Background and Experience
Ed was born in Birmingham, Alabama on August 13, 1966. While an undergraduate at the University of Florida, Ed was appointed by Governor Bob Martinez to serve on the Florida Board of Regents from 1987 to 1988. He also served as the "mike man" for the Florida Gators and is a 2-year Varsity Letterman. He served as Vice President of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. In 1988, he was named the University of Florida's outstanding male graduate and was named to the University of Florida Hall of Fame. He was also the 1989 recipient of the Bill Fleming Memorial Award for outstanding service to the University of Florida community. While in law school, Ed received the Book Award for Florida Administrative Law demonstrating academic excellence in that area. Also, while in law school, Ed was elected and served as President of the University of Florida Student Body.
In 2000, Ed formed Edwin A. Scales, III, P.A. which, in 2003, became "of-counsel" to GrayRobinson, giving GrayRobinson a presence in the Southernmost City in the Continental United States.
From 2000 to 2005, Ed served on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida's Southern District. In 2009, Ed was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida's 16th Judicial Circuit.
In 2001, Ed was elected to serve a four-year term on the Key West City Commission, and in 2003 was appointed to the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council, where he served two years as Treasurer.
Since 1999, Ed has hosted the weekly "Ed Scales Show" heard on Keys radio station US-1 (104.1 FM - www.us1radio.com). Ed has an extensive background in both radio and television, hosting "The Legal Beagles" radio program in the Tampa Bay area from 1996 to 1998.
In 2005, Monroe County's attorneys elected Ed to serve on the Florida Bar's Board of Governors, and he has been re-elected to that position three times since.
In 2006, Ed was appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to the Board of Trustees of the Florida Keys Community College. He chaired the Board from 2007 to 2009. In 2011, Ed was reappointed to the Board of Trustees by Governor Rick Scott and again chairs the Board.
In March 2011, Ed was appointed by House Speaker Dean Cannon to the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Ed's work is concentrated in the areas of appellate practice, commercial and real estate litigation, mediation, and government relations. Through GrayRobinson, Ed currently serves as the General Counsel to the Florida Citrus Commission, the agency head for Florida's Department of Citrus.
Professional
· The Florida Bar
- Board of Governors
-- Communications Committee
-- Legislative Committee, Vice Co-Chairman
-- Strategic Planning Committee
-- Citizens Forum, Chair, 2006-2008
-- Standing Committee Liaison
--- Media & Communications Law
--- Legal Needs of Children
-- Legal Needs of Children Section Liaison
--- City, County & Local Government Law
- Young Lawyers Division, 1992-2001
-- Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee Chair, 1993-1996
· Monroe County Bar Association
· Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator (Circuit Civil, Appellate and County)
· Southern District of Florida Certified Federal Court Mediator
· University of Florida College of Law Alumni Council
· Judicial Nominating Commission, 16th Judicial Circuit, 2009-Present
· Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, Southern District, 2003-2006
Civic
· Board of Trustees, Florida Keys Community College, Chairman
· Florida Blue Key, Member
· Omicron Delta Kappa, Member
· University of Florida Law School Alumni Council
· Key West Gator Club, Member
· Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Member
· Key West Chamber of Commerce, Member