Ann
From 1991-2003, Ms. Hines served as Florida’s Statewide Prosecutor, upon appointment by Attorney General Robert A. Butterworth. In this capacity, she served as the Statewide Grand Jury Legal Adviser and supervised 44 prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of multi-circuit organized criminal activity, particularly narcotics trafficking, racketeering, money laundering, and white-collar crime. The Office handled financial fraud cases of all types: insurance, health care; pharmaceutical; banking and mortgage; securities; construction; government grants, contracts, loans, and licensing; utility rates; telemarketing; money transmitter; computer crimes and identity theft.
Under her leadership, the Office achieved an average conviction rate of 95%, collected more money for victims and government agencies than the total operating budget, and was repeatedly recognized for efficiency and effectiveness by independent auditors. The Florida Legislature and Cabinet recognized the Office on several occasions for innovative responses and solutions to emerging crime trends. Ms. Hines was considered a leader in the formation of public-private partnerships for crime prevention.
During her tenure as Statewide Prosecutor, Ms. Hines frequently served as a trainer in all facets of the criminal justice system and was appointed to numerous committees, councils, and task forces to tackle matters of state and national interest in the field. She served by appointment of the Governor and Attorney General on the Violent Crime Council, the Drug Control Policy Council, the Public Corruption Study Commission, the Privacy and Technology Task Force, the Task Force for the Review of Criminal Justice and Corrections, and the Commission on Grand Jury Law. On these and related maters, she testified before the Legislature and Cabinet on many occasions.
For her service, Ms. Hines received many commendations and awards. In 2003, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women selected her for its Outstanding Achievement Award. Ms. Hines is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Law directory as an AV rated attorney.
Prior to her prosecution experience, Ms. Hines served as an Assistant Public Defender in Tallahassee, representing indigent defendants as a trial and appellate lawyer, at all levels in State Court. Before her career in public service, Ms. Hines worked for a nationally known criminal defense attorney in Miami.
Ms. Hines has served as the Chair of the Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar (2003-2004), and as Chair of the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee (1995-1996). She is a past President of the William H. Stafford American Inn of Court and past President of the Tallahassee Bar Association. She is the Vice-Chair of The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Voluntary Bar Leadership. Ms. Hines recently served as an adjunct professor at The Florida State University College of Law, teaching Trial Practice and Corporate Governance and Ethics. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida Class XXIII.
Ms. Hines received her law degree with honors from The Florida State University College of Law in 1979 and her undergraduate degree magna cum laude in Criminology and Psychology from F.S.U. in 1976.
Ms. Hines focuses on crime prevention in the commercial context and litigation involving business crimes. She is available for consultation as an expert in financial fraud, to conduct internal investigations, to develop and/or review corporate governance policies and compliance programs, and to represent individuals or entities under investigation or prosecution for regulatory violations or business crimes.
