Bill's legal career began when he was selected out of law school to clerk for renowned federal district judge Anthony A. Alaimo. Under Judge Alaimo's mentorship, Bill gained his unique understanding of how judges think and decide cases. Bill will use that knowledge and insight early in your case to file available pretrial motions to help weaken, and possibly outright defeat, the prosecution's case against you. Bill will also use his insight into the judicial process to advise you as to whether going to trial or accepting any plea offers is in your best interest.
Before opening his current firm, Bill was a partner at Fallgatter Farmand & Roelke where he represented his clients in criminal cases in both state and federal courts. In addition to being an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Bill has substantial experience in complex, high stakes business litigation at prestigious international and regional law firms. If your case involves business transactions or activities, Bill will use his business law experience to help demonstrate your innocence or otherwise explain why you shouldn't be criminally prosecuted.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Bill was a research scientist at the National Cancer Institute, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and global drug company Bristol-Myers Squibb. Bill's working knowledge of both chemistry and biology enables him effectively to challenge the scientific and medical evidence relied on by the prosecution in DUI, drug/narcotics, sex crimes and many other types of criminal cases.
Bill immediately will begin learning about you and your family so he can fully portray your unique circumstances and positive attributes to the prosecution to help effect the best possible outcome for your case. As a result of Bill's approach of making sure you are individually known to the prosecution instead of being considered as just another case or "Defendant", you and Bill will develop a personal connection as he works to protect your rights and interests during this very stressful and challenging time in your life.
Bill will also thoroughly analyze law enforcement's version of your case to identify any inaccuracies or omissions of facts or witnesses necessary to understanding the complete circumstances surrounding your investigation or arrest. He will ensure the prosecution and court are apprised of your side of the story instead of only the limited and inaccurate "facts" which may have led to your arrest.
Finally, immediately upon being retained by you, Bill will contact the assigned prosecutor in your case to request that they defer any decision formally to charge you with a crime until Bill can present them with your background and all the facts of, and law governing, your case. In many instances Bill is able to persuade the prosecutor quickly to drop, or substantially reduce, pending charges.
Bill stays apprised of the current developments in criminal law as a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American Bar Association Section on Criminal Litigation. Additionally, Bill enjoys a mutually respectful relationship with the judiciary both from having previously served as a judicial law clerk and via his membership on The Florida Bar Committee on Judicial Independence and the Jacksonville Bar Association Committee on Judicial Relations.
As your lawyer, William Roelke personally will represent you and will not delegate any important aspects of your case to others. Bill therefore accepts a limited number of cases to best enable him to pursue his goals of keeping you out of jail or prison, getting your record cleared and helping you resume your normal life as quickly as possible.
EDUCATION
J.D., Cleveland State University, with honors
M.S., Biomedical Sciences, Hood College
B.A., Psychobiology, Western Maryland College
JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
The Florida Bar, including admission to all Florida state courts
United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
PROFESSIONAL & BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
Squire Patton Boggs
Associate
Smith Hulsey & Busey
Associate
Fallgatter Farmand & Roelke
Partner
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Editor-in-Chief, Cleveland State Law Review
Law Clerk, United States District Judge Anthony A. Alaimo
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Jacksonville Bar Association Committee on Judicial Relations
The Florida Bar Committee on Judicial Independence
Member, Board of Directors of the Murray Hill Theatre and Ministries
Chairman, Board of Directors of Friday Musicale, Inc.
Member, Stanton College Preparatory School Advisory Council
