Judge Matthew Whyte: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Department Courtroom 6A

Florida Bar #: 144967 (September 22, 1998)

Appointed By: Gov. Ronald D. DeSantis

Biography

The Hon. Matthew Whyte is a judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Manatee County. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019.


The 12th Judicial Circuit includes DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. Whyte has held an assignment in the Family Division.


Just prior to his appointment, Whyte was serving as general counsel to the County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Manatee County.


He received a B.S. in business administration (marketing) from the University of Central Florida in 1993. Whyte then completed a J.D. at Stetson University College of Law (1998) and an M.B.A. in business administration from Stetson University (2004). He is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar (2007).


While in law school, he interned for the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the Office of the State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit.


After graduating from law school, Whyte joined the Office of the State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, where he served as an assistant state attorney for four years. During that same time, he briefly practiced as an associate at the law firm of Dickinson and Gibbons (1999 to 2000).


Upon his departure from the State Attorney's Office in 2002, Whyte became a partner at Lavely & Whyte, P.A., where he practiced until 2013. It was at that time, he became a shareholder at Kirk Pinkerton, P.A. While in private practice, he handled automobile accidents, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases.


His memberships have included the National Rifle Association, Tiger Bay of Manatee County, the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, the Manatee County Bar Association, the Sarasota County Bar Association, the Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization, the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, and the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society.


He was born in Kentucky and raised in Ohio.

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